🌟 Using Japanese Adverbs in Sentences 🌟
Now that you understand what adverbs are, let's learn how to use them in sentences! Adverbs make your Japanese more expressive and natural by adding detail about how, when, or to what degree an action happens.
Adverb Position in Japanese Sentences
In Japanese, adverbs usually come right before the word they modify. This is different from English where adverb position can be more flexible.
Basic Japanese Word Order:
[Topic/Subject] → [Time] → [Place] → [Adverb] → [Object] → [Verb]
Remember: The verb always comes at the end of a Japanese sentence!
わたしは
ゆっくり
あるきます。
I walk slowly.
The adverb ゆっくり (slowly) comes right before the verb あるきます (walk).
せんせいは
はやく
きました。
The teacher came early.
The adverb はやく (early) comes before the verb きました (came).
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Common Adverbs in Sentences
Common adverbs like とても (very) and あまり (not very) modify the intensity of actions or qualities. Pay special attention to negative adverbs like あまり and ぜんぜん which are usually used with negative verbs.
このケーキはとてもおいしいです。
This cake is very delicious.
とても intensifies the adjective おいしい (delicious).
あまりテレビをみません。
I don't watch TV much.
あまり is used with a negative verb to mean 'not very much'.
にほんごがぜんぜんわかりません。
I don't understand Japanese at all.
ぜんぜん makes the negative verb わかりません stronger.
ちょっとまってください。
Please wait a little.
ちょっと softens the request, making it more polite.
Time Adverbs in Sentences
Time adverbs tell us when or how often something happens. In Japanese, they usually appear near the beginning of the sentence, often right after the topic or subject.
Time Adverbs Positioning
In Japanese, time expressions often come early in the sentence:
[Topic/Subject] → [Time Adverb] → [Rest of sentence]
わたしはいつも７じにおきます。
I always wake up at 7 o'clock.
いつも (always) shows this is a regular, consistent habit.
ともだちとときどきえいがをみます。
I sometimes watch movies with friends.
ときどき shows this happens occasionally but not regularly.
かのじょはよくうたいます。
She often sings.
よく indicates a frequent action.
もうごはんをたべました。
I have already eaten.
もう shows the action is already completed.
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Manner Adverbs in Sentences
Manner adverbs describe how an action is performed. In Japanese, they come right before the verb they modify, adding important details about the way something is done.
はやい
→
はやく
(quickly)
おばあさんはゆっくりあるきます。
The elderly woman walks slowly.
ゆっくり describes the slow manner of walking.
はやくはなしてください。
Please speak quickly.
はやく modifies how the speaking should be done.
いっしょにべんきょうしましょう。
Let's study together.
いっしょに describes how the studying will happen - together.
かれはにほんごをじょうずにはなします。
He speaks Japanese skillfully.
じょうずに describes the quality of his speaking ability.
Combining Multiple Adverbs
You can use multiple adverbs in a single Japanese sentence to provide more detail. The general order for multiple adverbs is: time adverbs first, followed by frequency adverbs, then manner adverbs closest to the verb.
Multiple Adverbs Order:
[Time] → [Frequency] → [Manner] → [Verb]
Example: "Yesterday, I often ran quickly" would be structured with adverbs in that order.
きのう、
よく
はやく
はしりました。
Yesterday, I often ran quickly.
Time (きのう/yesterday) → Frequency (よく/often) → Manner (はやく/quickly) → Verb (はしりました/ran)
わたしは
まいにち
ときどき
ゆっくり
あるきます。
I sometimes walk slowly every day.
Time (まいにち/every day) → Frequency (ときどき/sometimes) → Manner (ゆっくり/slowly) → Verb (あるきます/walk)
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Tips for Using Adverbs
Here are some helpful tips to remember when using Japanese adverbs in sentences:
- ✅
Position Matters
Adverbs usually come right before the word they modify. For verbs, this means just before the verb.
- ✅
Negative Adverbs Need Negative Verbs
Remember that あまり and ぜんぜん need to be used with negative verbs.
- ✅
No Changes Needed
Unlike verbs and adjectives, adverbs don't change form - they're always the same!
- ✅
Start Simple
Begin with one adverb per sentence until you're comfortable, then try combining them.
[わたしは] + [adverb] + [verb]
For example: わたしは よく およぎます。(I often swim.)
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