So couramment goes in front of the noun?
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Ron
Kwiziq community member
1/07/17
Bonjour Diana,
«So couramment goes in front of the noun?» In a word, no. A general rule of thumb is this:
an adverb follows the verb. https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/my-languages/french/view/125
Here's the take away from this lesson: Notice that in simple sentences, adverbs are placed right after the verb.
You will notice that this states in simple sentences, and of course like everything else in français, there are exceptions which is my reasoning for stating that it is a general rule of thumb.
Beverley
Kwiziq community member
2/07/17
For example He speaks French fluently. = Il parle francais couramment and He is fluent = Il parle couramment.
Beverley
diana
Kwiziq community member
2/07/17
HI again, I think there may be a similar example somewhere on your site, but I can't find it, so I took this from somewhere else. "Cette expression française qui date du dix-neuvième siècle est couramment utilisée de nos jours. " Couramment is before the verb, and the meaning changes.

Ron
Kwiziq community member
3/07/17
Actually couramment is in the middle of the compound verb structure "est utilisée"
Beverley
Kwiziq community member
3/07/17
Comme d'habitude avec des adverbes?

Ron
Kwiziq community member
3/07/17
Merci, Beverley.

Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
6/07/17
Bonjour Beverley !
In French, adverbs tend to be quite flexible :)
We teach the main rule as this is always correct, but then you can sometimes have some "poetic licence", especially in short sentences.
In the case you mentioned, both placements are correct in French:
"Je parle couramment (le) français."
or
"Je parle (le) français couramment."
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt!
In French, adverbs tend to be quite flexible :)
We teach the main rule as this is always correct, but then you can sometimes have some "poetic licence", especially in short sentences.
In the case you mentioned, both placements are correct in French:
"Je parle couramment (le) français."
or
"Je parle (le) français couramment."
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt!
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diana
Kwiziq community member
1 July 2017
7 replies
So couramment goes in front of the noun?
This question relates to:
French lesson "Forming adverbs from adjectives ending in -ant and -ent"