An adverb (avverbio) is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. In English, adverbs are often formed by adding the suffix -ly to adjectives: slowly, softly, surely. Adverbs often answer the question come? (how?), quando? (when?), or dove? (where?):

　　Luciano agisce lentamente. (Luciano acts slowly.)

　　Leonardo viene tardi. (Leonardo comes late.)

　　Usciamo adesso. (We're leaving now.)

　　Ci andiamo a giugno. (We are going there in June.)

　　In Italian, many adverbs are formed by adding the ending -mente to the singular feminine form of the adjective.

　　FORMING ADVERBS IN ITALIAN

　　ADJECTIVE (GENERAL OR MASCULINE)

　　ADJECTIVE (FEMININE SINGULAR)

　　ADVERB

　　felice

　　felice

　　felicemente (happily)

　　lento

　　lenta

　　lentamente (slowly)

　　stanco

　　stanca

　　stancamente (tiredly)

　　If an adjective ends in -ale, -ile, or -are, the adverb is formed with the root of the adjective plus the ending -mente.

　　FORMING ADVERBS FROM ADJECTIVES THAT END IN -ALE, -ILE, OR -ARE

　　ADJECTIVE (GENERAL OR MASCULINE)

　　ADJECTIVAL ROOT

　　ADVERB

　　esemplare

　　esemplari-

　　esemplarmente

　　gentile

　　gentil-

　　gentilmente

　　speciale

　　special-

　　specialmente