Turning adjectives into adverbs — い→く and な→に
Can use adverbial forms of adjectives
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
日本語を上手に話します。
I speak Japanese skillfully.
早く起きてください。
Please wake up early.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
To modify a verb (not a noun), change the adjective to its adverbial form:
| Type | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| い-adj | い → く | 早い → 早く起きる (wake up early) |
| な-adj | な → に | 静か → 静かに話す (speak quietly) |
Examples: 速く走る (run fast), 上手に歌う (sing skillfully), 大きく書く (write big).
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesUsing the wrong form (早いに× → 早く○; 静かく× → 静かに○)
日本語を上手に話します。
I speak Japanese skillfully.
上手(じょうず, skillful, な-adj) → 上手に(adverb) + 話します(はなします, speak)
早く起きてください。
Please wake up early.
早い(はやい, early, い-adj) → 早く(adverb: い→く) + 起きて(おきて, wake up) + ください
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises