Adverbs of manner describe how an action is done: She speaks fluently. He drives carefully. Most are formed by adding -ly to an adjective. Some are irregular: good → well, fast → fast, hard → hard.
Exercises:
Exercise 1 (Easy): Choose the correct adverb
Choose the correct adverb of manner to complete each sentence.
Exercises:
1
My flatmate speaks French really ___.
2
Dan drives ___, so I never worry when he gives me a lift.
3
The kids played ___ in the pool all afternoon.
4
Nina sings ___ enough to be in a band.
5
Our courier walks slowly but cycles incredibly ___.
6
The whole team worked very ___ to finish the app before Friday.
7
She answered every question ___ and got the job.
8
He spoke so ___ that people two tables away turned round.
9
Marta plays tennis so ___ that nobody at the club wants to face her.
10
The dog barked ___ at the delivery driver.
Adverbs of Manner
Describe how an action is done, either after the verb or after the object.
📐 Formation Rules
Rule
Adjective
Adverb
Most → add -ly
slow, careful
slowly, carefully
Ending -e → add -ly
polite, gentle
politely, gently
Ending -y → -ily
happy, easy, angry
happily, easily, angrily
Ending -ic → -ally
automatic, dramatic
automatically, dramatically
📍 After the Verb
Subject+verb+adverb
✅
She sings beautifully.
✅
He speaks quietly.
📍 After the Object
Subject+verb+object+adverb
✅
She finished the test quickly.
❌
She finished quickly the test.
!
Irregular Adverbs (no -ly here!)
good →
well
She plays well.
fast →
fast
He runs fast.
hard →
hard
She works hard.
late →
late
He came late.
early →
early
I arrived early.
high →
high
She jumped high.
⚠ Key point: Adjective or adverb? Does the word describe a noun? → adjective. Does it describe how something is done? → adverb. "She is a good singer." (good = adjective) vs "She sings well." (well = adverb).