Adverbs are an important topic of German grammar, as the German language contains hundreds of adverbs and they are frequently used.
The difference between adverbs and adjectives is that adjectives modify nouns, whereas German adverbs can be used to provide information about verbs, adjectives and even other adverbs.
The two diagrams below show examples of Geman phrases where the adverb modifies the verb:
Remark about the direction of the arrows: These diagrams represent the syntactic structure of a sentence. The direction of the arrows goes from a head word to its dependent word.
Here are two examples of German phrases in which the adverb modifies the adjective:
Here is an example of a German phrase in which the adverb modifies another adverb:
Adverbs of Frequency are called « Häufigkeitsadverbien » in German. Their purpose is to provide information about how often an event occurs.
In the table below is a list of the most common German adverbs of Frequency
German adverb |
translation |
---|---|
immer | always |
ständig | constantly |
oft | often |
häufig | frequently |
üblicherweise | usually |
gewöhnlicherweise | usually |
manchmal | sometimes |
gelegentlich | occasionally |
zeitweise | at times |
selten | rarely, seldom |
keinmal | not once |
nie | never |
niemals | never |
Adverbs of degree are called « Gradadverbien » in German. Their purpose is to provide information about the extent to which another word applies.
In the table below is a list of the most common German adverbs of degree:
German adverb | translation |
---|---|
besonders | especially |
völlig | fully |
sehr | very |
ziemlich | quite |
nahezu | nearly, almost |
fast | almost |
beinahe | almost |
meistens | mostly |
meistenteils | mostly, for the most part |
großenteils | largely, mostly |
schwerlich | scarcely, hardly |
kaum | barely, hardly |
Adverbs of time are called « Temporaladverbien » in German. Their purpose is to provide information about when an event occurs.
Here is a list of the most common German adverbs of time:
German adverb | translation |
---|---|
jetzt | now |
sofort | immediately |
bald | soon |
zuvor | previously |
bereits | already |
zurzeit | currently |
zugleich | at the same time |
heute | today |
morgen | tomorrow |
damals | at that time (in the past) |
bisher | so far |
abends | in the evening |
nachts | at night |
nachmittags | in the afternoon |
morgens | every morning |
spätestens | at the latest |
neulich | recently |
derzeit | currently |
oftmals | oftentimes |
jederzeit | anytime |
neuerdings | recently, lately |
kürzlich | recently |
unlängst | recently |
letztens | last time, recently |
schleunigst | immediately, as soon as possible |
Adverbs of place are called « Lokaladverbien » in German. They are used to provide information about where an event occurs.
Here is a list of the most common German adverbs of place:
German adverb | translation |
---|---|
hier | here |
dort | there |
überall | everywhere |
draußen | outside |
unten | below |
oben | above |
innen | inside |
hinten | behind, in the back |
hinweg | away |
vielerorts | in many places |
There are a number of German adverbs which were formed by adding the suffix “-weise” to a noun. Notice how German nouns are capitalized whereas German adverbs are not.
German adverb | formation |
---|---|
teilweise (partially) | Teil + -weise |
beispielsweise (for example) | Beispiel + -weise |
vergleichsweise (comparatively) | Vergleich + -weise |
schrittweise (gradually) | Schritt + -weise |
schätzungsweise (approximately) | Schätzung + -weise |
zeitweise (at times) | Zeit + -weise |
vorzugsweise (preferably) | Vorzug + -weise |
ausnahmsweise (exceptionally) | Ausnahme + -weise |
versuchsweise (experimentally) | Versuch + -weise |
näherungsweise (approximately) | Näherung + -weise |
behelfsweise (provisionally) | Behelf + -weise |
reihenweise (serially) | Reihe + -weise |
gruppenweise (in groups) | Gruppen + -weise |
scharenweise (in droves) | Scharen + -weise |
portionsweise (in portions) | Portion + -weise |
löffelweise (by the spoonful) | Löffel + -weise |
absatzweise (intermittently) | Absatz + -weise |
