1. Gestión:
3.1.2 Descripción Actual de la Empresa
1 USAGE
a Adverbs are most commonly thought of as modifying verbs:
e.g. il se rend régulièrement (lines 6–7) but they also modify adjectives:
e.g. extrêmement difficiles (lines 38–9)
They may also modify a whole phrase or sentence, creating a link between what has been said previously and what is being said now:
e.g. l’avocat Strauss a toutefois été contraint de repasser . . . (lines 9–10) la situation a néanmoins commencé à évoluer . . . (lines 49–50) Ainsi, «à partir de 2004, il devrait y avoir . . .» (lines 64–5)
b Adverbs are classified according to how they modify the sense of the word, phrase or sentence.
In the text there are adverbs of manner, e.g. directement (line 63), adverbs of time, e.g. enfin (line 68), and the concessive sentence-modifying adverbs, toutefois (line 10) and néanmoins (line 49). For adverbs of place and adverbs of quantity/degree, see Discover more about adverbs and adverbial phrases, below.
c Adverbs do not always consist of single words. There are many invariable phrases used as adverbs. These are frequently translated into English by a single word:
e.g. au préalable – first (line 9), en particulier – particularly (lines 41–2)
d The preposition avec + noun produces many useful adverbial phrases:
e.g. avec fatalité – fatalistically (line 28)
Such a phrase is often preferable to a lengthy adverb in -ment, and in this case is essential, since there is no adverb in -ment corresponding to the adjective fataliste.
2 FORMATION
Many adverbs are formed by adding -ment to the adjective.
a If the adjective ends in a mute -e in both the masculine and feminine form, simply add -ment to it:
e.g. pratiquement (line 22); largement (line 43)
b If the adjective ends in a consonant, take the feminine form and add -ment:
e.g. régulièrement (line 7); également (line 8); directement (line 63)
Distinguish carefully between adjectives ending in -el and adjectives ending in -al (see Chapter 16). The former double the ‘l’ in the feminine; the latter do not:
e.g. partiellement; partialement
c There is one exceptional consonant ending to note. If the adjective ends in -ent or -ant, change the -nt of the masculine form to m before adding -ment. Note that this results in a double m:
e.g. récemment (line 59)
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d Adverbs themselves are invariable and never agree in gender or in number.
e The comparative of an adverb is formed by putting plus in front of it:
e.g. plus largement (line 43)
See Chapter 18 for more information on comparatives and superlatives.
3 WORD ORDER
a An adverb is placed before the adjective which it modifies:
e.g. extrêmement difficiles (lines 38–9)
b An adverb follows immediately after a verb in a simple tense:
e.g. il se rend régulièrement (lines 6–7), s’occupe pratiquement (lines 21–2)
c In English an adverb may be placed between subject and verb, but in French the adverb may NOT be placed in this position:
e.g. He regularly goes Il se rend régulièrement
d When the verb is in a compound tense, some common adverbs may be placed between the auxiliary verb and the past participle:
e.g. il a également ouvert (line 8)
la situation a néanmoins commencé (lines 49–50)
For exceptions, see Discover more about adverbs and adverbial phrases, below.
e Short, common adverbs usually precede an infinitive:
e.g. pourra enfin parvenir (line 68)
For exceptions, see Discover more about adverbs and adverbial phrases below.
Longer adverbs follow an infinitive:
e.g. accéder directement à l’ordre professionnel (lines 62–3)
f Adverbial phrases of time are often placed at the beginning of a phrase or sentence:
e.g. Au préalable l’avocat Strauss . . . (line 9)
Sentence-linking adverbs, e.g. ainsi (line 64), begin a phrase or sentence.
g Adverbial phrases of manner follow the verb:
e.g. détaille-t-il avec fatalité (line 28)
Other points to note in the text
• Devoir, pouvoir: avant de pouvoir s’inscrire (lines 15–16); doivent prendre en compte (line 26);
devrait permettre aux avocats (lines 59–60); on pourra enfin parvenir (lines 67–8) (see Chapter 24)
• Passive: a été contraint (line 10); sont soumis (line 35); a été entérinée (line 57) (see Chapter 21)
• Pronominal verbs: se rend (line 6); s’inscrire (line 16); se pose (line 18); s’occupe (line 21) (see Chapter 20)
• Perfect infinitive: après avoir obtenu (line 5); perfect participle: ayant effectué (line 60) (see Chapter 22)
• Word order: constate l’intéressé (line 20); détaille-t-il avec fatalité (line 28); auxquels sont soumis tous les candidats (line 35); précise A.M. Strauss (lines 37–8); fait remarquer Carlo Finochietti (lines 45–6); se souvient C.F. (lines 51–2); prédit A.M. Strauss (lines 66–7) (see Chapter 30) French Grammar in Context
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• Comparatives and superlatives: plus largement; le plus d’ordres professionnels (lines 43–5) (see Chapter 18)
D i s c o v e r m o re a b o u t a dv e r b s a n d a dv e r b i a l p h ra s e s
1 USAGE
a An adverb may precede and qualify another adverb or adverbial phrase:
e.g. Vous lisez très vite; il s’est trop mal exprimé.
