Are the different types of adverbs significant?

Marcos G.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Are the different types of adverbs significant?

(1) Most of the adverbs on the list are used with adjectives:  demasiado verdes, muy estricta, un poco cansadas, bastante ruidoso, tan rápidamente.  

(2) But mucho is different as it is used with verbs:  te quiere mucho, no dormí mucho.  And it wouldn’t seem to work with adjectives, for example, los platanos están mucho verdes needs to be stated as muy verdes

(3) Tanto is different again, as it functions as a direct object.  No puedes comer tanto. 

 Are these differences important, and should we learn more about these different categories of adverbs?  Thanks.

Asked 1 year ago
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hola Marcos

Sorry, this went through the cracks.

I think the relevant thing here would be to notice that an adverb can modify both a verb and an adjective. So you have these different uses of them in different sentences depending on what they're modifying. It's also good to remember that adverbs are invariable so they don't need to agree with anything, they use one single form. (demasiado, tanto, mucho, poco)

So, when we use the adverb "mucho" (in this case only used to modify a verb, not another adjective, as you highlight on your comment) is always going to be "mucho" (not mucha, muchos, etc) 

Your comment on "tanto" as being a direct object, bear in mind that it can only be a direct object if that was used as a pronoun. So, if I say for example:  "He comprado un pollo, solo para mí, y ahora creo que no debería haber comido tanto." - Here, this can be interpreted as a pronoun (referring to "tanto [pollo, so much of "it"], so I believe its function in the sentence would be a direct object. However, if you are simply saying "No debería haber comido tanto" (without a referent), this would be an adverb modifying the verb comer (adverbio de cantidad/quantitative adverbs). 

So, to summarise, I think being aware about this helps us understand the grammar and the language better. 

I'm not sure if this is what you were referring to when you asked "Are the different types of adverbs significant?"

Saludos cordiales

Are the different types of adverbs significant?

(1) Most of the adverbs on the list are used with adjectives:  demasiado verdes, muy estricta, un poco cansadas, bastante ruidoso, tan rápidamente.  

(2) But mucho is different as it is used with verbs:  te quiere mucho, no dormí mucho.  And it wouldn’t seem to work with adjectives, for example, los platanos están mucho verdes needs to be stated as muy verdes

(3) Tanto is different again, as it functions as a direct object.  No puedes comer tanto. 

 Are these differences important, and should we learn more about these different categories of adverbs?  Thanks.

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