- What is an adverb?
- When does a word function as an adverb?
- When does a word function as an adjective?
In Persian, adjectives can be used as adverbs without any change. This is also typical of some other languages including German and Dutch. Adverbs modify a verb, an adjective or another adverb. They can even modify a whole sentence. In contrast, adjectives only modify a noun. The word بلند can mean both “loud” (adjective) and “loudly” (adverb) depending on the context. If it modifies a noun then it functions as an adjective, otherwise it functions as an adverb.
| بلند آواز می‌خواند Boland âvâz mikhwânad He sings loudly بلند modifies a verb. So it is an adverb |
| بسیار بلند آواز می‌خواند Besyâr boland âvâz mikhwânad He sings very loudly بسیار modifies the adverb بلند. So it is an adverb |
| صدای بلند Sedâ-ye boland Loud voice بلند modifies a noun. So it is an adjective |
| صدای بسیار بلند Sedâ-ye besyâr boland Very loud voice بسیار modifies the adjective بلند. So it is an adverb |
More examples:
| خوب بخوابی Khub bekhwâbi Sleep well! |
خوب خوابیدی؟ Khub khwâbidi? Did you sleep well? |
| زود بر گرد zud bar gard Come back soon! |
Comparative Adverbs
The relation between adverbs and adjectives also applies to comparative adjectives. For example, بهتر can mean “better” (adjective) or “well” (adverb) and آرامتر can mean “slower” (adjective) or “more slowly” (adverb) depending on whether it modifies a noun or another part of speech.
| قطار کندتر از هواپیما حرکت می‌کند Ghatâr kondtar az havâpeymâ harkat mikonad Trains go more slowly than planes |
| آنها بردند چون بهتر بازی می‌کردند Ânhâ bordand chon behtar bâzi mikardand They won because they played better |
| می‌شود کمی آرامتر حرف بزنید؟ Mishavad kam-i ârâmtar harf bezanid? Could you talk a bit more quietly please? |
Place of Adverbs
Adverbs that modify an adjective come before it. This is always the case for attributive adjectives and typically for predicate adjectives as well. However, since Persian has free word order, an adverb can come anywhere in the sentence when it modifies a predicate adjective or the whole sentence.
| دوست بسیار خوب dust-e besyâr khub very good friend |
| هوا کمی سرد است Havâ kam-i sard ast The weather is a little cold |
| کمی هوا سرد است Kam-i havâ sard ast The weather is cold a little |
| هوا سرد است کمی Havâ sard ast Kam-i The weather is cold a little |