Learn French: Il a brillamment défendu cet argument. - He brilliantly defended this argument.

Il a brillamment défendu cet argument.

He brilliantly defended this argument.

Breakdown of Il a brillamment défendu cet argument.

Questions & Answers about Il a brillamment défendu cet argument.

How exactly is the adverb brillamment formed?

It is formed from the adjective brillant (brilliant). Because the masculine form of the adjective ends in -ant, you drop the -nt and add -mment to create the adverb. Note that adverbs ending in -amment and -emment are pronounced exactly the same way (ending with an "ah-mahn" sound).

Why is brillamment placed between a and défendu?

In the passé composé, short adverbs and most adverbs of manner (words that describe how something is done, like brillamment) are placed directly between the conjugated helper verb (a) and the past participle (défendu). In English, we often put the adverb at the end of the sentence, but in French, a défendu brillamment would sound unnatural.

Is argument a false friend in French?

It can be! In French, un argument strictly means a point made in a debate, an essay, or a discussion to persuade someone. If you want to talk about an angry verbal fight or a quarrel with your partner or friend, you should use the word une dispute instead.

Why do we say cet argument instead of ce argument?