Adverbials of manner

Adverbials of manner

Words to describe the way we do things.

Open Ended

How do you define "Adverb"?

Level: beginner

Adverbs of manner are usually formed from adjectives by adding –ly:

• bad > badly

• quiet > quietly

• sudden > suddenly

but sometimes there are changes in spelling:

• easy > easily

• gentle > gently

• careful > carefully

The adverb formed from good is well:

• You speak English very well.

Adverbs of manner normally come after the verb:

He spoke angrily.

or after the object:

He opened the door quietly.

Let´s practice a bit

read and spell carefully.

Fill in the Blank

We lost the football match 4–2 yesterday. I don't think we played _________ (bad) …

Fill in the Blank

… but the other side played really (good).

Fill in the Blank

You drive quite ___________ (dangerous). I won't be surprised if you have an accident one day!

Fill in the Blank

'You're late!' said Olga ___________ (angry). 'Where have you been?'

Level: intermediate

If an adjective already ends in -ly, we use the phrase in a …. way to express manner:

silly: He behaved in a silly way.

friendly: She spoke in a friendly way.

A few adverbs of manner have the same form as the adjective:

They all worked hard.

She usually arrives late/early.

I hate driving fast.

Be careful!

hardly and lately have different meanings from hard and late:

 He could hardly walk. = It was difficult for him to walk.

 I haven't seen John lately. = I haven't seen John recently.

We often use phrases with like as adverbials of manner:

She slept like a baby.

He ran like a rabbit.

Adverbials of manner and link verbs

We very often use adverbials with like after link verbs:

• Her hands felt like ice.

• It smells like fresh bread.

Be careful!

We do not use adverbs of manner after link verbs.

We use adjectives instead:

• They looked happy. (NOT happily)

• That bread smells delicious. (NOT deliciously)

Let´s practice a bit

read and spell carefully.

Multiple Choice

Do you have to drive so _______?

You're making me nervous.

• friendly

• fast

• good

• a book

• early

Multiple Choice

Have you ever eaten frogs' legs? They taste like

• chicken

• early

• silly

• friendly

Multiple Choice

Is Marie angry with me? She didn't say hello in a very ________ way.

• good

• a book

• friendly

• the back of my hand

• bad

Multiple Choice

You can always tell what Rod is thinking. You can read him like

• good

• a book

• the back of my hand

• bad

• chicken

Thank you

I'll be seeing you