Nous l’avons découvert tout à fait par hasard.
b There are two major categories of adverbs which do not appear in the text:
adverbs of place:
e.g. ailleurs elsewhere; partout everywhere and adverbs of quantity/degree:
e.g. assez enough; autant as much; davantage more; trop too much
c The preposition sans + noun produces many useful adverbial phrases:
e.g. sans cesse continuously; sans interruption uninterruptedly It is also possible to use sans + infinitive:
e.g. sans hésiter unhesitatingly; sans pouvoir rien faire helplessly
d Many adverbial phrases of manner are formed on the following models:
e.g. d’un air fâché angrily
d’une façon/manière charmante charmingly d’un ton sec drily
par hasard accidentally
e There are many idiomatic adverbial phrases which are used to translate English adverbs in -ly:
e.g. à peu près nearly; au juste exactly; d’habitude usually; de plus en plus increasingly; en général generally; en particulier particularly; peu à peu gradually; tout à fait completely; tout de suite immediately
Note All these phrases are invariable; en général and en particulier do not have a feminine form.
f There are a few adjectives which can be used as adverbs in certain set expressions with certain verbs. They always remain in the masculine singular:
e.g. parler bas to speak quietly; voir clair to see clearly; crier fort to shout loudly
g Impersonal expressions are sometimes a useful alternative to an adverb:
e.g. il est évident que obviously; il est possible que possibly
2 FORMATION
Note the following exceptions to the rules given under Adverbs and adverbial phrases in the text.
a A few adjectives ending in mute -e take an acute accent before -ment:
e.g. aveuglément; conformément; énormément
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b iAdjectives which end in a vowel other than mute -e need particular care. Add -ment to the MASCULINE, not the feminine form:
e.g. absolument; poliment; résolument
Note particularly the very common vraiment, and avoid the error of writing *vraiement.
ii A few adjectives ending in -u take a circumflex accent before -ment, e.g. assidûment; continûment
c A few adjectives ending in a consonant take an acute accent on the feminine form before -ment is added:
e.g. confusément; précisément; profondément
d There is one notable exception to the rule that adjectives ending in -ant, -ent form their adverbs in -amment, -emment. It is lentement.
e Note the following irregular adverbs, listed with the corresponding adjective in brackets: bien (bon); mal (mauvais); brièvement (bref); gentiment (gentil).
f Note particularly that vite (quickly; soon) is an adverb; it does not have a corresponding adjective and there is no such form as *vitement.
g There are a few adjectives for which no corresponding adverb in -ment exists. Examples include content, fâché, possible. Adverbial phrases (see Usage, 1d, above) and impersonal expressions (see Usage, 1g, above) are used in these cases.
3 WORD ORDER
a Adverbs of place follow the past participle when the verb is in a compound tense:
e.g. Ils ont fouillé partout. Elle est allée ailleurs
The adverbs of time tôt, tard, aussitôt, aujourd’hui, demain and hier behave likewise:
e.g. Ils sont arrivés hier. Elle est partie tôt
b These same adverbs also follow an infinitive:
e.g. J’ai dû chercher partout. Ils ont dû rentrer tard
c Other short adverbs usually precede the past participle or infinitive:
e.g. Il a trop bu. Ils se sont déjà endormis
J’ai lu l’article pour mieux comprendre ses théories Vous risquez de mal juger son caractère
d Be careful with dictionary items listed in the infinitive, e.g. mal comprendre (to
misunderstand). Remember that when this is conjugated, the adverb will follow the verb in a simple tense:
e.g. L’enfant comprend mal le jeu
and come between the auxiliary and past participle in a compound tense:
e.g. L’enfant a mal compris le jeu
e Adverbs of time and place may be positioned at the beginning of the clause or sentence for extra emphasis, and/or to link with what has gone before.
e.g. Aujourd’hui nous faisons face à un véritable dilemme
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Enfin il a osé parler
Dedans vous trouverez tout ce qu’il vous faudra
f In careful, formal speech and writing, if a clause or sentence begins with one of the following adverbs – aussi (so, therefore), à peine, du moins, peut-être, sans doute, toujours (nevertheless) – the subject and verb are inverted:
e.g. À peine était-il arrivé qu’on l’accablait de travail Sans doute arrivera-t-il tout à l’heure
g Considerations of balance and emphasis affect the positioning of adverbs and adverbial phrases. See Chapters 30 and 31 for further information on word order and highlighting and emphasis.
