Adverbs that can't be converted

[GenocideSamurai]

Hello,

I learnd that you can convert adjectives to adverbs but I also found out that there are some adverbs that can't be converted to adjectives like ima (now). Is it correct that some can't be converted or am I missing a rule?

Thanks.

[Wasabista]

Can't think of any examples. "Ima no" means "current," for example "Ima no hanashi," "the current discussion," "what we're talking about now."

[Nagoyankee]

Originally Posted by GenocideSamurai

Hello,

I learnd that you can convert adjectives to adverbs but I also found out that there are some adverbs that can't be converted to adjectives　like ima (now). Is it correct that some can't be converted or am I missing a rule?

Thanks.

There are hundreds of them.

はるばる
しばらく
あたかも
決して
もっと
全然
とうてい
まるで
既に

just to name a few....

[Shuka]

In Japanese grammar, "ima" (今) is basically a noun rather than a adjective. For example, "Ima ga anata no kouki da" (今があなたの好機だ) = Now is your chance.

However, a noun can work the same function as that of s adjective by adding "joshi" (助詞) such as "no" (の). For example, "ima no ryuukou" (今の流行) = "current fashion"

In addition, "ima" is a noun which states a concept of time. Therefore, "ima" sometimes works like a nadverb in English. For example, "Ima, anata ha nani wo shiteimasuka?" (今、あなたは何をしていますか？) = "What are you doing now?"

By the way, "Hayai" (速い) is a adjective. "Kare ha hayai supi-do de hashiru" (彼は速いスピードで走る) = "He runs at a fast pace." In the contrast, "Hayaku" (速く) is a kind of adverb (technically, "keiyou dousi" (形容動詞)). For instance, "Kare ha hayaku hashiru" (彼は速く走る) = "He runs fast."

"Hayai" (速い) is different word from the word, "hayaku" (速く) in a strict sense. Japanese adjective has no conjugation and conversion. However, a spelling of Japanese adjective tends to be similar to the spelling of Japanese adverb which has a close meaning of the adjective.

The above-mentioned explanation is very technically. I hope that my explanation would not confuse you....