# How you do it in Vietnamese (A1)

> English usually adds -ly to say how something is done: quickly, carefully. Vietnamese simply puts the plain adjective after the verb: nói nhanh (speak…

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/manner-adj-after-verb/ · Updated 2026-11-09

**how: well, fast, slowly**

Pattern: `[verb] (+ [object]) + [adjective]`

Level: A1 (our estimate) · Register: everyday

English usually adds -ly to say how something is done: quickly, carefully. Vietnamese simply puts the plain adjective after the verb: *nói nhanh* (speak fast), *lái xe cẩn thận* (drive carefully), *ngủ ngon* (sleep well).

If the verb has an object, the object usually comes first and the adjective goes last: *nói tiếng Việt giỏi* (speak Vietnamese well), *nấu ăn ngon* (cook well, literally "cook tasty"). With a few common verbs you'll also hear the adjective first: *nói giỏi tiếng Việt*. Words like *rất*, *lắm* and *quá* sit next to the adjective as usual: *nói rất giỏi*, *nói giỏi lắm*, *nói giỏi quá!*

It's the same idea as describing a thing, where the description follows the noun: *nhà lớn*, a big house.

To ask how well, put *có … không* around the adjective: *Em nói tiếng Việt có giỏi không?* For "not well", put *không*, or *chưa* (not yet), before the adjective: *Em nói chưa giỏi lắm* is the modest answer to a compliment.

Two set phrases: *Chúc ngủ ngon* is "good night", and *ăn ngon* means eating well and enjoying your food.

## Examples

- Em nói tiếng Việt giỏi quá! — You speak Vietnamese so well!
- Dạ, em nói chưa giỏi lắm. — Oh, I don't speak it very well yet.
- Mẹ tôi nấu ăn rất ngon. — My mum is a really good cook.
- Saigon: Anh chạy xe chậm thôi. | Hà Nội: Anh đi xe chậm thôi. — Ride a bit slower, please.
- Chúc em ngủ ngon. — Sleep well. / Good night.

## Compare

- [In a … way: một cách + adjective](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/mot-cach/): in a … manner
- [Not clearly vs not exactly: nói không rõ / không nói rõ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/negation-manner/): where không goes with a manner word
- [Asking how well: verb + có + adjective + không](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/co-khong-manner/): is it done well?
- [Describing words come after the noun: nhà lớn, not lớn nhà](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/adj-after-noun/): adjective after noun

Previous in How much, and comparing: [As … as: bằng / như](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/bang-nhu-as-as/)
Next in How much, and comparing: [More … than: adjective + hơn](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/hon-more-than/)

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