Adverbial phrase of manner

This lesson helps us understand what an adverbial phrase of manner is, where it is used, and how to use it.

What is an adverbial phrase of manner?

A phrase that modifies an action verb and indicates how the action is performed is called an adverbial phrase of manner. It is often a regular adverb phrase or a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb in terms of how it is performed.

Adverbial phrase of manner examples:

In this example, the phrase ‘very fast’ works as an adverb. It modifies the verb ‘talks‘ and indicates the manner in which it is done by its doer ‘Aaron‘.

‘Quite confidently’ is an adverbial phrase of manner. It tells us how the speaker spoke at the meeting.

In this example, the prepositional phrase ‘like a baby‘ modifies the verb ‘slept‘ and indicates how the action was done.

Here, the prepositional phrase functions as an adverb. It modifies the verb ‘greets’ and tells us how the subject ‘Aarushi’ greets the writer. She does it in a sweet voice.

In the first two examples, the phrases working as adverbial phrases of manner are regular adverb phrases, meaning they are headed by a regular adverb: ‘fast‘ and ‘confidently‘. In the last two examples, it’s the prepositional phrases that are functioning as an adverb of manner.

Click here to master adverbial phrases in English.

More examples of an adverbial phrase of manner:

• Your sister handled the whole situation quite amazingly.
• God, you hit pretty hard.
• Almost everyone left the stadium because our team batted so slowly.
• All of us went into the battle without any fear.
• I managed to find a good house in the city without anybody’s help.
• I want to work like my father.

How to find an adverbial phrase of manner in a sentence?

An adverbial of manner or adverbial phrase of manner can be identified in a sentence simply by asking ‘how’ or ‘in what way/manner’ to the verb.

If a sentence has an adverbial of manner, asking the question to the verb will definitely help find it. To put a stamp on it, let’s try this technique.

Let’s put the technique to the test. The verb in the sentence is ‘explained’. Let’s ask the question that will give us the adverbial of manner, if there is any in the sentence.

“How or in what manner did the teacher explain the concept?”

‘Very nicely’ is the only phrase/part in the sentence that answers the question and tells us how/in what manner the action was performed by the teacher.

Practice set!

Identify the sentences having an adverbial phrase of manner in them.

1. You look pretty happy.
2. I don’t like to go out in the rain.
3. She replied in a hurry.
4. The boys finished the food very quickly.
5. It was pretty amazing to see you perform live.
6. We were all there in his room when he had a heart attack.
7. I do my work with a lot of passion and love.
8. She punched me in the face pretty hard.
9. She was pretty hard to convince.
10. You are hitting me like a girl.

The answers to the questions are provided at the end of the article.

Why Adverbial Phrases of Manner Matter

Here’s why they are important and should be employed at the right time:

✅ They make your writing and speech more vivid by describing how actions are performed.
✅ They help replace boring verbs with expressive modifiers.
✅ Essential for IELTS, TOEFL, descriptive writing, and advanced English fluency.
✅ Understanding these phrases builds confidence in both casual and academic settings.

Example:

• She answered. → flat
• She answered in a trembling voice. → powerful and more vivid

Answers with Explanations:

1. “Pretty happy” describes the subject’s state, not how an action is done. There is no adverbial phrase of manner in the sentence.
2. “In the rain” shows place, not manner. There is no adverbial phrase of manner in the sentence.
3. “In a hurry” tells us how she replied (prepositional phrase of manner).
4. “Very quickly” shows how they finished the food (adverb phrase of manner).
5. No adverbial of manner in the sentence. “Pretty amazing” is an adjective phrase describing an experience, not a manner.
6. No adverbial of manner in the sentence. “In his room” describes the place and time, and “when he had a heart attack” indicates the time, not how something was done.
7. “With a lot of passion and love” tells how the work is done (prepositional phrase of manner).
8. “Pretty hard” tells how she punched (adverb phrase of manner).
9. No adverbial of manner in the sentence.
10. “Like a girl” tells how the action (hitting) is done (simile functioning as adverbial of manner).

Common Mistakes with Adverbial Phrases of Manner

1) Using an adjective instead of an adverbial phrase
❌ He sang beautiful.
✅ He sang beautifully / in a beautiful voice.

2) Choosing incorrect prepositions
❌She reacted in angerly.
✅ She reacted with anger.

3) Placing the phrase too far from the verb
❌ He, after the long pause, finally, very politely, responded.
✅ He responded very politely after a long pause.

4) Treating infinitive phrases as adverbials of manner
He studied to succeed.
(This shows purpose, not manner.)

FAQs