The Perfect Mix: Multiple Adverbs
Creating the perfect perfume from essential oils is a delicate process. Sometimes, you need to describe exactly how an action is performed using multiple adverbs, like "slowly and carefully."
In Spanish, adverbs are often formed by adding -mente to the feminine form of an adjective (similar to adding "-ly" in English). However, when you use two or more -mente adverbs together, Spanish avoids being repetitive.
Instead of attaching -mente to every single word in the list, you only attach it to the very last adverb. All the preceding adverbs are written simply as feminine singular adjectives.
| I was going to open the vial, but one must do it slowly and carefully. | Yo iba a abrir el frasco, pero hay que hacerlo lenta y cuidadosamente. |
| You need to measure the oil carefully and correctly. | Tú necesitas medir el aceite cuidadosa y correctamente. |
Even if the adjective normally ends in -e or a consonant (which do not change for gender), the exact same rule applies. You use the base adjective form, saving the -mente for the end of the phrase.
| We are shaking the mixture softly and delicately. | Estamos agitando la mezcla suave y delicadamente. |
| The expert is mixing the oil constantly and perfectly. | El experto está mezclando el aceite constante y perfectamente. |