Vocabulary – Adverbs of Frequency

ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY

These adverbs gyakran, ritkán, mindig, soha are placed right before the verb. However, általában and rendszerint go to the beginning of the sentence. The adverb néha can be at the beginning or at the end of the sentence or before the information you want to stress it happens once in a blue moon.

gyakran often <> ritkán rarely, seldom
Gyakran hallgatom, ahogy a madarak csiripelnek.
I often listen to the birds twittering.
Piacra csak ritkán járok, inkább áruházban vásárolok.
I rarely go to the market. I prefer doing the shopping in a department store.

mindig always <> soha never
A tévét mindig bekapcsolva hagyja.
He always leaves the tv on. (leaves the tv turned on)
Én soha nem kértem tőled semmit.
I’ve never asked anything from you.

néha sometimes, now and then
Néha beszélünk a politikáról.
We sometimes talk about politics.
Találkozunk még néha.
We meet now and then.
Azt mondta, hogy néha kirándulni jár.
She said she sometimes makes an excursion.

általában, rendszerint usually, normally
Általában háromszor mosok fogat.
I usually brush my teeth three times.
Rendszerint elegánsan öltözködik.
She normally dresses smart.

NOTE! If a word is strongly connected to the verb, then mindig and soha precede that word. Examples from above:

mindig bekapcsolva hagyja
soha nem kértem

Summary for Adverbs of Manner with -ly

SUMMARY FOR –LY:

1. -n, -an, -on, -en

These are standard suffixes to form adverbs of manner. Use them with adjectives according to the link vowel of their plural forms.

-they must be used with adjectives ending with -os, -es, -ös, -s!
-with some adjectives that end with ú, ű!

Examples:

békések > békésen = peaceably
szépek > szépen = beautifully
alaposak > alaposan = thoroughly
bátor – bátrak > bátran = bravely
vastagok > vastagon = thickly
egyoldalúan = in a one-sided way
egyértelműen = unequivocally

Exceptions:

lassú > lassan = slowly
hosszú > hosszan = for a long time
könnyű > könnyen = easily
szörnyű > szörnyen = terribly
nagy = big > nagyon = very

2. -lag, -leg

These suffixes are used with:

-adjectives ending with –i
some adjectives ending with ó, ő, ű
-and with some more adjectives

barátilag = amicably
elvileg = theoretically
állítólag = allegedly
ellenkezőleg = on the contrary
valószínűleg = probably
aránylag = relatively
végleg = definitely
tényleg = really, truly

3. ul, -ül, -l

These suffixes are used with:

languages spoken/written/learned by someone
-adjectives with these privative suffixes: -talan, -telen, -atlan, -etlen
-and some more adjectives

Beszélek olaszul. = I speak Italian.
Németül írok. = I’m writing in German.
Angolul tanulok. = I’m learning English.
aránytalanul = disproportionately
védtelenül = helplessly
akaratlanul = unintentionally
kelletlenül = reluctantly

Besides, the adverbs well/right and badly/wrong are formed with these suffixes, too:

jó > jól = well/right
rossz > rosszul = badly/wrong