Sometimes I get confused on when I should be using an adverb or an adjective. What's a good rule set?
For example, one can respond to a question with "bona" or "bone" - but when do I use which?
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Any examples?...– miĥaŭCommented Nov 12, 2016 at 16:40
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@michau Well I'm looking for a rule set that can work in all scenarios.– KeirCommented Nov 12, 2016 at 16:42
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2You said you sometimes got confused. Can you give some examples of cases when you get confused?– miĥaŭCommented Nov 12, 2016 at 16:44
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@michau Such as when the word is on its own.– KeirCommented Nov 12, 2016 at 17:13
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The general rule is that when you want to modify the meaning of a noun, you use an adjective, and when you want to modify the meaning of something else, you use an adverb. If you want a more precise answer, you need to give examples of specific sentences that make you confused whether an adverb or an adjective should be used.– miĥaŭCommented Nov 12, 2016 at 18:50
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2 Answers
Adjectives describe nouns; that's basically all they do. So if there isn't a noun or pronoun to modify, you use the adverb form.
- Mi estas freneza; freneza describes mi
- Kia freneza virino mi estas!; freneza describes virino
- Mi parolas freneze; freneze describes the verb parolas, not a noun or pronoun
- Estas freneze, ke mi parolis tiel al li; freneze describes the ke phrase, not a noun or pronoun
- Kiel freneze!; freneze describes an unspecified situation, again, no noun or pronoun.
Note that adjectives can describe nouns through linking verbs:
- Mi batis lin senkonscia (mi batis lin tiel, ke li estis senkonscia)
- Mi batis lin senkonscie (senkonscie, mi batis lin)
Note the two different meanings!
- Bona = a certain thing is good.
- Bone = a situation is good.
It is more common to use Bone by default. You can say Bona if you are referring to a noun. Example, your friend bought a new videogame and you say Bona because you like the game. However, Bone would work in that situation as well.
