Adverbs of Manner: Rules to Form, Examples & Practice Exercise

What Is an Adverb of Manner?

Adverbs of manner are normally grammatical tools that are put into sentences to define how an action is performed or to answer the question "how it is done?". These adverbs transform the verbs by adding more detail to the way an action is carried out. For a better understanding, let's look at an example.

For example

• They agreed to the plan.
• They agreed happily to the plan.

Here in this example, happily is used as a manner adverbial to tell how they agreed. Meanwhile, don't get confused, manner adverbs and manner adverbials are other names used to indicate adverbs of manner.

Examples in Sentences

If you are still in doubt about how these adverbs work and are used in sentences, take a look at the given adverbs of manner examples in sentences. It might make it easier for you to understand.

• Mike and Eleven walked slowly across the park.
• Ronit can write and listen to music simultaneously.
• The coaching staff and other players cheered enthusiastically for their franchise.
• The captain shouted angrily at the teammate for the mistake.
• He spoke very softly during the interview.

How to Form Adverbs of Manner?

Now that you have come across adverbs of manner meaning, it is crucial to learn how these adverbs are formed. It will help you use them correctly in the sentences to provide detail and clarity. Here is the detailed explanation for your reference.

1. Regular Formation: Most of the adverbs are typically formed just by adding "-ly" to the end of an adjective. Let’s look at a few adverbs of manner examples for better understanding.

• Slow (Adjective) - Slowly
• Quick (Adjective) - Quickly
• Soft (Adjective) - Softly
• Careful(Adjective) - Carefully
• Neat (Adjective) – Neatly

2. Spelling Variations: While most adjectives are transformed into manner adverbs by adding '-ly', there are some exceptions you must learn.

• Adjectives ending in "-y": Change the y to i and then add 'ly' to make it an adverb of manner. For example, happy transforms into happily.
• Adjectives ending in "-le": Replace the e with y and then add 'le'. For example, gentle transforms into gently.
• Adjective ending "-ic": Add "-ally", for example, economic transforms into economically

3. Irregular Forms: In the list of exceptions, a few don't follow the -ly rule and stay the same as their adjective form. A few examples of adverbs of manner include: 

• fast - fast
• hard - hard
• late - late
• early - early
• well – well

Adverbs of Manner List

The formation rules that you have just discovered might sound confusing to many of you. To help you avoid the mix-up, here is a list of adverbs of manner that are used frequently in various phrases and contexts.

Placement of Adverbs of Manner in Sentences

Learning the adverbs of manner formation is followed by understanding their placement in sentences to make sure it is meaningful and used properly. Here is a detailed breakdown of their placement for your understanding.

1. General Placement: This is the widely followed rule because its placement can shift the emphasis in a sentence. The general placement rule places the adverb of manner-

• After the verb- In this placement, the stress of the sentence is neutral, which keeps the natural focus of the action itself.

For example: He sleeps quietly.

• After the object- If the sentence verb has an object, the adverb is generally placed after the object.

For example: He ate her dinner quickly.

2. Other Placements: There are a few other placements that you can use in various contexts. It includes:

• Between the subject and the verb- Placement can move the emphasis of the sentence to the adverb itself. It highlights how an action happened or was performed.

For example: He gently placed the laptop on the table.

• Before the verb: Placement can stress the manner of the action being carried out.

For example: Carefully, he placed the laptop on the desk.

• At the beginning of the sentence: Placement can create a sense of suspense or attention to the adverb.

For example: Slowly, the old man walked across the park.

Adverbs of Manner Exercises

Now that you have discovered this topic in detail, it’s time to check your understanding. Go on and explore the following adverbs of manner worksheet with answers to evaluate your progress till now.

Practice Exercise 1- Using Adverbs of Manner in Sentences

Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate adverbs of manner.

