Adverbs of Manner Explained with Definition and Examples

Adverbs of manner are words that tell us how something happens or how an action is done. They help make sentences more detailed by showing the way an action takes place. For example, words like quickly, slowly, or happily describe the manner of an action. These adverbs are important because they give more meaning to the actions we talk about, making sentences clearer and more interesting.

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What Are Adverbs of Manner?

Adverbs of manner describe how an action is performed. They add details to verbs, giving the listener or reader a better understanding of the situation. These adverbs usually answer the question “how?” and are often formed by adding -ly to adjectives, though this is not always the case.

For example:

He quickly finished his homework.
She spoke softly to avoid waking the baby.

How to Identify Adverbs of Manner

Adverbs of manner often appear right after the verb or at the end of a sentence. They modify the verb by providing extra information about the way the action takes place. In English, most adverbs of manner are formed by adding -ly to adjectives, though some remain the same as the adjective.

Here is a simple formula to recognize them:

Formula:

Adjective + -ly = Adverb of Manner

Adjective	Adverb of Manner
Happy	Happily
Quick	Quickly
Quiet	Quietly
Soft	Softly

However, not all adverbs of manner follow this rule. Some irregular forms remain the same as the adjective, like fast and hard.

Common Adverbs of Manner in English

Here’s a list of some of the most commonly used adverbs of manner:

Adverb	Example Sentence
Carefully	She wrote the letter carefully.
Quickly	The students quickly finished the exam.
Slowly	He walked slowly to enjoy the view.
Loudly	The baby cried loudly.
Happily	They danced happily at the party.
Easily	She solved the puzzle easily.
Gently	The wind blew gently through the trees.

Placement of Adverbs of Manner in Sentences

1. After the verb

Example: She sang beautifully.

2. At the end of a sentence

Example: He closed the door quietly.

3. Between the auxiliary verb and the main verb

Example: They have quickly decided to leave.

Note: The placement of adverbs can sometimes change the emphasis or meaning of a sentence. For instance:

She spoke loudly to be heard. (focus on how she spoke)
She loudly spoke to be heard. (focus on the action of speaking)

Forming Adverbs of Manner: Regular vs. Irregular Forms

Regular Adverbs of Manner

As mentioned earlier, regular adverbs of manner are typically formed by adding -ly to the base adjective.

Examples:

Quiet → Quietly
Happy → Happily
Careful → Carefully

Irregular Adverbs of Manner

Adjective	Adverb
Fast	Fast
Hard	Hard
Late	Late
Early	Early

Examples in sentences:

He runs fast. (The word “fast” acts both as an adjective and an adverb.)
She works hard every day.

Advanced Use of Adverbs of Manner

As students advance in English, they learn that adverb of manner can also combine with other adverbs or prepositions to create more complex meanings.

Combining Adverbs of Manner with Other Adverbs:

He completed the task quite quickly.
She sang very beautifully at the concert.

Adverbs of Manner and Prepositional Phrases:

Adverbs of manner can also be combined with prepositional phrases to offer more specific details.

He ran quickly across the street.
She spoke softly in the room.

Adverbs of Manner Explained with Definition and Examples

Adverbs of Manner Example Sentences

#	Example Sentence
1	She sings beautifully.
2	He ran quickly to catch the bus.
3	They spoke politely to the guests.
4	The baby slept peacefully.
5	He answered the questions clearly.
6	The dog barked loudly.
7	She walked gracefully across the stage.
8	He worked carefully on the project.
9	She smiled happily at her friend.
10	They handled the situation calmly.
11	He spoke softly to avoid waking the baby.
12	The students listened attentively.
13	She danced elegantly at the party.
14	He drove recklessly on the highway.
15	The artist painted skillfully.
16	The teacher explained the topic patiently.
17	She laughed loudly at the joke.
18	He replied rudely to the question.
19	The athlete trained hard every day.
20	They finished the task easily.