Adverbs From Adjectives
To say how something is done, use the neuter -о form of the adjective: брз → брзо (quickly), убав → убаво (nicely), добар → добро (well). Зборуваш убаво. (You speak nicely.)
How It Works
English makes most adverbs with -ly. Macedonian simply uses the neuter singular form of the adjective (see придавки: нов; нова; ново; нови):
- брз (fast) → брзо (quickly)
- бавен (slow) → бавно (slowly)
- убав (nice) → убаво (nicely)
- добар (good) → добро (well)
- тивок (quiet) → тивко (quietly)
An е or о that drops in the other forms drops here too: добар → добро, бавен → бавно, тивок → тивко.
It never agrees. The adverb describes the action, so it stays the same whoever does it: Тој пее убаво, Таа пее убаво, Тие пеат убаво.
Adjectives in -ски use the plain -ски form as the adverb. That is why you say Зборувам македонски (see зборувам македонски).
"It is ..." sentences: the same form describes a situation, with no word for it: Топло е. (It is warm.) · Студено е. (It is cold.) See врне; студено е.
Добро сум or добар сум? Добро сум means I'm fine (see како си; добро сум). Добар сум describes the person, for example I'm kind or I'm good at it.
Adverbs compare like adjectives: побрзо (faster), најдобро (best). See по-; нај-.
Examples (6)
- Убаво зборуваш македонски.
You speak Macedonian nicely.
Word by Word: Nicely you-speak Macedonian.
- Тој вози многу брзо.
He drives very fast.
Word by Word: He drives very quickly.
- Ве молам, зборувајте побавно.
Please speak more slowly.
Word by Word: You I-ask, speak-you more-slowly.
- Децата тивко спијат.
The children are sleeping quietly.
Word by Word: The-children quietly sleep.
- Таа готви многу добро.
She cooks very well.
Word by Word: She cooks very well.
- Денес е топло.
It is warm today.
Word by Word: Today is warm.
There is no word for it; the -о form describes the weather.
Common Mistakes
Using the masculine adjective instead of the adverb.
Тој пее убав.Тој пее убаво.Убав describes a thing or a person. To say how someone sings, use the -о form убаво.
Answering "How are you?" with добар сум.
Како си? — Добар сум.Како си? — Добро сум.Добро сум means I'm fine. Добар сум describes you as a person, like I'm kind. To say that you are fine, use добро сум.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Adverbs come from adjective forms.
Related Patterns
- по- / нај-Comparing Things
Adverbs compare with the same prefixes: побрзо, најдобро.
Level 2 - како си / добро сумAsking How Someone Is
Добро сум uses the adverb, not the adjective.
Level 1 - врне / студено еTalking About the Weather
Weather sentences such as Студено е use this -о form.
Level 1 - зборувам македонскиTalking About Languages
Adjectives in -ски keep the -ски form as an adverb.
Level 1 - често / обично / секогаш / никогашDescribing Habits
Other adverbs say how often something happens.
Level 2
Practice Adverbs From Adjectives in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Macedonian lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
