LoginAdverbs of Manner For Intermediate learners
What Are Adverbs of Manner?
Adverbs of manner (los adverbios de modo) describe how an action is performed and answer the question "¿Cómo?".
Formation
Most adverbs of manner in Spanish are formed by adding "-mente" to the feminine singular form of an adjective. Adverbs of manner have the same form for all genders and numbers. For example:
claro → clara + mente → claramente (clearly)
rápido → rápida + mente → rápidamente (rapidly)
cuidadoso → cuidadosa + mente → cuidadosamente (carefully)
fácil → fácil (invariable) + mente → fácilmente (easily)
Here are some example sentences:
Terminó rápidamente.
She/He finished quickly.
Habla lentamente.
Speak slowly.
Cerró la puerta suavemente.
She/He closed the door gently.
Vivieron felizmente.
They lived happily.
Tip!
Sometimes, adverbs of manner are formed using a preposition such as "con" with a noun. For example:
Conduce con cuidado.
She/He drives carefully (with care).
Hicelo con facilidad.
I did it easily (with ease).
Plain Adverbs of Manner
Some Spanish adverbs of manner do not follow the common -mente ending pattern and have specific forms, or have the same form as the corresponding adjective. For example:
bien → well
mal → badly
así → like this/this way
despacio → slowly
rápido → quickly
mejor → better
peor → worse
Here are some example sentences:
Habla español bien.
She/He speaks Spanish well.
Se comportó mal.
She/He behaved badly.
Hazlo así.
Do it like this.
Corre rápido.
Run fast.
Placement in the Sentence
Adverbs of manner usually appear after the verb or its object, if there is one. When there are other adverbs in the sentence, the adverb of manner typically comes before the adverbs of place and time.
Habla claramente.
He/She speaks clearly.
after the verb
Explicó la lección claramente.
She/He explained the lesson clearly.
after the direct object
Cantó la canción perfectamente ayer.
He/She sang the song perfectly yesterday.
before adverb of time
Trabajamos bien allá.
We work well there.
before adverb of place
Tip!
When two or more adverbs of manner are used together, only the last one takes -mente and the ones before it remain in their adjective form. For example:
Habló clara y lentamente.
He/She spoke clear(ly) and slowly.
Comments
(0)
Recommended
