LoginAdverbs of Manner
Adverbs of manner give us information about how the action of the verb is done. Follow the lesson to find out how they are formed and used in sentences.
What Are Adverbs of Manner?
Adverbs of Manner: Structure
Adverbs of manner can often be formed from adjectives by adding the suffix '-ly'. For example:
- quick + -ly → quick
ly - easy + -ly → easi
ly - quiet + -ly → quiet
ly
When forming adverbs, there can be some changes in the spelling. For example, when an adjective ends in -y we have to change the -y to '-i' and then add -ly:
- eas
y + -ly → easi ly - happ
y + -ly → happi ly - angr
y + -ly → angri ly
If the adjective already has as -ly in the end, we use the phrase in a (...) way/manner to form an adverbial of manner. Pay attention to the examples:
- brotherly → in a brotherly manner
He treats his relatives
- silly → in a silly way
She behaved
- deadly → in a deadly way
He stared at his opponent
Some adverbs of manner have the same form as their corresponding adjectives. These adverbs are called flat adverbs, bare adverbs, or simple adverbs.
- hard
She worked
- late
Can you stay
- early
I arrived
- fast
Our son is growing up
- high
He kicked the ball
using an adverb of manner in a sentence
Warning
Some adjectives have different meanings when they are modified by the '-ly' suffix to become adverbs of manner. For example:
- hardly
- lately
- highly
I was so shocked I could
'Hardly' as an adverb means barely or only just.
What have you been doing
As an adverb, 'lately' means recently or in the recent past.
He's a
As an adverb, 'highly' means very or to a great extent.
Adverbs of Manner: Placement
Adverbs of manner are usually placed:
- after the main verb and or its object or object phrase
- between the auxiliary and the main verb
- at the beginning or at the end of a sentence
She plays the piano
He couldn't
She
Cheetahs run
Warning
Adverbs of manner cannot be placed between a verb and its direct object. Instead, they should be placed either before the verb or at the end of the clause clause (after the verb).
She ate hungrily
She ate a slice of bread
He walked
He walked towards his house
Tip!
In literary usage, writers may place adverbs of manner at the beginning of a sentence or before a verb + object to draw attention to the adverb and create emphasis.
She
Is the Place of Adverbs of Manner Important?
The position of an adverb of manner is important when we have more than one verb in the sentence.
- If we put the adverb before or after the main verb, it only describes that verb.
- If we put the adverb after a clause, it describes the whole clause.
Mary
Here, 'secretly' modifies the verb 'tell'
Mary told Alan
Here too, 'secretly' modifies the verb 'tell'
Mary asked Alan to leave her house
Here, 'secretly' modifies the verb 'leave'
Warning
We cannot use adverbs of manner after linking verbs. We use adjectives instead:
The girl seemed happily.)
The flowers smelled pleasantly.)
Review
Adverbs of manner modify verbs and they are either placed at the end of the sentence or after the subject. Remember we cannot use adverbs of manner with linking verbs, and they never modify linking verbs.
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