Adverbs - 5

 

Forming adverbs

Adverbials of manner

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.

Grammar reference: Adverbials of manner 1

Complete the sentences by changing the adjectives (in brackets) into adverbs.

1. 

We lost the football match 4–2 yesterday. I don't think we played 

Correct

 (bad) …

2. 

… but the other side played really 

Correct

 (good).

3. 

You drive quite 

Correct

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

4. 

'You're late!' said Olga 

Incorrect

 (angry). 'Where have you been?'

5. 

The teacher spoke so 

Correct

 (quiet) that the class couldn't hear her.

6. 

This is a very important question. Please think 

Correct

 (careful) before you answer.

7. 

In 1483, King Richard III of England 

Correct

 (secret) killed his two young nephews.

8. 

The hungry cat looked 

Correct

 (greedy) at the chicken on the dinner table.

9. 

When I broke my leg, my friend Pam 

Correct

 (kind) offered to do the shopping for me.

10. 

Paulo Coelho is one of my favourite novelists. I think he writes 

Correct

 (beautiful).

Grammar reference: Adverbials of manner 2

Can you remember the sentences from the last activity? Write the correct words.

1. 

We lost the football match 4–2 yesterday. I don't think we played 

 ...

2. 

… but the other side played really 

 .

3. 

You drive quite 

 . I won't be surprised if you have an accident one day!

4. 

'You're late!' said Olga 

 . 'Where have you been?'

5. 

The teacher spoke so 

 that the class couldn't hear her.

6. 

This is a very important question. Please think 

 before you answer.

7. 

In 1483, King Richard III of England 

 killed his two young nephews.

8. 

The hungry cat looked 

 at the chicken on the dinner table.

9. 

When I broke my leg, my friend Pam 

 offered to do the shopping for me.

10. 

Paulo Coelho is one of my favourite novelists. I think he writes 

 .

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)

Grammar reference: Adverbials of manner 3

Use the words to complete the sentences.

1. 

Do you have to drive so 

• Correctfast

 ? You're making me nervous.

2. 

Have you ever eaten frogs' legs? They taste like 

• Correctchicken

 .

3. 

I lived in Cairo for more than ten years. I know it like 

• Correctthe back of my hand

 .

4. 

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

• Correctfriendly

 way.

5. 

Let's get the later bus, at 10.45. We don't want to arrive at the airport too 

• Correctearly

 .

6. 

This milk doesn't smell very 

• Correctgood

 . How long has it been in the fridge?

7. 

Why's he dancing in that 

• Correctsilly

 way? Is he trying to be funny?

8. 

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

• Correcta book

 .

9. 

You look really 

• Correctbad

 ! What time did you go to bed last night?

Grammar reference: Adverbials of manner 4

Can you remember the sentences from the last activity? Write the correct words.

1. 

Do you have to drive 

 ? You're making me nervous.

2. 

Have you ever eaten frogs' legs? They 

 .

3. 

I lived in Cairo for more than ten years. I know it 

 .

4. 

Is Marie angry with me? She didn't say hello 

 .

5. 

Let's get the later bus, at 10.45. We don't want to arrive at the airport 

 .

6. 

This milk doesn't 

 . How long has it been in the fridge?

7. 

Why's he dancing 

 ? Is he trying to be funny?

8. 

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

 .

9. 

You 

 ! What time did you go to bed last night?

https://engames.eu/