The adverbs of manner indicate the way in which an action is performed. They answer questions such as how something is done, and they add a quality to a verb. In María habla claramente, clearly explains the way of speaking. Without that adverb, the sentence remains correct, but it loses precision. They can also modify the whole sentence and give a general evaluation: Fortunately, we arrived on time. Here the adverb does not describe only a verb, but the whole situation.

Uses of adverbs of manner

Usage	Explanation
Form of performing an action	Used to say how a action is done and usually accompanies a verb.
Shade of the whole sentence	Used when it affects the entire phrase and not just a specific word.

Manner adverbs do not change gender or number. They are used the same with a feminine or masculine subject, singular or plural. You say rápidamente, rápidamente and rápidamente in all cases. They do not adopt endings like those of adjectives. Therefore forms such as rápida, rápidos or rápidas do not appear when they function as adverbs. Their form remains fixed even if the verb changes: Ella camina lentamente, Ellos caminan lentamente.

Rules of the invariant form

Idea
Adverbs of manner do not change for gender.
Adverbs of manner do not change for number.
The same form serves with different verbs.

Many adverbs of manner are formed from a feminine singular adjective + -mente. If the adjective ends in -o, it first becomes feminine: lento + lentamente, claro + claramente. If the adjective already ends in -e or a consonant, -mente is added directly: feliz + felizmente, suave + suavemente. These adverbs usually keep the accent of the base adjective and are used to specify the way in which the action occurs: Habló claramente, trabajó cuidadosamente.

Formation rules with -mente

Idea
Many adverbs are formed with the ending -mente.
If the adjective ends in a vowel, add the ending directly.
The adverb preserves the base of the adjective.

Some adverbs of manner are fixed words and very common in everyday conversation. Bien expresses a correct or satisfactory way: Cocina bien. Mal indicates an action done incorrectly or insufficiently: Conduce mal. Despacio indicates low speed: Habla despacio. Also appear aprisa, deprisa and regular, depending on context. These words are not formed with -mente and are learned as complete forms.

malmejorpeoraprisabiendeprisadespaciofueraregularasí

---

Significa que algo se hace con mucha prisaSignifica que algo ocurre de forma menos buenaSignifica que algo ocurre con poca velocidadSignifica que algo sale de manera incorrecta o poco favorableSignifica que algo va de manera ni buena ni malaSignifica que algo sucede en el exterior o en otro lugarSignifica que algo ocurre de forma más buena o más convenienteSignifica que algo se hace de esa maneraSignifica que algo ocurre con mucha rapidezSignifica que algo sale de manera correcta o favorable

Simple adverbs for everyday use

Word	Definition
bien	Means that something goes out in a correct or favorable way.
mal	Means that something goes out in an incorrect or unfavorable way.
despacio	Means that something happens with low speed.
deprisa	Means that something happens with great speed.
así	Means that something is done in that way.
mejor	Means that something happens in a better or more convenient way.
peor	Means that something happens in a worse way.
regular	Means that something goes in a neither good nor bad way.
aprisa	Means that something is done with a lot of hurry.
fuera	Means that something happens outside or somewhere else.

Scramble

In everyday speech, certain adjectives are used as adverbs without changing form. In phrases like Habla alto, Camina rápido or Trabaja duro, the words alto, rápido and duro do not describe a noun; they describe the way the action is performed. This form is very common in colloquial Spanish. When the context calls for a more formal or more precise usage, adverbs such as altamente, rápidamente or duramente are usually preferred.

Adverbial uses of adjectives

Usage	Explanation
Description of an action	Some adjectives are used as adverbs to say how the action occurs.
Everyday speech	In everyday speech, certain adjectives retain their form and modify the verb.
Emphatic expression	An adjective is used without change to give more force to the message.

The adverb of manner is often placed after the verb: Respondió calmadamente, cerró la puerta suavemente. It can also go at the start of the sentence to emphasis or change the focus: Suavemente, cerró la puerta. At the beginning, the adverb highlights the manner before presenting the full action. After the verb, the sentence sounds more neutral and direct. When it modifies the entire sentence, it is usually separated with a written or spoken pause: Afortunadamente, todo salió bien.

Position of the adverb and nuance

Usage	Explanation
After the verb	Placed like this when you want to describe the action neutrally.
At the beginning of the sentence	Used at the start to give more emphasis to the idea.
Change of emphasis	Position can change which part of the sentence is emphasized.

Manner adverbs can carry intensifiers in front. Muy increases the intensity: muy rápido, muy claramente. Bastante indicates a medium or sufficient degree: bastante bien, bastante despacio. Poco reduces the intensity: poco a poco, poco claramente. These elements are placed before the adverb and form a single idea of degree + manner. In habla muy lentamente, muy does not modify the verb, but the adverb lentamente.

Rules of adverb intensification

Idea
Very reinforces the intensity of the adverb.
Quite expresses a medium or sufficient intensity.
Little reduces the intensity of the adverb.