Skip to Content

Adverbs of Manner: Definition, Rules & Examples

By: Author English Study Online

Posted on Last updated:

0 Comments

Sharing is caring!

In English, we often use adverbs to describe how an action happens. In this lesson, you’ll learn what adverbs of manner are, how they are formed from adjectives, and how to use them correctly in sentences, with clear rules, examples, and an ESL-friendly infographic.

Adverbs of Manner in English with examples

Adverb of Manner | Definition & Examples

An adverb of manner is an adverb (such as quickly or slowly) that describes how and in what way the action of a verb is carried out. Most adverbs of manner end in –ly (for example, badly, happily, sadly, slowly, quickly), but some common ones do not, such as well, hard, and fast.

Adverbs of manner most often appear after a verb or at the end of a verb phrase.

Examples:

  • The brothers were badly injured in the fight.
  • They had to act fast to save the others floating on the water.
  • At the advanced age of 90, she still sang very well.

Forming Adverbs of Manner from Adjectives | Rules

Here are some clear guidelines on forming adverbs of manner from adjectives:

Adverbs of Manner Rule #1

In many cases, the adverb can be formed by simply adding -ly to the adjective.

Adjective Adverb
Cheap Cheaply
Quick Quickly
Strong Strongly
Sudden Suddenly
Special Specially

Examples:

  • They found a way to make clothes more cheaply.
  • Many locals are strongly opposed to the development.
  • I suddenly realized what I’d said, but it was too late.
  • The cake was made specially for him.

Adverbs of Manner Rule #2

If the adjective ends in -y, replace the y with i and add -ly.

Adjective Adverb
Ready Readily
Merry Merrily
Easy Easily
Crazy Crazily
Happy Happily
Lazy Lazily
Hungry Hungrily

Examples:

  • He readily agreed to help.
  • Her eyes sparkled merrily.
  • I can easily be home early tonight if you want.
  • She munched happily on her chocolate bar.
  • Palm trees swayed lazily in the soft breeze.
  • They sat down and ate hungrily.

Adverbs of Manner Rule #3

If the adjective ends with -le, replace the final e with -y.

Adjective Adverb
Understandable Understandably
Forcible Forcibly
Possible Possibly
Terrible Terribly
Comfortable Comfortably

Examples:

  • He answered understandably, choosing his words carefully.
  • Several rioters were forcibly removed from the town square.
  • She explained the plan as simply as possible, but we were still confused.
  • I slept terribly last night.
  • Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin.

Adverbs of Manner Rule #4

If the adjective ends with -ic, add -ally.

Adjective Adverb
Idiotic Idiotically
Tragic Tragically
Basic Basically
Ironic Ironically
Realistic Realistically
Enthusiastic Enthusiastically

An exception to this rule is public, whose adverbial form is publicly.

Examples:

  • He died tragically in an accident.
  • She understood the rules basically, but she still needed practice.
  • He planned realistically and saved money for months.
  • She was welcomed enthusiastically by the crowd.

Adverbs of Manner Rule #5

Some adjectives do not change form at all.

Adjective Adverb
Fast Fast
Straight Straight
Hard Hard
High High
Late Late
Wrong Wrong / Wrongly

Examples:

  • You’ll have to act fast.
  • I got home and went straight to bed.
  • I’m not surprised he failed his exam – he didn’t exactly try very hard!
  • You’ll have to hit the ball quite high to get it over that net.
  • Kathryn’s just phoned to say she’s working late this evening.
  • You’ve spelled my name wrong.
  • He was wrongly accused of cheating.

Note: Wrong can be used as an adverb in some common expressions (e.g., You guessed wrong). However, wrongly is also correct and is often used in more formal or passive sentences (e.g., He was wrongly accused).

In the case of the adjective good, the corresponding adverb is well.

Example: The documentary presented both sides of the problem very well.

Exercises: Adverbs of Manner

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Adverb of Manner

Choose the correct adverb of manner to complete each sentence.

  1. She spoke very __________ during the meeting. (clear / clearly)
  2. The driver stopped __________ to avoid the accident. (sudden / suddenly)
  3. The children played __________ in the yard. (happy / happily)
  4. He answered the question __________. (confident / confidently)
  5. The soldier fought __________ despite his injury. (brave / bravely)
  6. She finished the test __________. (quick / quickly)
  7. The baby slept __________ all night. (peaceful / peacefully)
  8. The teacher explained the rule __________. (patient / patiently)
  9. The dog ran __________ across the field. (fast / fastly)
  10. He reacted __________ to the bad news. (calm / calmly)

Answers:

  1. clearly
  2. suddenly
  3. happily
  4. confidently
  5. bravely
  6. quickly
  7. peacefully
  8. patiently
  9. fast
  10. calmly

Exercise 2: Rewrite the Sentence Using the Adverb of Manner

Rewrite each sentence using the adverb of manner in brackets.

  1. She answered the phone in a polite way. (politely)
  2. He opened the door in a quiet way. (quietly)
  3. The team worked in an efficient way. (efficiently)
  4. The baby smiled in a happy way. (happily)
  5. She completed the task in a careful way. (carefully)
  6. He spoke to the child in a gentle way. (gently)
  7. The cat moved in a slow way. (slowly)
  8. They listened to the instructions in an attentive way. (attentively)
  9. She closed the door in a soft way. (softly)
  10. He accepted the mistake in an honest way. (honestly)

Answers:

  1. She answered the phone politely.
  2. He opened the door quietly.
  3. The team worked efficiently.
  4. The baby smiled happily.
  5. She completed the task carefully.
  6. He spoke to the child gently.
  7. The cat moved slowly.
  8. They listened to the instructions attentively.
  9. She closed the door softly.
  10. He accepted the mistake honestly.

Exercise 3: Identify the Adverb of Manner

Underline the adverb of manner in each sentence.

  1. She laughed loudly at the joke.
  2. He completed the project successfully.
  3. The athlete trained hard for the competition.
  4. The old man walked slowly across the street.
  5. The student answered confidently.
  6. The wind blew violently during the storm.
  7. She sings beautifully.
  8. The workers finished the job quickly.
  9. The children waited patiently.
  10. He spoke softly to the baby.

Answers:

  1. loudly
  2. successfully
  3. hard
  4. slowly
  5. confidently
  6. violently
  7. beautifully
  8. quickly
  9. patiently
  10. softly