Adverbs in -o / -e

Adverbs Describing an Action

Level 1

Adverbs such as brzo and dobro describe how an action happens. Their form does not change with the subject’s gender or number.

How It Works

Many manner adverbs resemble a neuter singular adjective. Dobro dijete contains an adjective agreeing with dijete, while Dijete dobro čita. contains an adverb describing čita.

A new subject does not change the adverb: Ana dobro čita. and Djeca dobro čitaju. The finite verb still changes for number, but dobro does not become a plural adjective.

Some adverbs can be compared: dobro/bolje, brzo/brže. That is a degree change, not gender or case agreement. Other adverbs, such as vrlo, do not have an ordinary comparative.

Examples (4)

  1. Ana brzo čita.

    Ana reads quickly.

    Brzo modifies the action.

  2. Ivan brzo čita.

    Ivan reads quickly.

    Changing the subject’s gender does not change brzo.

  3. Djeca dobro čitaju.

    The children read well.

    Čitaju is plural, while adverb dobro stays unchanged.

  4. Govoriš jasno.

    You speak clearly.

    Jasno describes how the speaking happens.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Adverbs in -o / -eLevel 1Adverbs Describing an Action

Learn This First

Contrast an agreeing description of a noun with an unchanging description of an action.