Grammar: adverb

An adverb describes how a verb is done. In English, they are often followed by an –ly ending.
For example, “He came quickly”; “She wrote neatly”; “He played the piano beautifully”.
“Quickly”, “Neatly”, and “Beautifully” all describe how the actions were done.

In Japanese there are basically two ways to make an adverb.

Adjectives: Change the final い to く.

Nouns: Change です to に.

NOTE: Remember that しずか, じょうず, きれい, etc. are all considered nouns in Japanese.
NOTE: The adverbial form of いい is よく.

The adverb is typically placed right before the verb it modifies.

例:
今日は早く帰りましたね。 You came home quickly today!
しず

静かにしてください。 Please be quiet (literally: please do it quietly).

There are a number of verbs that use the adverb in Japanese in a way that you might not think of
in English. One is なる (to become). With なる, the adverb that appears before なる is the
result of the action of becoming. In other words, the adverb is what something becomes.
例:
さいきんさむ

最近寒くなりましたね。 It’s gotten cold recently! (literally: it has become cold recently).
れんしゅう

練 習 しているから、きっと上手になるでしょう。
She’s practicing, so she’s sure to get good (literally: become skillful).
医者さんになりたい。 I want to be a doctor (literally: become a doctor).

NOTE: なる is often used in Japanese in situations where we would say “be” in English.
JIS-B: Grammar Adverbs 名前: ________________________________________
2/13/2009

See the reverse side for explanation of this grammar principle.

次の文章を、Adverb を使って日本語で書きなさい:
1. Emma has gotten sick, so I don’t think she’s going to come today.
(「から、と思う」を使いなさい) (Speaking to a teacher)

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2. I woke up early this morning, but the bus was late. (Explaining why you were late).
(「んです、んです」を使いなさい) (speaking to a friend)

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3. I’d like to be a teacher, but…　(「と思う、んです」を使いなさい) (speaking to a friend)

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4. He did really well because he studied a lot.

(「から、んです」を使いなさい) (speaking to a friend)

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5. Sorry I’m late. (Literally: sorry it has become late).

(「-て」を使いなさい) (speaking to a teacher)

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6. I want to get stronger, but I don’t have any free time.　(speaking to a teacher)
(「んです、んです」を使いなさい)

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Formation Exercise:
Change each word to the adverbial form and add なる.
Make sure you understand what each one means!

上手
暑い
先生
病気
強い
きれい
好き
大学生
太い
難しい
選手
古い
静か
大きい
忙しい
大統領
雨
いい