Lesson 3:
Adverbs

Adverb Formation

Regular Adverbs

Regular adverbs are identified by their vowels, which are always wa.

Adverbs follow the verb that they modify.

Qtympp n'lay yayqt. Qtympp n'lay yayqt ttwat.

I studied philosophy. I studied philosophy thoroughly.

If the adverb is not found in the dictionary, then it may be formed by changing the vowels of the corresponding adjective from ly or lr to wa.

Dympsh qn'yqq qqlygg qthyoygg. Dympsh qn'yqq qthyoygg qqwagg.

A loud child destroyed the gift. A child destroyed the gift loudly.

Strength and Affirmation

Most adverbs in Qtwyqp Qly are weak. Making an adverb strong in Qtwyqp Qly is like placing the word "very" before it in English.

As for verbs, adverbs may be either affirmative or negative. Note that in the following examples that it is the manner, not the action which is denied.

Both these properties are indicated by the nasal which follows the vowels: none for weak and affirmative, m for strong and affirmative, n for weak and negative, and n' for strong and negative.

Dympsh qn'yqq qthyoygg qqwagg. Dympsh qn'yqq qthyoygg qqwamgg. Dympsh qn'yqq qthyoygg qqwangg. Dympsh qn'yqq qthyoygg qqwan'gg.

A child destroyed the gift loudly. A child destroyed the gift very loudly. The child didn't destroy the gift loudly. The child didn't destroy the gift very loudly.

Comparisons with Adverbs

Comparitive Form

An adverb is made comparative from its positive (regular) form by placing a clause after it. A comparative form states that the action was done more or less in the manner signified by the adverb than the action done by or to another subject or object respectively or another action.

The clause "[adverb] ble _ ttlo dle" means "more [adverb] than _". The clause "[adverb] ble _ tlo dle" means "less [adverb] than _". The clause "[adverb] ble _ zzlo dle" means "as [adverb] as _". Consider the following examples:

Qtympp n'lay yayqt ttwat ble nloy ttlo dle. Qtympp n'lay yayqt ttwat ble nloy tlo dle. Qtympp n'lay yayqt ttwat ble nloy zzlo dle.

I studied philosophy more thoroughly than he did. I studied philosophy less thoroughly than he did. I studied philosophy as thoroughly as he did.

Qtympp n'lay yayqt ttwat ble qtympt ttlo dle. Qtympp n'lay yayqt ttwat ble qtympt tlo dle. Qtympp n'lay yayqt ttwat ble qtympt zzlo dle.

I studied philosophy more thoroughly than botany. I studied philosophy less thoroughly than botany. I studied philosophy as thoroughly as botany.

Qtympp n'lay yayqt ttwat ble loym n'laym bbn'yaysp ttlo dle. Qtympp n'lay yayqt ttwat ble loym n'laym bbn'yaysp tlo dle. Qtympp n'lay yayqt ttwat ble loym n'laym bbn'yaysp zzlo dle.

I studied philosophy more thoroughly than I cared about it. I studied philosophy less thoroughly than I cared about it. I studied philosophy as thoroughly as I cared about it.

Superlative Form

The superlative is also formed by adding a clause. The clause "ble ttwad dle" means "most". The clause "ble twad dle" means "least". For example:

Qtympp n'lay yayqt ttwat ble ttwad dle. Qtympp n'lay yayqt ttwat ble twad dle.

I studied philosophy most thoroughly. I studied philosophy least thoroughly.