Manner adverbs are adverbs that describe how an action is performed, providing more detail about the verb.
Manner adverbs describe the way or method in which an action is carried out. They often answer the question “how?” and modify verbs to give more specific information about the manner of the action.
- Manner adverbs can appear after the main verb or at the end of the sentence.
- They often end in -ly (e.g., quickly, carefully), but not always (e.g., well, fast).
- They help make descriptions more vivid and precise.
Common Manner Adverbs
Here are some frequently used manner adverbs along with example sentences:
| Manner Adverb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| quickly | She finished her homework quickly. |
| slowly | He walked slowly to the store. |
| carefully | Please handle the glass carefully. |
| loudly | The children shouted loudly. |
| quietly | She spoke quietly in the library. |
| easily | He solved the puzzle easily. |
| well | She sings very well. |
| badly | He performed badly on the test. |
| happily | They smiled happily at the news. |
| angrily | She responded angrily to the criticism. |
Él caminó a la tienda ___.
He walked to the store ___.
slowly
The adverb 'slowly' fits best because it describes the action of walking at a slow pace.
Placement of Manner Adverbs
Manner adverbs typically appear in these positions within a sentence:
- After the main verb:
- She sings beautifully.
- They run quickly.
- At the end of the sentence:
- She sings beautifully.
- They run quickly.
- After the object (if there is one):
- He opened the door slowly.
- She completed the task easily.
Note: Manner adverbs usually do not go before the subject or verb (unless for emphasis).
Using Manner Adverbs in Sentences
Here are some example patterns for using manner adverbs:
- Subject + verb + manner adverb:
- He speaks softly.
- They worked diligently.
- Subject + verb + object + manner adverb:
- She painted the wall carefully.
- He answered the question confidently.
- Subject + verb + manner adverb + (object):
- She quickly finished her lunch.
- He silently left the room.
Creating Manner Adverbs
Most manner adverbs are formed by adding -ly to an adjective:
| Adjective | Manner Adverb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| quick | quickly | She quickly packed her bag. |
| careful | carefully | He carefully crossed the street. |
| happy | happily | They happily accepted the invitation. |
| loud | loudly | The crowd cheered loudly. |
| easy | easily | She easily solved the problem. |
Exceptions:
- Some adverbs do not follow the -ly rule (e.g., well, fast, hard, late).
- For adjectives ending in -y, change -y to -i before adding -ly (e.g., happy → happily).
Which of these is an exception to the -ly rule for manner adverbs?
well, fast, hard, late
'Well,' 'fast,' 'hard,' and 'late' are exceptions and do not follow the standard '-ly' formation.
Summary
- Manner adverbs describe how an action is performed.
- They often end in -ly, but some are irregular.
- Common placement is after the verb or at the end of the sentence.
- They help make writing and speaking more descriptive and precise.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
