Adverb (Averbio)
 
 
List of Basic Adverbs (Lista de Averbi de Baxe)

The most frequent basic adverbs in Venetan are:
 
Adverbs
ben
well
mal / male
badly
forte
quickly, aloud
pian
slowly, in a low voice
senpre
always
mai
never
spéso
often
tanto
very
póco
few
masa
too
 
 
Derived Adverbs (Averbi Derivài)

Adverbs are derived by adding the suffix -mente to the feminine singular form of the adjective (this pattern appeared in the Vulgar Latin), cf.:

  • contrario (m.) contraria (f.) contrary, opposite => contrariamente contrarily;
  • difarente (m./f.) different => difarentemente differently;
  • posìbile (m./f.) possible => posibilmente if possible, possibly.
    •  
    Adjectives in adverbial functions

    Though Venetan can build adverbs with the ending -mente, very very often Venetan adverbs have the same form as simple adjectives. These adjectives/adverbs are generally invariable (some of them can agree with nouns, as do normal adjectives).
     

    • tren veloce quick train  
    • el tren el va veloce the train goes quickly
    • treni veloci quick trains; 
    • i treni i va veloce the trains go quickly (invariable)
    • i treni i va veloci the trains go quickly (agreement)
     
    Generally adverbs are derived from adjectives, but remember that this equivalence adjective=adverb is so strong that the few adjectives derived from adverbs are invariable in order to retain the exact original adverbial form (even if generally adjective should agree with nouns)
     
    • mejo better / best (adv.)
    • el mejo modo the best way (adj.masc.sg.)
    • i mejo modi the best ways (adj.masc.pl.)
    • la mejo soluthion the best solution (adj.fem.sg.)
    • le mejo parole the best words (adj.fem.pl.)
    • pexo worse / worst (adv.)
    • el pexo modo the worst way (adj.masc.sg.)
    • i pexo modi the worst ways (adj.masc.pl.)
    • la pexo soluthion the worst solution (adj.fem.sg.)
    • le pexo parole the worst words (adj.fem.pl.)
     
     
    Adverbials (Locuthion Averbiali)

    Other ways of making adverbs are:

     
     
    Degree of the Adverbs (Grado dei Averbi)
     
    Comparative Degree (Grado Conparativo)

    Comparative degree is formed analytically. Note that adjective agrees with the principal noun:
     
    Comparative Degree
    Formation
    Examples
    of Superiority
    pi + ADV. + de
    Sandro 'l va pi veloce(mente) / pi pian de Marco. 
    Sandro goes quicklier/slower than Mark.
    of Equality
    [tanto] + ADV. + fa
    [tanto] + ADV. + come
    Sandro 'l va pian come Marco. El va veloce fa ti. 
    Sandro goes as slowly as Mark. He goes as quickly as you.
    of Inferiority
    manco + ADV. + de
    Sandro 'l va manco veloce de Marco. 
    Sandro goes less slow than Mark.
     
     
    Absolute Superlative Degree (Grado Superlativo Asoluto)
     
    Superlative Degree
    Formation
    Examples
    Absolute syntethical 
    (little used)
    ADJ. + -ìsimo
    		 El córe fortìsimo. He / it runs very quickly.
    Metaphorical 
    metaphor
    (similitude)
    		 El xe un s-ciantixo. He's very quick (He's a lightening... a tornado). 
    I córe come mati. They run very quick (run like crazy).
    .Analyical
    molto + ADV.
    veramente + ADV.
    		 La va molto pian. She goes very slow
    La va veramente pian. She goes very slow
    Reduplicated
    ADV. +ADV.
    		 Pian pian / Pian pianin
    Very slow / in a very low voice...
     
    As for adjectives, metaphors and similitudes in Venetan are not just a stylistic option, but they have a grammatical function just as the other periphrastical constructions. They don't depend on the "humour" of the speaker, but are often the easiest way to express an absolute superlative adverb. The synthetical superlative is not of the the same importance as in Spanish or Italian and it is not often used.
     
     
    Relative Superlative Degree (Grado Superlativo Relativo)
     
    Superlative Degree
    Formation
    Examples
    Relative
    pi + ADV. + de
    		 El va pi veloce(mente) bravo de tuti. 
    He runs quickliest than 
     
     
    Irregular degrees (Gradi iregolari)

    A few adjectives have irregular synthetical comparative forms, inherited from Latin:
     
      Adverb Comparative Degree Superlative Degree
      ben (well) mejo invar. pi mejo de
      mal / male (badly) pexo invar. pi pexo de

     
     

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