Adverbs of Manner: Rules, Position and Examples in English

Overview

An adverb of manner is an adverb that describes the way in which an action is carried out. It answers the question how something is done. When someone speaks quietly, works efficiently, or runs fast, the word is an adverb of manner, telling the listener not just what happened but how it happened.

What Adverbs of Manner Describe

Adverbs of manner modify action verbs. They say something about the quality, character, or style of the action rather than about when, where, or how often it happens.

Adverbs of manner do not modify nouns or pronouns directly. They attach to the verb, and through the verb they characterise the action. This is what separates them from adjectives, which attach directly to nouns.

Formation of Adverbs of Manner

Most adverbs of manner are formed by adding -ly to an adjective, with spelling changes that apply to particular endings.

Standard -ly addition:

Adjectives ending in -y change to -i before -ly:

Adjectives ending in -le drop the -e and add -y:

Adjectives ending in -ic add -ally:

A number of adverbs of manner are flat adverbs and share their form with the adjective. These include fast, hard, straight, right, wrong, loud, high, low, deep, close, and fine.

Position of Adverbs of Manner

After the Verb

When a verb has no object, the adverb of manner follows the verb directly.

After the Object

When a verb has an object, the adverb of manner follows the object, not the verb. Placing the adverb between the verb and its object is the most common word-order error at this level.

Before the Verb: Emphasis and Style

An adverb of manner can be placed before the main verb for emphasis or stylistic effect. This position draws more attention to the manner and appears more frequently in formal and written English.

This position is not used with flat adverbs such as fast or hard, which always follow the verb or object.

Never Between the Verb and a Short Object

The one placement that is consistently ungrammatical is inserting an adverb of manner between a verb and a short, light object.

Adverbs of Manner With Linking Verbs

Adverbs of manner do not follow linking verbs. Linking verbs such as be, seem, appear, become, feel, look, sound, and taste connect the subject to a description of its state. That description takes an adjective, not an adverb.

Some verbs can function as either action verbs or linking verbs, and the meaning of the sentence changes accordingly.

Comparing Adverbs of Manner

Most -ly adverbs of manner use more and most for comparative and superlative forms. Short flat adverbs add -er and -est.

Well is irregular. Its comparative form is better and its superlative is best.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Placing the Adverb Between the Verb and Its Object

The adverb of manner must follow the object, not separate the verb from it.

Mistake 2: Using an Adjective After an Action Verb Instead of an Adverb

After an action verb, the modifier must be an adverb, not an adjective.

Mistake 3: Using an Adverb After a Linking Verb Instead of an Adjective

After a linking verb, the modifier describes the subject and must be an adjective.

Mistake 4: Using Good Instead of Well

Good is an adjective. The adverb of manner corresponding to good is well.

Mistake 5: Adding -ly to a Flat Adverb

Flat adverbs such as fast, hard, and straight do not take -ly. Adding -ly either produces a non-word (fastly) or changes the meaning entirely (hardly).

Mistake 6: Confusing the -y to -i Spelling Change

When forming an adverb of manner from an adjective ending in a consonant plus -y, the -y must change to -i before -ly is added.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Form the Adverb of Manner

Write the correct adverb of manner from each adjective.

1. polite
2. heavy
3. automatic
4. gentle
5. confident
6. fast
7. angry
8. efficient

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Word

Choose the correct word from the options in brackets.

1. She completed the assignment (efficient / efficiently) and submitted it before the deadline.
2. The manager looked (serious / seriously) when she entered the room for the debrief session.
3. He performed (good / well) in both the written and practical components of the assessment.
4. They listened (careful / carefully) to every instruction before beginning the procedure.
5. The engine started (automatic / automatically) without requiring any input from the driver.
6. She ran (fast / fastly) to reach the platform before the train departed from the station.

Exercise 3: Correct the Word Order

Rewrite each sentence so that the adverb of manner is in the correct position.

1. She read carefully the contract before signing it at the bottom of the final page.
2. He completed efficiently every task on the list without needing any further guidance.
3. They discussed thoroughly the proposal before reaching a decision at the end of the day.
4. She wrote neatly her name at the top of the form as requested by the administrator.

Exercise 4: Action Verb or Linking Verb?

Decide whether the verb in each sentence is an action verb (AV) or a linking verb (LV), then choose the correct modifier from the options in brackets.

1. She felt (nervous / nervously) before the presentation began in the main hall.
2. She breathed (deep / deeply) to calm herself before walking onto the stage.
3. The fabric feels (soft / softly) and is ideal for the product being developed.
4. He looked (careful / carefully) at every figure in the spreadsheet before approving it.
5. The solution tasted (strange / strangely) and was sent back to the laboratory for testing.
6. She spoke (quiet / quietly) so as not to disturb the others working nearby.

Summary

Adverbs of manner follow the object when one is present, follow the verb directly when there is no object, and never appear between a verb and its short object.