See for further information: Coffman Crocker, pp. 41–7 Ferrar, pp. 163–73
Hawkins and Towell, pp. 108–35
Judge and Healey, pp. 261–2, 286–304, 310–16 L’Huillier, pp. 436–60
Price, pp. 477–501
Turk and Vandaele, pp. 32–43 See Chapter 8 for negative expressions.
EXERCISES
1 Give the adverbs ending in -ment which correspond to the following adjectives.
a récent b énorme c absolu d discret e lent f extrême g ponctuel h normal i précis j vrai k assidu l profond m vif n gentil
2 Give the opposites of the following adverbs.
a mal
b impatiemment c heureusement
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d rapidement e impartialement f régulièrement g honnêtement h discrètement
3 Complete the sentences below with the appropriate adverb. The corresponding adjective is given in brackets.
a Je vais vous parler ____________ (franc).
b Elle pleure très ____________ (facile).
c _____________ (actuel) ils habitent à Paris.
d ________________ (évident) ils ont tout oublié.
e La vendeuse parle très ________ (poli).
f Nous avons tout fait ________ (conforme) aux instructions reçues.
4 Read through the following sentences and rewrite any in which you think the adverb is incorrectly placed.
a Vous avez mal compris le texte.
b Les étudiants mal comprennent cette théorie.
c Il faut simplement suivre les consignes.
d On va partout chercher.
e On va bientôt savoir les résultats.
f Ils ont déjà acheté les billets.
g Nous avons ailleurs mis les papiers.
h Cet hôtel vraiment est le meilleur que je connaisse.
i Il lit sans vraiment comprendre.
j Elle souvent oublie d’acheter du lait.
5 Translate the following sentences into French, paying particular attention to word order.
a We often meet up at the weekend.
b I really enjoyed the show. (Use plaire à.) c That’s a completely impossible question.
d Perhaps we will see him tomorrow.
e He sometimes catches the seven o’clock train.
f They have always tried to keep in touch.
g If the keys aren’t here, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
h This work quickly becomes tedious.
6 Insert the adverbial expressions given in brackets in an appropriate position in the following sentences. There may sometimes be more than one possible position.
a J’ai changé de place pour voir. (mieux) b Il faudra lui parler. (tôt ou tard) c Ils sont rentrés. (déjà)
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d Ils sont rentrés. (tard) e Avez-vous mangé? (assez)
f Après un retard d’une heure, il est arrivé. (enfin) g Nous nous sommes amusés. (beaucoup)
h Vous allez réussir à vos examens. (brillamment) i Elle a travaillé. (consciencieusement)
7 Complete the following sentences using an adverbial phrase introduced by avec/sans, par, d’un air, d’une manière to translate the English adverb given in brackets.
a Les enfants ont écouté (attentively).
b Il a parlé (uninterruptedly) pendant plus d’une heure.
c Ils ont réagi (disconcertingly).
d Il a avancé (cautiously).
e Nous avons trouvé son adresse tout à fait (accidentally).
f J’ai regardé tomber l’alpiniste (helplessly).
g On leur a octroyé le contrat (unhesitatingly).
h Elle se leva et sortit (angrily), en claquant la porte.
8 Rewrite the following sentences, replacing the adverb in -ment with an idiomatic adverbial phrase and changing the word order if necessary.
a Qu’est-ce que vous recherchez exactement?
b C’est une idée complètement ridicule.
c Il faut partir immédiatement.
d Il a fait très chaud cet été, particulièrement au mois d’août.
e C’est pratiquement terminé maintenant.
f Elle se lève tôt généralement.
9 Translate the following sentences into French, avoiding the use of adverbs in -ment . a They are talking quietly so as not to disturb the children.
b Obviously they have no idea that we are here.
c I usually leave home soon after 8 a.m.
d It’s becoming increasingly difficult to make allowances for him.
e He may possibly have taken a wrong turning.
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