Adverb of Manner

Adverb Placement
Modifying a Verb

Manner Adverb Placement — Modifying Verbs

BEFORE THE VERB BETWEEN THE AUXILIARY AND MAIN VERB AFTER THE VERB
For emphasis, an adverb for manner can be placed before a verb if the verb is an intransitive verb (a verb that has an object.)
An adverb for manner commonly occurs between an auxiliary verb and the main verb. (auxiliary verb: do, does, has, have, will, can, may, might, must, should, etc.) An adverb for manner most commonly is placed after the verb (and after the object if there is one.)

He silently turned the dial.
He will silently turn the dial.
He turned the dial silently.
He continuously watched the front door. He was continuously watching the front door. He watched the front door continuously.
*He closely listened. (intrans. v. – sounds awkward) *He doesn't closely listen. (intran. v. – sounds awkward) He listened closely.
*He softly spoke. (intrans. v. – sounds awkward) *He should softly speak. (intran. v. – sounds awkward) He spoke softly.
He quickly walked away. (intrans. v. –sounds okay) He would quickly walk away. He walked away quickly.

*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.
awkward sounding (adj) – unpleasant to hear; not preferred phrasing for native speakers
intransitive verb (intrans. v.) – a verb that is not followed by an object: "I rise.", "I lie down."
transitive verb (trans. v.) – a verb that is followed by an object: "I raised the flag." "I laid the baby down."

Three Positions for Placement

BEFORE A VERB BETWEEN AN AUXILIARY AND MAIN VERB AFTER A VERB + OBJECT
An adverb for manner is commonly placed before the main verb. The placement can also be used for emphasis. When an auxiliary verb is present, the adverb for manner is placed after the auxiliary and before the main verb. An adverb is placed after the verb and its object or object phrase when no particular emphasis on it is desired.
He unlocked the safe. (security box)

He did not open the safe.

He opened the safe .


Manner Adverb Placement – Exceptions

MEDIAL POSITION FINAL POSITION
Adverbs with no -ly forms – hard, fast, good, late, well – are not placed between the auxiliary and main verb. (Note that early and daily are irregular because they .) Some irregular adverbs without -ly forms can only occur after the verb phrase.
* The wind was hard blowing over the crowd. The wind was blowing hard over the crowd.

*The emotion was fast rising inside the hearts of the people. The emotion was rising fast inside the hearts of the people.

*All agreed that the event had well gone. All agreed that the event had gone well.

*The organizers were late called. The organizers were called late.

*President Obama was early starting work. President Obama was starting work early. (end of sentence)

Related page: "right over"


Common Mistakes

ERROR FIX
*We opened quietly the door. adverb placement error

We opened the door quietly .
The adverb is placed after the verb and object that it modifies.
*He moves quickly the ball toward the goal. adverb placement error
He moves the ball quickly toward the goal. Place adverb after the object!
The adverb is placed after the verb and object that it modifies.
*He strangely was very unhappy even though he was wealthy.
A n adverb cannot modify a BE verb. (stative verb).

Pop-Q – "strangely"
It is strange that he was so unhappy even though he was wealthy.
Use a modifying clause in place of the adverb. (Substitute so for very.)
Strangely, he was very unhappy even though he was wealthy.
Use strangely to introduce and modify the the entire sentence. (See clause adverb.)
He was strangely unhappy even though he was very wealthy
Use the adverb to modify the adjective. (A slight change in meaning results.)
Air traffic continues to steadily return to normal across Europe.

Not incorrect, but it is unclear whether steadily modifies the verb continues or the infinitive to return, or the verb phrase continues to return.

Related page: The Split Infinitive Debate

(1) Air traffic steadily continues to return to normal across Europe.

(2) Air traffic continues steadily to return to normal across Europe.

(3) Air traffic continues to return steadily to normal across Europe.
Move the adverb directly before or after the word you wish it to modify. In this sentence, moving the adverb does not really change the meaning.


