Italian All-in-One For Dummies (115 page)

If the adjective ends in
-e
but the
-e
is preceded by
-l
or
-r,
you drop the
-e
before adding
-mente.
For example,
normale
(
normal
)
→
normalmente
(
normally
);
celere
(
rapid
)
→
celermente
(
rapidly
).

Finding a Place for Adverbs

In general, you place most adverbs close to the words they modify — that is, before the adjective and the noun and after the verb (in both its simple and compound forms). Here are a few examples (note that the adverbs are
spesso
and
molto
):

Roberto gioca spesso a golf.
(
Roberto plays golf often.
)

Mi è piaciuto molto il concerto.
(
I liked the concert a lot.
)

Exceptions to the general rule are the simple adverbs
appena
(
just
),
ancora
(
yet; still
),
già
(
already
), and
mai
(
ever
), and the compound adverbs
non . . . mai
(
ever; never
),
non . . . ancora
(
not yet
), and
non . . . più
(
no more; no longer
). The following guidelines explain where to place them:

With a compound verb composed of an auxiliary and a past participle, you place the simple adverbs listed previously between the auxiliary and the past participle, as in
Il film è già finito
(
The film has ended already
). For more about compound verbs, see Book V.

If you have a verbal form consisting of a modal auxiliary and a verb in the infinitive, you place the adverb between the two verbs, as in
Volete ancora venire?
(
Do you still want to come?
).

With compound adverbs,
non
precedes the verb, and
mai/ancora/più
follows it. For example,
Non mangio più il sushi
(
I don't eat sushi anymore
).

If the verb is in a compound form or is accompanied by a modal auxiliary, you place the second word of the adverb between the two verbs, as in
Non ho ancora mangiato il dolce
(
I haven't eaten dessert yet
).

Ancora
means
yet
or
still,
but it also means
some more
or
again.
Regardless of meaning, its placement in the sentence remains the same. Here are a few examples:

È ancora presto per telefonargli.
(
It's still too early to call him.
)

Vuoi ancora del gelato?
(
Do you want some more ice cream?
)

The adverb
sempre,
however, can go either between or after components of a compound tense or verbal form, without any change in meaning. For example,
Ha sempre giocato con lei
and
Ha giocato sempre con lei
both mean
He's always played with her.

You have more freedom in placing all other adverbs, depending on what you want to emphasize. You can say
Improvvisamente, se ne andarono
(
Suddenly, they left
) or
Se ne andarono improvvisamente
(
They left suddenly
). As usual, when it's a matter of emphasis and style, no precise rules exist. Notice where they're placed when reading and try different options when writing.

Making Comparisons

In general, you make three kinds of comparisons in Italian:

Those of equality (
as pretty as her mother
)

Those of inequality (
more rich than smart; less tall than his father
)

Those called comparatives, and relative or absolute superlatives (
better, worse, the best, the very worst
).

Each sort of comparison uses specific adverbs and forms in its own idiosyncratic way.

Comparisons of equality

Comparisons of equality use adverbs to say that two (or more) things or verbs being compared are equal. You use
così . . . come
(
as . . . as
) or
tanto . . . quanto
(
as much . . . as
) to make such comparisons. These constructs, however, are becoming uncommon, and you frequently leave out
così
and
tanto
because they're understood rather than voiced.

The
così . . . come
construction puts
così
often
before an adjective or a verb; an adjective, a pronoun, or a noun follow
come.

Quel ragazzo è [così] bello come suo padre.
(
That boy is as handsome as his father.
)

Questa nuova casa non è [così] comoda come quella vecchia.
(
This new house isn't as comfortable as that old one.
)