Definition

1. Noun:
   • Adverb: A word class used to modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb, typically expressing manner, degree, time, place, or frequency. For example, "nhanh" (quickly) in "đi nhanh" (walk quickly), "quá" (too) in "đẹp quá" (too beautiful), or "rất" (very) in "nó học rất lười" (he studies very lazily).

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • "Trong câu 'Cô ấy hát hay', từ 'hay' là một phó từ." (In the sentence 'She sings beautifully,' the word 'beautifully' is an adverb.)
  • "'Sẽ' là phó từ chỉ thời gian." ('Will' is an adverb of time.)
  • "Phó từ 'rất' có thể bổ nghĩa cho tính từ, như trong 'rất đẹp'." (The adverb 'very' can modify an adjective, as in 'very beautiful'.)

Advanced Usage

• Position in a Sentence: Adverbs in Vietnamese often follow the word they modify, especially when indicating manner or degree. For example, "chạy nhanh" (run quickly), "cực kỳ thông minh" (extremely intelligent).
• Adverbs Modifying Other Adverbs: An adverb can modify another adverb to intensify or specify its meaning. For example, "quá nhanh" (too quickly), where "quá" (too) modifies the adverb "nhanh" (quickly).

Variants and Related Words

• Trạng từ: This is a synonym for "phó từ." Both terms are used interchangeably in Vietnamese to mean "adverb."
• Tính từ (Adjective): A word class that "phó từ" often modifies. Understanding the difference is key: adjectives describe nouns, while adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
• Động từ (Verb): The primary word class that adverbs of manner often modify.

Synonyms

• Trạng từ: Adverb. This is a direct synonym.

Related Phrases (Grammatical Constructions)

• Cụm phó từ (Adverbial Phrase): A group of words that functions as an adverb.
  • "Anh ấy làm việc với tất cả sự nhiệt tình." (He works with all his enthusiasm.) Here, "với tất cả sự nhiệt tình" acts as an adverbial phrase of manner.
• Phó từ tình thái (Modal Adverb): Adverbs that express the speaker's attitude or assessment, such as "chắc" (probably), "hẳn" (surely).
  • "Chắc ngày mai trời sẽ mưa." (It will probably rain tomorrow.)

Notes on Different Meanings

The term "phó từ" has a single, specific grammatical meaning as described above. It does not have other common non-grammatical meanings. Its core function is always to modify and provide more information about an action (verb), a quality (adjective), or another circumstance (another adverb).

noun

1. adverb