Just like adjectives, Italian adverbs can express different degrees of intensity, allowing for precise and nuanced descriptions of actions, qualities, or circumstances. The system of comparison for adverbs mirrors that of adjectives but is applied to invariable words.
1. Grado Positivo (Positive Degree):
The basic, uncompared form of the adverb. It simply states the manner, time, place, etc.
- Parla lentamente. (He/she speaks slowly.)
- Viene spesso. (He/she comes often.)
2. Grado Comparativo (Comparative Degree):
Used to compare the intensity of an action/quality between two terms (entities, actions, or situations). There are three types of comparison:
a) Comparativo di Maggioranza (Comparative of Majority): “more… than”
Formula: più + adverb + di / che
- Parla più lentamente di te.
- (He/she speaks more slowly than you.)
- Agisce più saggiamente che impulsivamente.
- (He/she acts more wisely than impulsively.)
b) Comparativo di Minoranza (Comparative of Minority): “less… than”
Formula: meno + adverb + di / che
- Corre meno velocemente di prima.
- (He/she runs less fast than before.)
c) Comparativo di Uguaglianza (Comparative of Equality): “as… as”
Formula: tanto + adverb + quanto / così + adverb + come
(The first adverb, tanto or così, is often omitted.)
- (Tanto) Bene quanto me. / (Così) bene come me. (As well as me.)
- Lavora (tanto) duramente quanto te. (He/she works as hard as you.)
The word possibile (possible) is used in a unique and powerful comparative/superlative structure that is extremely common in modern Italian.
- Structure: il più / il meno + adverb + possibile
- Meaning: “as [adverb] as possible”
- Key Feature: It is invariable (possibile does not change form).
- Position: Possibile is placed immediately after the adverb it modifies.
- Parla il più chiaramente possibile. (Speak as clearly as possible.)
- Il più vicino possibile. (As close as possible.)
- Il più chiaramente possibile. (As clearly as possible.)
3. Grado Superlativo (Superlative Degree):
Expresses the intensity of an adverb at its highest or lowest level. There are two types:
a) Superlativo Relativo (Relative Superlative): “the most… / the least… in/of a group”
Formula: il più / il meno + adverb + di, tra, fra
- È il libro che leggo più volentieri di tutti. (It’s the book I read most willingly of all.)
- Questo treno è il meno frequentemente in ritardo tra le linee regionali.
- (This train is the least frequently late among the regional lines.)
b) Superlativo Assoluto (Absolute Superlative): “extremely…, very…”
Expresses a very high degree without an explicit comparison. It has several forms:
-issimo Suffix: The most common and regular form. Add -issimo/a/i/e to the adjective root of the adverb.
- lentamente → lentissimamente (very slowly)
- bene → benissimo (very well)
- male → malissimo (very badly)
Adverbs formed by adding -mente to the feminine singular of an adjective (e.g., lenta > lentamente) follow a hierarchical, logical rule for their superlative forms.
To form the superlative, you first modify the adjective root to its absolute superlative form (-issimo), and then add the adverbial suffix “-mente“.
- Step1: Identify the adjective root. (lento/a > lent-)
- Step 2: Apply the absolute superlative suffix “-issimo” to the root. (lent- > lentissim-)
- Step 3: Add the adverbial suffix “-mente” to this new form. (lentissim- + mente > lentissimamente)
The superlative degree can be formed in different ways:
- Adverbial Prefixes: Use prefixes like arci-, stra-, super- (colloquial).
- arcibene, strapieno, supervelocemente
- Repetition of the Adverb: (Emphatic, colloquial)
- piano piano, sempre sempre
- Adverbial Phrases: molto, assai, estremamente + adverb.
- molto bene, assai rapidamente, estremamente chiaramente
The most common adverbs of manner have irregular forms in the comparative and superlative. These must be memorized.
| Adverb | Superlative | Comparative |
| Bene (well) Male (badly) Molto (much, very) Poco (little) Grandemente (greatly) | meglio (better) peggio(worse) più (more) meno (less) maggiormente (more greatly) | benissimo/ottimamente (very well)) malissimo/pessimamente (very badly) moltissimo/assai (very much) pochissimo (very little) massimamente/sommamente (maximally) |
Some adverbs may have their forms altered
| Adverbs | Altered forms |
| Bene Male Poco Tardi Presto Adagio | benino/benone maluccio/malaccio pochino/pochetto/pochettino tardino/tarduccio presto/prestino adagio/adagino |
- Sono un pochino stanco, lasciami riposare.
- I’m a little tired, let me rest.
- Sono molto dispiaciuto per il tuo comportamento.
- I am very sorry for your behavior.
The adverbs nulla, niente, tutto remain unchanged.
Unlike adjectives, adverbs do not change for gender or number in their comparative/superlative forms. Only the adjectival roots in the -issimo form follow agreement rules (lentissimamente is invariable, but if using the adjective lentissimo it agrees: una macchina lentissima).
Next lesson:
Le preposizioni / Prepositions.