Adverbs of Manner in English with Examples

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Adverbs are words that add extra details to verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, giving us a clearer picture of how actions are performed. And when it comes to adverbs of manner, they specifically describe how an action is being done or how a person feels while doing it. Adverbs of manner are used to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. They can make your writing more interesting and provide a clearer picture of how something is being done. In this article, we will explore what adverbs of manner are, how they are used in sentences, and provide examples to help you better understand their function and use. So, let’s get started!

What are adverbs of manner?

Adverbs of manner are words that provide more information about how an action is performed or how something happens. They often answer the question “How?” in a sentence. They add detail to verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs, helping to paint a clearer picture of the action or situation being described.

For example:

She smiled warmly.

In this sentence, “warmly” is the adverb of manner. It tells us how she smiled—adding the detail that her smile was friendly and comforting.

He ran quickly to catch the bus.

“Quickly” is the adverb of manner here. It provides information about the speed of his running, indicating that he was in a hurry to catch the bus.

They sang beautifully on stage.

Here, “beautifully” acts as the adverb of manner. It informs us about how they sang, suggesting that their performance was aesthetically pleasing and skillful.

How to use adverbs of manner?

Using adverbs of manner can greatly enhance your writing by providing vivid descriptions of how actions are performed. Here are some tips on how to use them effectively:

Use adverbs of manner to describe how actions happen.
They often end in “-ly,” like “quickly” or “softly.”
Place them after verbs or objects: “She spoke loudly.”
Add them at the start for emphasis: “Quickly, he ran.”
Use adverbs to show intensity: “very,” “extremely,” etc.
Some have irregular forms like “well” and “badly.”
Compare with “more” or “most” for degrees.
Ask questions about how things are done: “How did she sing?”
Avoid repetition by using adverbs: “He walked slowly and carefully.”
They can join clauses with conjunctions: “While singing softly.”

Formation of adverbs of manner:

Adverbs of manner are usually formed by adding the suffix “-ly” to an adjective. For example:

Quick (adjective) → Quickly (adverb)

Careful (adjective) → Carefully (adverb)

Gentle (adjective) → Gently (adverb)

Not all adverbs of manner are formed by adding “ -ly” to an adjective. Some adverbs have irregular forms that don’t follow this pattern. For example:

Good (adjective) → Well (adverb)

Fast (adjective) → Fast (adverb)

Hard (adjective) → Hard (adverb)

Placement in a sentence

They are generally placed after the verb they modify. If the verb has a direct object, the adverb usually comes after the object. They can also be placed at the beginning or end of a sentence for emphasis:

She ran to the store quickly. (after the verb)
She smiled warmly at him. (after the object)
She painted the wall carefully. (after the object)
Quickly, he finished his homework. (at the beginning)
They waited patiently for the results. (at the end)

Comparatives and Superlatives

Adverbs of manner can also be used to compare the intensity or manner of different actions. The comparative form adds “-er” or uses “more,” while the superlative form adds “-est” or uses “most”:

She sings more beautifully than anyone else. (Comparative)
She types the fastest in the office. (Superlative)
He runs more quickly than his friend. (Comparative)

Example sentences

She speaks loudly.
She walks gracefully.
He plays the guitar most skillfully.
They worked diligently.
The children played happily.
He speaks quite softly.
Quickly, I finished my homework.
He drives quite recklessly.
She completed the puzzle easily.
They waited patiently for the results.
They laughed heartily at the joke.
He ate the cake greedily.
The movie was extremely
She was incredibly
The baby slept peacefully.
He answered the question confidently.
She hugged her friend warmly.
The water flowed smoothly down the river.
She typed the report quickly.
The cat climbed the tree effortlessly.

List of Adverbs of Manner

Slowly
Quickly
Quietly
Loudly
Carefully
Carelessly
Well
Badly
Easily
Hard
Softly
Roughly
Smoothly
Gracefully
Happily
Sadly
Fast
Angrily
Calmly
Nervously
Briskly
Patiently
Impatiently
Accurately
Inaccurately
Confidently
Timidly
Politely
Impolitely
Proudly
Modestly
Generously
Selfishly
Fiercely
Gently
Seriously
Playfully
Carefreeness
Cautiously
Reluctantly
Deliberately
Anxiously
Beautifully
Carefully
Cheerfully
Clearly
Closely
Fiercely
Foolishly
Kindly
Neatly
Rapidly
Slowly
Swiftly
Thoughtfully
Warmly
Wildly
Absentmindedly
Accidentally
Actively
Almost
Always
Angrily
Awkwardly
Constantly
Correctly
Enthusiastically
Generally
Gladly
Honestly
Hopelessly
Humbly
Innocently
Intensely
Kindly
Lightly
Loudly
Madly
Mysteriously
Neatly
Nervously
Nobly
Patiently
Perfectly
Politely
Poorly
Powerfully
Promptly
Quietly
Rapidly
Reluctantly
Rudely
Sadly
Secretly
Silently
Speedily
Steadily
Surprisingly
Tightly
Truly
Unexpectedly
Usually
Wisely

MCQs

Q1. An adverb of manner answers the question:

Who?
What?
When?
How?

Q2. Identify the adverb of manner in the sentence: “He spoke __________.”

Loudly
Yesterday
Quickly
Often

Q3. Which of the following is NOT an adverb of manner?

Gently
Rarely
Beautifully
Angrily

Q4. In the sentence “She smiled __________,” the adverb of manner is:

happily
suddenly
usually
soon

Q5. She sings __________.

good
beautifully
nice
quickly

Q6. He finished the puzzle ___________.

easy
easiest
easiness
easily

Q7. Choose the sentence with an adverb of manner:

He rarely goes to the gym.
She lives nearby.
They left the party early.
He walks slowly.

Q8. The dog barked ___________.

loud
loudness
loudly
loud fully

Q9. She speaks English ____________.

good
goodly
well
goodliness

Q10. An adverb of manner describes:

Where an action takes place
Why an action is performed
How an action is performed
When an action occurs

Answers

d) How?
a) loudly
b) rarely
a) happily
b) beautifully
d) easily
d) He walks slowly.
c) loudly
c) well
c) How an action is performed

FAQs

Q1: What are adverbs of manner?

Adverbs of manner are a type of adverb that describes how an action is performed or the manner in which something happens. They provide more information about the verb in a sentence. They answer the question “How?”

Example: She sang beautifully.

Q2: Where are adverbs of manner usually placed in a sentence?

They are generally placed after the verb they modify. For example: “She sings beautifully.” However, they can also be positioned at the beginning or end of a sentence for emphasis.

Q3: Can adverbs of manner be used with adjectives?

Yes, They can also modify adjectives. For example, “The cake tastes deliciously sweet.”

Q4: What are some examples of adverbs of manner?

Here are some examples: beautifully, quickly, softly, gracefully, loudly, carefully, gently, happily, and nervously, etc.

Q5: What’s the difference between adverbs of manner and adjectives?

Adverbs of manner describe how an action is performed, while adjectives describe the attributes of nouns. For example, in “He drives carefully,” “carefully” is an adverb of manner; in “He has a careful driving style,” “careful” is an adjective.

Q6: How does an adverb of manner differ from an adverb of frequency?

An adverb of manner describes the way an action is done, while an adverb of frequency indicates how often an action occurs. For instance, in “He speaks loudly” (manner), and “He always speaks loudly” (frequency), “loudly” is the adverb of manner, and “always” is the adverb of frequency.

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