Adverbs of manner and adjectives

Adverbs of manner with verbs: He sang badly.

Adverbs of manner typically say how something happens or is done.

Examples: happily, terribly, fast, badly, well

Adverbs of manner can modify verbs. They should not be confused with adjectives (happy, terrible, etc). Adjectives are not used to modify verbs.

• She danced happily into the room. (not She danced happy …)
• She sang badly. (not She sang bad.)
• I don’t remember him very well. (not … very good.)

But note that some adjective forms are sometimes used as adverbs in an informal style, especially in American English (see here).

• She talks funny.

note

For the use of adjectives after linking verbs like look or seem, (see here).

Other uses: terribly cold

These adverbs can also modify adjectives, past participles, other adverbs and prepositional phrases.

• It’s terribly cold today. (not … terrible cold.)

• This steak is very badly cooked. (not … bad cooked.)

• They’re playing unusually fast. (not … unusual fast.)

• He was madly in love with her. (not … mad in love …)

note

For adjectives ending in -ly, (see here).

For adverbs and adjectives with the same form, (see here).

For the adjective well, (see here).

For the position of adverbs of manner, (see here).

For spelling rules, (see here).