Уро́к 3
3.6 Grammar: Хорошо́ и́ли Хоро́ший?
Adverbs vs. Adjectives
Let’s step back from adjectives for a minute and talk about adverbs. You may not realize it, but you’ve already learned SEVERAL adverbs. Do you remember what an adverb is / does? We usually think of adverbs as words that describe verbs. If adjectives describe the qualities of nouns, then adverbs describe the qualities of a verb – they give information about ‘HOW’ an action is done. You’ve already learned quite a few. As in:
Как дела́?
- хорошо́
- норма́льно
- пло́хо
- отли́чно
- ужа́сно!
How the weather ‘feels’:
- Ле́том в Теха́се жа́рко!
- Зимо́й в Теха́се прохла́дно.
- Зимо́й в Росси́и хо́лодно! О́чень хо́лодно.
- Ле́том в Росси́и тепло́ и иногда жа́рко.
- Весно́й в Теха́се прия́тно.
All of those descriptive words that answer the question ‘Как?’ are, essentially, adverbs. They all, as you’ll notice, end in -о. These words DON’T change. Finally!
Adverbs to describe actions and the verbs you love:
Taking this further, when you describe an action, you will also use these adverbs to answer questions, like:
Как вы отдыха́ете?
How’s your vacation? (lit. How are you resting?)
Я хорошо́ отдыха́ю!
I’m having a great break / vacation / rest.
Как он у́чится?
How is he doing in school? (lit. How is he studying?)
Пло́хо. Он пло́хо у́чится.
Not well. He’s doing poorly. (lit. He’s studying poorly.)
Вы хорошо́ говори́те по-ру́сски?
Do you speak Russian well? Is your Russian good?
Да, мы о́чень хорошо́ говори́м по-ру́сски.
Yes, we speak Russian very well. Our Russian is good.
