# Adverbs of manner: bien, mal, así, despacio

> id: grammar.adverbs.manner · category: grammar · depth: standard · levels: A2 · review: internally_reviewed

**Summary.** Core set: bien, mal, así, despacio, deprisa, mejor, peor — plus adjectives used adverbially: habla claro, trabaja duro.

Adverbs of manner say how an action happens. The core single-word set: bien ('well'), mal ('badly'), así ('like this/that'), despacio ('slowly'), deprisa/rápido ('quickly'), plus the comparatives mejor and peor (cocina mejor que yo).

Don't confuse bien/mal (adverbs, modifying verbs — canta bien) with bueno/malo (adjectives, modifying nouns — un buen cantante). This bien-vs-bueno mix-up is one of the most common learner errors.

Spanish very often uses a bare masculine singular adjective as an adverb of manner: hablar claro ('speak clearly'), trabajar duro ('work hard'), jugar limpio, pisar fuerte, respirar hondo. The regular way to build manner adverbs from adjectives is the -mente suffix — see that rule.

## Examples
- El negocio va bien. — Business is going well.
- Maneja despacio en esta zona. — Drive slowly in this area.
- Habló claro y todo salió mejor de lo esperado. — He spoke clearly and everything went better than expected.

Related: grammar.adverbs.mente-formation, grammar.adverbs.position

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