ADVERBS OF

MANNER

Definition Modify a verb to describe the way the action is done. These answer the question how?

They are usually placed after the main verb or after the object.

Example:

He swims well. (after the main verb)

He plays the flute beautifully. (after the object)

• We use adverbs of manner to describe how something happens

• We usually form adverbs of manner by adding –ly to the adjective.

smart - smartly

careful - carefully

• If the adjective ends in –e , take off the –e.

gentle – gently

simple – simply

reasonable – reasonably

• If the adjective ends in –y, we usually change the –y to –i.

angry – angrily

noisy – nosily

busy – busily

but shy - shyly

• If the adjectives ends in –ic, we add –ally.

dramatic – dramatically

tragic – tragically

• Some adjectives end in –ly :

friendly, lonely, lovely, silly, ugly, deadly, lively

Some adverbs are the same as the adjectives:

early fast hard high late low right wrong

• well is the adverb from good

“Sleep well.”

“He plays football well.”

• well can also be an adjective. It means healthy.

“My teacher was not at school today. He is not well.”

• Adverbs of manner can come before or after a verb.

“He drove carefully because the weather was bad.

“She quietly went upstairs.”

• But they must come after an object if there is one.

“You speak English well.”

When a sentence consists of :

verb + preposition + object

we can put the adverb before the preposition or after the object.

“She listened to me carefully.”“She listened carefully to me.”

• When we use a passive form, the adverb goes before the

past participle.

“He was badly injured.”

“The CD was slightly damaged in the post but

still worked.”