Characters speak in narrations.
Most conversations, particularly in detective novels tend to be in direct speech i.e. quotes followed by 'said'.
The narrator/author can use a manner adverb to describe how this 'said' was done.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had perfected the art of describing these 'said' sentences, by using the most apt adverb, which matches the dialogue given in the quotes.
Example from the following quiz question No. 1:
"Deduce what?", said he, petulantly.
'Petulantly' here indicates some irritation. The manner of speaking, may irritate the other person.
I am not a fiction-writer, right now. I dream that I shall some-day take up fiction-writing. It may not be crime probably.
The manner adverbs used by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle should definitely inspire us to enrich our repertory of our manner adverbs.
| 1<> said to myself, "but he is certainly |
| 2<> said evasively |
| 3<> said Holmes heartily |
| 4<> said Holmes, blandly |
| 5<> said Holmes, gravely |
| 6<> said Hope faintly |
| 7<> said Lestrade gravely |
| 8<> said Sherlock Holmes curtly |
| 9<> said Sherlock Holmes, sharply |
| 10<> said a childish voice reproachfully |
| 11<> said at last, stopping abruptly |
| 12<> said cordially |
| 13<> said earnestly |
| 14<> said he, petulantly |
| 15<> said her preserver, respectfully |
| 16<> said slowly |
| 17<> said the elderly |
| 18<> said the man confidently |
| 19<> said the other sternly |
| 20<> said the other, warmly |
| 21<> said, querulously |
| 22<> said, sardonically |
| 23<> said, bitterly |
| 24<> said, commiseratingly |
| 25<> said, confidently |
| 26<> said, earnestly |
| 27<> said, gruffly |
| 28<> said, hoarsely |
| 29<> said, hurriedly |
| 30<> said, in solemn words, "it can only |
| 31<> said, laughing gleefully |
| 32<> said, naively |
| 33<> said, placidly |
| 34<> said, triumphantly |
Fill in the blanks with appropriate words from the choice box<> Hover your mouse over the blank to see the suggested answer
| 1. "Deduce what?"____t. |
| 2. "How are you?" he____. |
| 3. "I have now in my hands," my companion____ntly, "all the threads which have formed such a tangle<. |
| 4. "If we take you with us," he____n words, "it can only be as believers in our own creed<. |
| 5. "Let me know when you have settled which it is to be," he____. |
| 6. "Look at that!" he____ntly<. |
| 7. "Poison,"____es curtly, . |
| 8. "Poor devil!" he____had listened to my misfortunes<. |
| 9. "Thank God!" he____ng . |
| 10. "The blundering fool," Holmes____ our lodgings<. |
| 11. "There can't be any number of Injuns here,"____ who appeared to be in command<. |
| 12. "There will be no more murders," he____topping abruptly . |
| 13. "Why," I cried, "you have an aortic aneurism!" "That's what they call it," he____dly<. |
| 14. "You're not hurt, I hope, miss,"____r, respectfully<. |
| 15. "You've hurt me!"____h voice reproachfully<. |
| 16. "I'll follow her," he____. |
| 17. "I'm awful frightened," she____. |
| 18. "May I ask, my lad," I said, in the blandest voice, "what your trade may be?" "Commissionaire, sir," he____lt. |
| 19. "This fellow may be very clever," I____he is certainly very conceited<. |
| 20. "whoever would have thought that Poncho would have been so scared by a lot of cows?" "Thank God you kept your seat," the other____. |
| 21. Joseph Stangerson,"____gravely, "was murdered at Halliday's Private Hotel about six o'clock this morning<. |
| 22." "But my prospects are better,"____t. |
| 23." "Do not jest at that which is sacred,"____t. |
| 24." "Don't mind me,"____t. |
| 25." "Good boy,"____dly<. |
| 26." "I don't fear them, or their warrant," Hope____y<. |
| 27." "I have had so much to do inside the house," the detective____<. |
| 28." "I've got a good deal to say," our prisoner____. |
| 29." "Not a doubt of that,"____. |
| 30." "Why didn't you say so before?" she____gleefully<. |
| 31." "You do me too much honour,"____gravely<. |
| 32." "You don't mean to say," I cried, in amazement, "that that tottering, feeble old woman was able to get out of the cab while it was in motion, without either you or the driver seeing her?" "Old woman be damned!"____ly<. |
| 33." "You'll see prettier things than them soon,"____. |
| 34.No criminals in these days," he____y<. |
