Adverbs of Manner
An adverb of manner describes how an action is done, and most are formed by adding '-ly' to an adjective, such as 'quick' becoming 'quickly' or 'careful' becoming 'carefully'. Year 3 pupils learn to form these adverbs correctly, including tricky spelling changes, and to place them so they clearly describe a verb.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Find the verb in the sentence that you want to describe further.
- Ask 'how' the action happens to decide whether an adverb of manner is needed.
- Take a matching adjective and usually add '-ly' to form the adverb, e.g. 'careful' becomes 'carefully'.
- Watch for spelling changes, such as 'y' changing to 'i' before '-ly' (happy - happily) or the final 'e' being dropped (gentle - gently).
- Place the adverb after the verb, or after the object, so it clearly describes the action.
Worked example
Rewrite this sentence, adding an adverb of manner formed from the adjective 'quiet': 'The mouse crept across the kitchen floor.'
- Find the verb: 'crept'.
- Take the adjective 'quiet' and add '-ly' to make 'quietly' (no spelling change is needed here).
- Decide where the adverb fits best: straight after the verb.
- Insert the adverb into the sentence.
- Final answer: The mouse crept quietly across the kitchen floor.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a English exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Add an adverb of manner formed from the adjective 'careful' to this sentence: 'The vet examined the injured bird.'
Identify the adverb of manner in the sentence below and explain how it was formed: 'The children tidied their books noisily before lunch.'
Rewrite this sentence twice, once using the adverb 'clumsily' and once using the adverb 'gracefully', and explain how the meaning changes each time: 'The dancer moved across the stage.'
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the adverbs of manner worksheet pack - 11 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. No sign-up, no email wall - just the PDF, free for personal and classroom use.
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