Pick from the list provided (carefully, quietly, quickly, accidentally, happily, well, slowly, clearly, confidently, steadily)

1. Rahul finished the homework __________ and was able to relax afterward.

2. The team was practicing __________ in the night without making any noise.

3. The coach smiled __________ as he congratulated the team.

4. Talha read the letter __________, as if it held an important secret.

5. Rudra answered the question __________, displaying his deep knowledge.

6. The manager spoke  __________ during the presentation, which impressed the team.

7. They walked __________, not wanting to disturb the others.

8. Rahul __________ dropped the wallet somewhere in the Mall.

9. He explained the process __________, making sure everyone understood.

10. The boy worked __________ through the night to finish his assignment.

Answers for Exercise 1

1. Rahul finished the homework quickly and was able to relax afterwards.

2. The team was practicing quietly in the night without making any noise.

3. The coach smiled happily as he congratulated the team.

4. Talha read the letter carefully, as if it held an important secret.

5. Rudra answered the question well, displaying his deep knowledge.

6. The manager spoke confidently during the presentation, which impressed the team.

7. They walked slowly, not wanting to disturb the others.

8. Rahul accidentally dropped the wallet somewhere in the Mall.

9. He explained the process clearly, making sure everyone understood.

10. The boy worked steadily through the night to finish his assignment.

Practice Exercise 2- Identifying the Adverbs of Manner

Read the following sentences carefully and underline the adverb of manner in each sentence.

1. Ronit spoke angrily after hearing the news.

2. Ishan kept reminding Manan repeatedly to talk to the authorities before it is too late.

3. He whispered softly to avoid waking anyone.

4. The dog wagged its tail excitedly when it saw its owner.

5. Divyansh answered the questions confidently during the interview.

6. The boys played noisily in the playground.

7. He worked steadily throughout the night to finish the project.

8. The children smiled happily at the funny clown.

9. The guest lecturer explained the lesson clearly to the university students.

10. They danced stunningly at the annual day function performance.

Answer for Exercise 2

1. Ronit spoke angrily after hearing the news.

2. Ishan kept reminding Manan repeatedly to talk to the authorities before it is too late.

3. He whispered softly to avoid waking anyone.

4. The dog wagged its tail excitedly when it saw its owner.

5. Divyansh answered the questions confidently during the interview.

6. The boys played noisily in the playground.

7. He worked steadily throughout the night to finish the project.

8. The children smiled happily at the funny clown.

9. The guest lecturer explained the lesson clearly to the university students.

10. They danced stunningly at the annual day function performance.

Conclusion

Conclusively, this sums up our learning journey of adverbs of manner. You all know the definition of an adverb of manner, which is an adverb used to show how someone does something or how something happens. But, these elements are not only about defining the actions, they also play a vital role in building up detail and clarity in the conversation.

Whether you're narrating a story or explaining something, these adverbs are of great use to you. Practice regularly and hold a tight grip on its placement and formation rules to use them correctly in various contexts.

FAQs

1. How do adverbs of manner differ from adverbs of time?

Adverbs of manner and Adverbs of time serve distinct purposes within a sentence. Adverbs of manner describe the way in which an action is performed, while on the other hand, adverbs of time specify when an action occurs.

2. When do we use adverbs of manner?

In English Grammar, adverbs of manner are used in sentences to define the way in which an action is performed. These adverbs transform the verb, offering additional details about how the action is carried out.

3. Do adverbs of manner always end in -ly?

No adverbs of manner do not always end in –ly. There are a few that end with –ly, but it is not a universal rule.

4. Can an adverb of manner modify a noun?

No, an adverb of manner is not able to modify a noun directly; they typically change verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

5. Can one sentence contain more than one adverb of manner?

Yes, it is possible that one sentence can contain more than one adverb of manner. However, it is important to note that you should use them carefully to avoid making the sentence sound vague and awkward. For example, “He quickly and efficiently fixed the broken table”.

6. How do you form an adverb of manner from an adjective?

In order to form an adverb of manner from an adjective, just add “-ly” to the end of an adjective. For example, quick becomes quickly, slow becomes slowly and more. However, there are some exceptions and irregular forms you must look for.