The Hebrew term for adverb is תואר הפועל.
1. Primitive Adverbs
Primitive adverbs are those of negation, such as לֹא “not” = οὐ, οὐκ; אַל = μη; אֵין “there is not”; and a few others of place and time, such as שָׁם “there,” “then.”
These adverbs may at least for grammatical purposes be regarded as primitive, even if it is possible to trace them to other roots, particularly pronominal roots.
2. Other Parts of Speech Used Adverbially
(a) Substantives with Prepositions
Examples include: בִּמְאֹד מְאֹד “with might,” i.e., “very greatly”; לְבַד “alone” (literally, “in separateness”); לְבַדִּי “I alone” (literally, “in my separateness”); בְּתוֹךְ “within”; כְּאֶחָד “as one,” i.e., “together.”
(b) Substantives in the Accusative (Causus Adverbialis)
This is the accusative used adverbially (a common Semitic feature), e.g.:
- מְאֹד “very greatly” (from “might”)
- חָדֵל “no more” (from “cessation”)
- הַיּוֹם “today” (“this day”)
- יַחַד “together” (“union”)
- סָבִיב “around” (from “circuit”)
- קֶדֶם “long ago” (“length”)
- שׁוּב “again,” “once more” (from “repetition”)
Many of these very seldom exhibit their original signification as nouns, and some have completely lost it.
(c) Adjectives Used Adverbially
Adjectives, especially in the feminine (serving as a kind of neuter), are used adverbially. Examples include:
- כֵּן – “thus,” “so” (literally, “rightly”)
- תְּחִלָּה – “at first,” “formerly” (from תְּחִלָּה, “beginning”)
- מְאֹד – “much,” “very”
- דַּי – “enough”
- נִפְלָאוֹת – “wonderfully” (lit. “with wondrous acts”)
- שֵׁנִית – “the second time”
- יְהוּדִית – “Jewishly,” i.e., “in the Jewish language”
(d) Verbs in the Infinitive Absolute
These often function as adverbs, especially in Hiphil, and are considered accusative forms. For example:
- הַרְבֵּה – “much,” “exceedingly” (literally “doing much”)
(e) Pronouns Used Adverbially
Examples include:
- פֹּה – “here” (literally, “this place”)
3. Formed Adverbs with Suffixes
Some adverbs are derived by the addition of formative syllables (usually ם, more rarely וֹת) to substantives. Examples include:
- אָמְנָם – “truly,” from אָמֵן (“truth”)
- חִנָּם – “gratuitously,” “in vain” (“for thanks”)
- יוֹמָם – “by day,” from יוֹם (“day”)
- רֶגַע – “in a twinkling,” from “twinkling” or “moment”
4. Abbreviated or Contracted Adverbs
Some adverbs result from abbreviation or corruption of longer words. For example:
- אַךְ – “only,” originally an affirmative particle from אֲכֵן (Chaldee origin)
- הֲ – interrogative particle meaning “Is it so?” “Shall it be?” “Nonne?” “Num etiam?” which likely stems from the fuller form seen in הֲלוֹא in Deuteronomy 32:6
5. Adverbs with Pronominal Suffixes
Some adverbs, especially those implying verbal action, can take pronominal suffixes—often with an inserted נ (Nun epenthetic)—like in verbs. Examples include:
- יֵשְׁנוֹ – “he is present”
- אֵינֶנִּי – “I am not”
- אֵינֶנּוּ – “he is not”
- עוֹדֶנּוּ – “he is still”
- אַיֵּהוּ – “where is he?”
Similarly, particles like הִנֵּה (“behold!” or “here is”) admit suffixes:
- הִנֶּנִּי – “behold, I!”
- הִנֵּהוּ – “behold him!”
- וְהִנֵּה – “and behold!”