Manner Adverbs
Manner adverbs describehowsomething happens. In Spanish, they usually come from adjectives and show the way or style of an action.
Formation
Most manner adverbs are formed by adding-menteto the feminine singular form of an adjective.
If there are multiple adjectives, each one takes the -mente ending:rápida y cuidadosamente→rápida y cuidadosamente(quickly and carefully).
Placement
Manner adverbs can be placed either before or after the main verb, but they most commonly appearafterit.
In compound tenses, the adverb usually goes after the past participle:
Common Manner Adverbs
Here are some frequently used manner adverbs in Spanish:
Usage Tips
- Not all adverbs of manner end in -mente (e.g.,bien,mal,rápido,despacio).
- Using -mente makes the word formally correct and more precise.
- You can use a phrase withde+ noun orque+ clause to express manner more vividly:
- Lo hizo de manera sorprendente.(He did it in a surprising way.)
- Habla como un experto.(He speaks like an expert.)
Examples
Manner adverbs help add detail and nuance to your descriptions of actions.
Get Started
Track your progress, chat with the AI, access more exercises.
Last updated: Thu Jul 17, 2025