abschnittsweise (in sections) | Abschnitt + -weise |
schichtweise (in layers) | Schicht + -weise |
stapelweise (in batches) | Stapel + -weise |
haufenweise (in heaps) | Haufen + -weise |
stückweise (piecemeal) | Stück + -weise |
stückchenweise (piecemeal) | Stückchen + -weise |
fallweise (case by case) | Fall + -weise |
hordenweise (in hordes) | Horde + -weise |
ansatzweise (to some extent) | Ansatz + -weise |
stellenweise (in places) | Stelle + -n- + -weise |
zwangsweise (compulsorily) | Zwang + -s + -weise |
wahlweise (alternatively) | Wahl + -weise |
probeweise (on a trial basis) | Probe + -weise |
There are also many German adverbs which were formed by adding the suffix “-erweise” to an adjective. Here is a list of the most commonly used ones:
German adverb | formation |
---|---|
möglicherweise (possibly) | möglich + -erweise |
normalerweise (normally) | normal + -erweise |
glücklicherweise (fortunately) | glücklich + -erweise |
üblicherweise (usually) | üblich + -erweise |
blöderweise (stupidly) | blöd + -erweise |
verständlicherweise (understandably) | verständlich + -erweise |
idealerweise (ideally) | ideal + -erweise |
erstaunlicherweise (surprisingly) | erstaunlich + -erweise |
notwendigerweise (necessarily) | notwendig + -erweise |
bedauerlicherweise (regrettably) | bedauerlich + -erweise |
leichtsinnigerweise (carelessly) | leichtsinnig + -erweise |
logischerweise (logically) | logisch + -erweise |
überraschenderweise (surprisingly) | überraschend + -erweise |
irrtümlicherweise (mistakenly) | irrtümlich + -erweise |
fälschlicherweise (wrongly) | fälschlich + -erweise |
unglücklicherweise (unfortunately) | unglücklich -erweise |
missbräuchlicherweise (improperly) | missbräuchlich + -erweise |
typischerweise (typically) | typisch + -erweise |
zufälligerweise (coincidentally) | zufällig + -erweise |
unnötigerweise (unnecessarily) | unnötig + -erweise |
eigenartigerweise (strangely) | eigenartig + -erweise |
charakteristischerweise (characteristically) | charakteristisch + -erweise |
natürlicherweise (naturally) | natürlich + -erweise |
untypischerweise (atypically) | untypisch + -erweise |
bezeichnenderweise (characteristically) | bezeichnend + -erweise |
freundlicherweise (kindly) | freundlich + -erweise |
irrsinnigerweise (insanely) | irrsinnig + -erweise |
dummerweise (stupidly) | dumm + -erweise |
ehrlicherweise (honestly) | ehrlich + -erweise |
komischerweise (funnily) | komisch + -erweise |
lustigerweise (funnily) | lustig + -erweise |
traurigerweise (sadly) | traurig + -erweise |
betrüblicherweise (unfortunately) | betrüblich + -erweise |
richtigerweise (rightly) | richtig + -erweise |
erfreulicherweise (happily) | erfreulich + -erweise |
begreiflicherweise (understandably) | begreiflich + -erweise |
unverständlicherweise (incomprehensibly) | unverständlich + -erweise |
witzigerweise (funnily) | witzig + -erweise |
dämlicherweise (foolishly) | dämlich + -erweise |
klugerweise (wisely) | klug + -erweise |
intelligenterweise (intelligently) | intelligent + -erweise |
schlauerweise (cleverly) | schlau + -erweise |
naiverweise (naively) | naiv + -erweise |
merkwürdigerweise (oddly enough) | merkwürdig + -erweise |
seltsamerweise (strangely) | seltsam + -erweise |
interessanterweise (interestingly) | interessant + -erweise |
gewöhnlicherweise (usually) | gewöhnlich + -erweise |
unsinnigerweise (nonsensically) | unsinnig + -erweise |
sinnvollerweise (sensibly) | sinnvoll + -erweise |
vernünftigerweise (reasonably) | vernünftig + -erweise |
ungewöhnlicherweise (unusually) | ungewöhnlich + -erweise |
unfreundlicherweise (unkindly) | unfreundlich + -erweise |
unhöflicherweise (rudely) | unhöflich + -erweise |
unzulässigerweise (inadmissibly) | unzulässig + -erweise |
ungerechtfertigterweise (unjustifiedly) | ungerechtfertigt + -erweise |
ewigerweise (forever) | ewig + -erweise |
gleicherweise (likewise) | gleich + -erweise |
ungerechterweise (unjustly) | ungerecht + -erweise |
gerechterweise (justly) | gerecht + -erweise |
klassischerweise (classically) | klassisch + -erweise |
verbotenerweise (illegally) | verboten + -erweise |
klarerweise (obviously) | klar + -erweise |