Difference adjectives and adverbs in French
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HideAdjective or adverb?
If you're not sure whether to use adjectives or adverbs, pay close attention to the following rules and explanations.
The main difference is that:
- Adjectives (French: les adjectives ) aim to describe nouns.
- Adverbs (French: les adverbes) are used to describe adjectives, verbs, other adverbs or entire clauses.
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Rhuana S. 
Lucile T. 
Magdalini T. 
Paola C. 
Léonie B.
Trécy N.
Rebecca J.
Nirina R.
Giulia F.
Valérie F.
List of example sentences
| Example | |
|---|---|
| Adjective | Les souris sont heureuses et nous regardent en riant. La maison est vieille. |
| Adverb | Elles ont fait un très bon travail. Elles ont bien travaillé. |
Adjectives used as adverbs
Some adjectives are used as adverbs and thus are invariable. The most important ones are:
| Français | English |
|---|---|
| Achetez français. | Buy French (products). |
| Parlez plus fort. | Speak louder. |
| Parlez bas. | Speak softer. |
| Votez socialiste. | Vote (for the) Socialist (Party). |
| Il faut marcher droit. | You must walk straight. |
| Ils gagnent gros. | They earn a lot. |
| Vous allez tout droit. | Go straight ahead. |
| Elle travaille dur. | She works hard. |
| Elle chante faux/juste. | She sings off-key/on-key. |
| Ça sonne faux/juste. | That sounds wrong/right. |
| Ça coûte cher. | That's expensive. |
| Ça sent bon/mauvais. | That smells good/bad. |
Adverbs used as adjectives
The adverbs bien, mal and mieux can also be used as adjectives.
| Français | English |
|---|---|
| Ce restaurant est bien. | This restaurant is good. |
| Ce restaurant est mieux. | This restaurant is better. |
| Ce restaurant n'est pas mal. | This restaurant is not bad. |
| Je connais beaucoup de gens bien. | I know many good people. |
| Je voudrais manger quelque chise de bien. | I would like to eat something good. |
| Elle n'a rien fait de mal. | She has done nothing bad. |
| Il n'a pas fait grand-chose de bien. | He has not done much good. |