Dropping the Suffix: Combining Manner Adverbs
In Portuguese, you can turn many adjectives into manner adverbs by taking the feminine singular form and adding the suffix -mente (just like adding "-ly" in English). But what happens when you want to use two of these adverbs together, like "slowly and carefully"?
Instead of repeating the heavy -mente sound, Portuguese drops the suffix from all but the last adverb in the list. The earlier adverbs revert to the base form they had right before adding -mente—which is the feminine singular adjective.
For example, lenta(mente) + e + cuidadosamente becomes lenta e cuidadosamente:
| I always sew the hem slowly and carefully. | Eu coso sempre a bainha lenta e cuidadosamente. |
This rule prevents repetition and makes your sentences flow beautifully, especially when describing the delicate, precise steps of sewing and tailoring:
| She places the pin meticulously and delicately in the fabric. | Ela coloca o alfinete minuciosa e delicadamente no tecido. |
| The man measures the fabric quickly and exactly with the tape measure. | O homem mede o tecido rápida e exatamente com a fita métrica. |
Adjectives Without a Distinct Feminine Form
Remember that adjectives ending in a consonant or -e (such as firme, fácil, or suave) have the same form for both masculine and feminine.
When dropping -mente from these adverbs in a sequence, you simply use that neutral base form. For instance, firme(mente) + e + precisamente becomes firme e precisamente:
| You must cut the pattern firmly and precisely. | Tu deves cortar o molde firme e precisamente. |
| If you use the thimble, you can sew the hem easily and perfectly. | Se usas o dedal, podes coser a bainha fácil e perfeitamente. |
| We always pass the needle through the silk smoothly and calmly. | Nós passamos sempre a agulha pela seda suave e calmamente. |