Adverbs of manner
An adjective describes a noun; an adverb of manner tells us how we do something.
One step at a timeRules
Rule 1: adjective + -ly
Most adverbs are made by adding -ly to the adjective: *slow → slowly, quiet → quietly, careful → carefully*.
Pattern: adjective + -ly = adverb
Example: The snail moves slowly.
Example: He carried the eggs carefully.
Rule 2: Spelling changes
Consonant + y → -ily: *happy → happily, easy → easily*. Adjectives ending in -le drop the e: *gentle → gently*.
Example: The puppies played happily.
Example: She stroked the kitten gently.
Rule 3: Special adverbs
good → well: He dances well. fast → fast: there is no word *fastly*! hard → hard: *hardly* means something different (almost not).
Example: My grandpa plays chess well.
Example: Horses can run fast.
Rule 4: Adjective or adverb?
Adjective: before a noun (*a careful girl*) or after am / is / are / was (*She is careful*). Adverb: after an action verb (*She writes carefully*).
Example: The music is loud.
Example: They play the music loudly.
Common mistakes
She sings good.→ She sings well.For an action, use well.
He runs fastly.→ He runs fast.There is no word fastly.
The soup is hotly.→ The soup is hot.After is we use an adjective.
Position 26 of 32 topics at A2.