Introduction to Adverbs
An adverb is a word or an expression that modifies a verb. For example: The man hardly works. The adverb hardly modifies the verb work
In Gothic, most adverbs are formed from adjectives using the suffix -ba. Examples: mikils great; mikilaba greatly; raihts right; raihtaba rightly.
Another way Gothic created adjectives was through the suffix -o. Some examples:
| Gothic | English |
|---|---|
| andaugjo | openly |
| analeiko | in the same manner |
| sinteino | continually |
| sprauto | quickly |
| sniumondo | quickly, with haste |
Comparative Degree
The comparative degree of adverbs generally end in -is, -os. Examples:
| Gothic | English |
|---|---|
| aris | earlier |
| faurþis | beforehand |
| framis | further |
| hauhis | higher |
| sniumondos | with more haste |
Superlative
Only two adverbs of the superlative degree are attested:
| Gothic | English |
|---|---|
| frumist | first of all |
| maist | most of all |
Adverbs of Time
Adverbs of time are expressed either by simple adverbs such as:
| Gothic | English |
|---|---|
| air | early |
| ƕan | when |
| ju | already |
| nu | now |
| þan | then |
Or by oblique cases of nouns and pronouns such as:
| Gothic | English |
|---|---|
| himma daga | today |
| gistradagis | tomorrow |
| du maurgina | tomorrow |
| dagis ƕizuh | day by day |
| ni aiw | never |
Adverbs of Place
Adverbs of place end in -r or -a. Some examples:
| Gothic | English |
|---|---|
| aljar | elsewhere |
| her | here |
| ƕar | where |
| þar | there |
| faura | before |
Adverbs of Motion
Adverbs of motion have either no suffix or end in -þ(d), -dre. Some examples:
| Gothic | English |
|---|---|
| dalaþ | down |
| ƕaþ, ƕadre | whither |
| jaind, jaindre | thither |
| hidre | hither |
Adverbs with the Genitive Case
The genitive case is something used adverbially as allis wholly; andwairþis over against; nahts at night; and raihtis indeed.