Adverbs: Formation and Usage

In German, adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, telling you how, when, where, or to what degree something happens. Unlike English, German adjectives and adverbs often share the same form — there is no -ly suffix equivalent. This lesson covers adverb types, formation, placement, and the important comparison forms of adverbs.

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Adjectives as Adverbs

In German, most adjectives can function as adverbs without any change in form:

Adjective Use	Adverb Use
Er ist schnell. (He is fast.)	Er läuft schnell. (He runs fast/quickly.)
Die Musik ist laut. (The music is loud.)	Sie spielt laut. (She plays loudly.)
Das Essen ist gut. (The food is good.)	Er kocht gut. (He cooks well.)
Sie ist schön. (She is beautiful.)	Sie singt schön. (She sings beautifully.)

There is no -ly ending in German. The word schnell means both "fast" (adjective) and "quickly" (adverb). Context tells you which role it plays.

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Types of Adverbs

1. Adverbs of Manner (How?)

These describe how an action is performed: