Manner adverbs in Spanish (adverbios de modo) describe how an action is performed. They usually answer the question “¿Cómo?” (How?). Many manner adverbs are formed by adding -mente to the feminine singular form of an adjective.
Formation Rules
- Start with the feminine singular adjective (e.g., rápida from rápido).
- Add -mente (e.g., rápidamente).
- If the adjective ends in “-e” or a consonant, just add -mente (e.g., fácilmente, generalmente).
Examples of Manner Adverbs
| Spanish Singular Adjective | Manner Adverb | English Meaning | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rápido/a | rápidamente | quickly | Ella corre rápidamente. | She runs quickly. |
| cuidadoso/a | cuidadosamente | carefully | Lee el texto cuidadosamente. | Read the text carefully. |
| fácil | fácilmente | easily | Resolvió el problema fácilmente. | She solved the problem easily. |
| feliz | felizmente | happily | Vivieron felizmente. | They lived happily. |
| lento/a | lentamente | slowly | Camina lentamente. | He walks slowly. |
Usage Tips
- Place the adverb after the verb or at the end of the sentence.
- If there are auxiliary verbs, place the adverb after them or at the end (e.g., He terminado rápidamente).
- Some adjectives have irregular adverb forms (e.g., bueno → bien).
Examples in Context
| Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Habla claramente. | She speaks clearly. |
| Trabaja duro. | He works hard. |
| Respondió amablemente. | She answered kindly. |
Irregular Adverbs of Manner
| Adjective | Irregular Adverb | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| bueno/a | bien | Lo hiciste bien. | You did it well. |
| malo/a | mal | Se portó mal. | He behaved badly. |
| rápido/a | rápido | Termina rápido. | Finish quickly. |
Manner adverbs make your descriptions more precise and vivid by showing how actions are done.
Translate to Spanish: “She answered kindly.”
Respondió amablemente.
'Amablemente' is the manner adverb formed from 'amable' + -mente, meaning 'kindly.'
Translate to Spanish: “Read the text carefully.”
Lee el texto cuidadosamente.
'Cuidadosamente' is the correct manner adverb, formed from 'cuidadosa' + -mente.
Flashcards (1 of 11)
- Manner Adverb: rápidamente
- English Meaning: quickly
- English Example: She runs quickly.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
