Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn Italian adverbs of manner that describe how actions are done, including 'bene' (well), 'male' (badly), 'piano' (slowly), and 'forte' (loudly), with practical examples.
  1. Adverbs of manner are words that describe how an action is performed.
Avverbio (Adverb)Esempio (Example)
Bene (Well)A casa dormo bene. (At home I sleep well.)
Male (Bad)Lui si sente male. (He feels bad.)
Piano (quietly)Fai piano! (Do slowly!)
Forte (Loud)Parla forte! (Speak loudly!)

Exercise 1: Gli avverbi di modo

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

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bene, male, piano, forte

1. +:
L'influenza è ... quest'anno.
(The flu is severe this year.)
2. +:
Ho dormito molto ... questa notte.
(I slept very well last night.)
3. +:
Dopo le medicine sono stato ....
(After the medicine, I felt well.)
4. -:
Cammina ...! Ho male alla gamba.
(Walk slowly! My leg hurts.)
5. +:
Hai parlato ... con il medico.
(You spoke well with the doctor.)
6. -:
Lui sta ... da una settimana.
(He has been unwell for a week.)
7. +:
Mi sento ... da due giorni.
(I have been feeling unwell for two days.)
8. -:
Parla ..., i bambini dormono.
(Speak quietly, the children are sleeping.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Parla ___ così il dottore ti sente bene.

(Speak ___ so the doctor can hear you well.)

2. Devi respirare ___ per non sentirti peggio.

(You must breathe ___ so you don't feel worse.)

3. Mi sento ___ quando sto in piedi troppo a lungo.

(I feel ___ when I stand for too long.)

4. Canta ___ anche se ha la febbre.

(She sings ___ even though she has a fever.)

5. Parla ___, non voglio stancarmi ad ascoltare.

(Speak ___, I don't want to get tired listening.)

6. Senti ___ il dolore al petto?

(Do you feel the pain in your chest ___?)

Understanding Italian Adverbs of Manner

This lesson focuses on adverbs of manner in Italian, which are used to describe how an action is performed. These adverbs provide important details about the style or way an activity occurs and are essential for everyday communication, especially at the beginner (A1) level.

What Are Adverbs of Manner?

In Italian, adverbs of manner modify verbs to express the way in which something happens or is done. For example, in the sentence A casa dormo bene (At home, I sleep well), bene specifies how the action of sleeping is performed.

Key Examples of Italian Adverbs of Manner

  • Bene — well (e.g., A casa dormo bene.)
  • Male — badly (e.g., Lui si sente male.)
  • Piano — softly, slowly (e.g., Fai piano!)
  • Forte — loudly, strongly (e.g., Parla forte!)

How to Use These Adverbs

Adverbs of manner usually come right after the verb to clearly express how an action happens. It is important to remember that these adverbs do not change form according to gender or number, which simplifies their use.

Differences Between English and Italian Usage

Unlike English, where adverbs often end in "-ly," Italian adverbs of manner like bene or male do not follow a specific suffix pattern. Furthermore, while English adverbs commonly modify adjectives and other adverbs, in Italian this lesson’s focus is on their use directly modifying verbs. Also, some Italian adverbs of manner, such as piano, can mean both "softly" and "slowly," depending on context, which requires attention when translating or learning.

Useful Expressions and Words

  • Parlare forte — to speak loudly
  • Respirare piano — to breathe slowly/gently
  • Sentirsi male — to feel bad
  • Cantare bene — to sing well

This overview prepares you to recognize and use common Italian adverbs of manner effectively. Remember that practicing these in context will improve your fluency and understanding.

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This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

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Fabio Pirioni

Bachelor in Humanities

University of Udine

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 14:28