Adverb Placement
Modifying an Adjective

Manner Adverb Placement — Modifying Adjectives
BEFORE AN ADJECTIVE BEFORE A PARTICIPIAL ADJECTIVE
An adverb for manner can also modify an adjective – the quality or character of someone/thing. An adverb for manner can modify an adjective formed from a passive verb, ending in -ed. (Part Adj)


He was purposefully silent. (silent on purpose)
He was sadly mistaken. (expression) – an idea based on a wrong understanding
He is extraordinarily good at safe-cracking. The safe was badly damaged. (participial adj.)
He was regretfully wrong. The burglar was clearly experienced.
He was remarkably quick. The actor was skillfully prepared.


Manner Adverb
Initial Placement

Initially placed manner adverb
INITIALLY PLACED ADVERB SET OFF BY A COMMA NORMAL PLACEMENT
We place a manner adverb at the beginning (separated by a comma) in speech and writing to create a pause. The focus shifts to the adverb creating emphasis or 'setting the scene'. The adjunct modifies the verb phrase of the clause. We normally place a manner adverb before the verb or after the direct object. Placing an adverb before the subject is not done.

Quietly, he turned the dial on the safe. means the same →



*Quietly he turned the dial on the safe. not done
He turned the dial quietly on the safe. after object of the verb
He quietly turned the dial on the safe. before the verb

Silently, the police surrounded the bank. means the same →
*Silently the police surrounded the bank. not done
The police surrounded the bank silently. after object of the verb
The police silently surrounded the bank . before the verb

Sentence Adverbs
Modifying a Clause or Sentence


Evaluation Adverbs — also known as dangling adverbs, floating adverbs, adverbial disjuncts, supplementary adjuncts
EVALUATION ADVERBS ADVERB FOR MANNER
An evaluation adverb expresses the attitude of the writer or speaker about the information in the clause. The adverb is not actually part of the clause. The adverb modifies the clause. An adverb for manner "points" to a sentence part – the verb or verb phrase. The adverb is either placed before the verb or after the verb and its object.
HOW THE SPEAKER FEELS ABOUT THE ACTION

Hopefully, he will reach the top. I am hopeful [that he reach the top.]
Sadly , he couldn't make it. It is sad/I am sad [that he couldn't make it.] (reach it)
Fortunately, he was able to get down. It is sad [that he dropped his tools.]
Honestly, would he really try the climb again? HOW HE FEELS ABOUT HIS ACTION

He set out hopefully to reach the top. He is hopeful [he will reach the top.]
He spoke sadly about not making it to the top. He is sad [that he couldn't make it.]
He reconsidered his plan since he fortunately knew his limits.
Would hehonestly tell you about a second climb?



Evaluation Adverbs (some)
absurdly amazingly annoyingly appropriately bewilderingly curiously
disappointingly fortunately funnily happily importantly improbably
inexplicably ironically luckily mercifully miraculously oddly
ominously paradoxically predictably regrettably sadly shamefully
strangely predictably regrettably sadly shamefully strangely
surprisingly thankfully unaccountably understandably unfortunately to my amazement
by good fortune contrary to expectation


Speech-Act Related Adverbs
SPEECH-ACT RELATED ADVERBS ADVERB FOR MANNER
A speech-act related adverb expresses the situation or terms under which the statement is being made.The adverb does not actually relate to the information in the clause, but to something understood between listener and speaker. It is also called a "situational adjunct". (A comma is placed after the adverb.) An adverb for manner relates to content within the clause.
SPEECH ACT RELATED ADVERBS
Frankly, I don't think your plan will work. Let me tell you frankly/honestly that…
He told me frankly about his problems. honestly
Briefly , we had to reinstall everything to make it work. I am telling you this briefly that… / Let me say briefly that… He spoke briefly to us about his plan. in a shortened version
Confidentially, Ed is having some money problems. I am telling you confidentially that … / Let me say confidentially… He mentioned confidentially to me that he's having money problems. honestly



Speech-Act Related Adverbs
Briefly, Confidentially, Frankly, Truthfully If I might ask, If you must know,
In brief, If I may say, Honestly, In truth, Just between us, Since you asked,