LingoflyAdverbs from adjectives: γρήγορος → γρήγορα
An adverb is made from an adjective in one move: take the ending -α. γρήγορος (grígoros) → γρήγορα (grígora), καλός (kalós) → καλά (kalá), εύκολος → εύκολα (éfkola), σίγουρος (síguros) → σίγουρα (sígura). For example: “Οδηγεί (odiyí) πολύ (polí) γρήγορα (grígora) στη (sti) στροφή” (strofí) — He takes the turn very fast. A rule from the Greek course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
An adverb is made from an adjective in one move: take the ending -α (-a). γρήγορος (grígoros) → γρήγορα (grígora), καλός (kalós) → καλά (kalá), εύκολος → εύκολα (éfkola), σίγουρος (síguros) → σίγουρα (sígura).
That makes the adverb look exactly like one of the adjective's own shapes. Position tells them apart: τα (ta) γρήγορα (grígora) αυτοκίνητα (aftokínita) (ta grígora aftokínita) — fast cars; οδηγεί (odiyí) γρήγορα (grígora) (odiyí grígora) — drives fast. Next to a noun it is an adjective, next to a verb an adverb.
There is a small bookish row in -ως (-os): κυρίως (kiríos) (mainly), ακριβώς (akrivós) (exactly), τελείως (telíos) (completely), βεβαίως (vevéos) (of course). It lives in writing and on notices; out loud the same words often take -α.
Two words mean different things in the two shapes. απλά (aplá) is "plainly", απλώς (aplós) is "merely": Το (to) είπα (ípa) απλά (aplá) (to ípa aplá) against Απλώς (aplós) το (to) είπα (ípa) (aplós to ípa).
Table
By example
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
Adverbs from adjectives: how does it work in Greek?
An adverb is made from an adjective in one move: take the ending -α. γρήγορος (grígoros) → γρήγορα (grígora), καλός (kalós) → καλά (kalá), εύκολος → εύκολα (éfkola), σίγουρος (síguros) → σίγουρα (sígura).
What does it look like in a Greek example sentence?
“Οδηγεί (odiyí) πολύ (polí) γρήγορα (grígora) στη (sti) στροφή” (strofí) (odiyí polí grígora sti strofí) — He takes the turn very fast. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.