Chapter 10 · Words That Change (Inflection)
Adverbs
When does an adjective-like word describe a verb?
Adjectives describe nouns. Adverbs often describe actions.
a fast car
.
He runs fast.
There is a simple spelling link between adjectives and adverbs, and the comparison forms carry over too.
How do you say "fast", "faster", and "fastest" when talking about an action?
snabbtsnabbaresnabbastAdverb From Neuter Adjective
Many Swedish adverbs look like the neuter adjective form:
snabbsnabbttydligtydligtvackervackertenkelenkeltlångsamlångsamtUse it with verbs:
.
She speaks clearly.
.
He works slowly.
Comparing Adverbs
If the adverb is based on an adjective, it often reuses the adjective comparison:
snabbtsnabbaresnabbasttidigttidigaretidigastvackertvackrarevackrastlångsamtlångsammarelångsammasthögthögrehögstLexical Adverbs To Store
Some adverbs should be learned as their own table:
| Base | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
ofta | oftare | oftast |
gärna | hellre | helst |
väl/bra | bättre | bäst |
illa | värre | värst |
mycket | mer/mera | mest |
lite/litet | mindre | minst |
länge/långt | längre | längst |
sent | senare | senast |
nära | närmare | närmast |
Chapter summary
| You describe | Typical form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a common-gender noun | adjective base | en snabb bil |
| an action | often the adjective's neuter form | springer snabbt |
| a comparison of actions | adjective comparison reused | springer snabbare |
| a lexical adverb | stored table | gärna -> hellre -> helst |
Practice
6 questionsStudy check
- 1
Hon sjunger ___(vacker) - 2
Han springer ___(snabb) - 3
De arbetar ___(långsam) - 4
comparative of
gärna - 5
comparative of
hårt - 6
superlative of
ofta
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