Identifying adverbs Worksheet Practice Exercises with Answers

Unit 8: Adverbs

Lesson 27: Identifying Adverbs

Overview

Adverbs are kept for last because they can be somewhat tricky. Adverbs perform many different functions and can appear in many different locations in a sentence. In fact, if you are unsure what else a word is, it's likely an adverb.

Examples of Adverbs

The adverbs are underlined in the sentences below:

• 1. I live here. (information about location)
• 2. My brother is arriving today. (information about time)
• 3. She dances gracefully. (information about manner)
• 4. That child is very sweet. (degree information about an adjective, in this case, about sweet)
• 5. She works extremely efficiently. (degree information about another adverb, in this case, about efficiently)

Quick Tip 27.1

Adverbs often show information about location, time, degree, and manner. They give extra details about the action in a sentence, about adjectives and about other adverbs.

Quick Tip 27.2

If you don't know what else a word is (and you've ruled out the other parts of speech), it's likely an adverb.

Quick Tip 27.3

Can the word fit in the following slot? Mary slept _____. If so, it's likely an adverb. For example, Mary slept peacefully. Peacefully is an adverb.

Quick Tip 27.4

Can the word fit in the following slot? _____, I gave / will give my speech. If so, it's likely an adverb. For example, Yesterday, I gave my speech. Yesterday is an adverb. Or: Tomorrow, I will give my speech. Tomorrow is an adverb.

Quick Tip 27.5

Can the word fit in the following slot? He is _____ happy. If so, it's likely an adverb. For example, He is very happy. Very is an adverb.

Quick Tip 27.6

Does the word end in the suffix -ly? Is it an adjective? If it ends in -ly and it's not an adjective, it's likely an adverb (e.g. hopefully, happily, unusually).

Additional Notes on Adverbs

Many, though not all, adverbs end in -ly (rapidly, innocently, sweetly, etc.). However, some adjectives also end in -ly, for example lovely, friendly. It's easy to tell them apart.

Just remember that adjectives can fit in the slot the _____ boy: the lovely boy, the friendly boy.

While adverbs can go before the adjective, for example the extremely friendly boy (extremely is an adverb), adverbs cannot fit directly before the noun. That is, one cannot say, *the extremely boy or *the innocently boy, so extremely and innocently are not adjectives; they must be adverbs.

Note that some nouns, for example the flower lily, end in -ly as well. And just to add a bit more variety to the mix, there are some words that can be used either as adverbs or as adjectives:

• 6a. That is a pretty easy book. (Pretty works like the word very here, and is an adverb of degree.)
• 6b. That is a pretty child. (Pretty is an adjective.)
• 7a. You drive too fast. (Fast tells us more about the verb drive, so it is an adverb.)
• 7b. This actor's delivery was too fast. (Fast tells us more about the noun delivery, so it is an adjective.)

Question 1. Underline the adverbs in each of the sentences below.
Answer: Sample: They had deliberately been silent when they entered the room.

Getting Started:
1. She returned the book and quietly left.
2. I'm leaving for Europe tomorrow.
3. That horse is an unusually calm animal.
4. The train came to a stop suddenly.
5. That remark was too shocking.
In simple words: Look for words that describe how, when, where, or to what degree an action takes place. These words modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

Exam Tip: Remember that adverbs often end in -ly, but not always. Look for words that add details about time, place, manner, or degree.

Question 2. For each word below, decide if it is an adverb or an adjective. Use the test for adjectives to help you decide: the _____ boy.
Answer: Sample: rarely - adverb

Getting Started:
1. happily - adverb
2. ugly - adjective
3. clearly - adverb
4. gently - adverb
5. manly - adjective
In simple words: If a word can fit before a noun (the ugly boy, the manly boy), it's an adjective. If it cannot fit that way but ends in -ly or modifies a verb, it's an adverb.

Exam Tip: Try the slot test: can the word go before a noun? If yes, it's likely an adjective. If no, it's likely an adverb.

Question 3. Decide whether the underlined word in each sentence is being used as an adjective or an adverb.
Answer: Sample: He recently increased his yearly salary. - Adjective: yearly (modifies the noun salary) | Adverb: recently (modifies the verb increased)

Getting Started:
1. He was busily writing a letter when the doorbell rang. - Adjective: | Adverb: busily
2. That is a very hilly road. - Adjective: hilly | Adverb: very
3. They fell hopelessly in love at first sight. - Adjective: | Adverb: hopelessly
4. I never realized that you have such curly hair. - Adjective: curly | Adverb:
5. The soprano gave a masterly performance. - Adjective: masterly | Adverb:
In simple words: Ask yourself: does the word describe a noun (adjective) or does it modify a verb, another adjective, or another adverb (adverb)? Check what the word is changing in the sentence.

Exam Tip: Focus on what the word is modifying. If it modifies a noun, it's an adjective. If it modifies a verb or another modifier, it's an adverb.

Question 4. Underline the adverbs with a solid line and the adjectives with a squiggly line in the sentences below.
Answer: Sample: He was clearly working on a difficult report.

Getting Started:
1. Excitedly, the men dragged the heavy sack to the clearing.
2. I've checked on the situation very thoroughly.
3. Adam waited inside.
4. The old fellow left town yesterday.
5. Afterwards, he regretted his actions.
In simple words: Solid line marks adverbs (modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs). Squiggly line marks adjectives (modify nouns).

Exam Tip: Adverbs often appear at the start of a sentence or right after the verb. Adjectives usually sit right before or after the noun they describe.

Question 5. For each sentence below, write ADV above each adverb, ADJ above each adjective, N above each noun, and V above each verb.
Answer: Sample: The N teacher V looked at him ADV coldly.

Getting Started:
1. My N roommate ADV usually V sleeps ADV very ADJ late.
2. ADV Yesterday, the N girl V accompanied her ADJ older N sister to the N mall.
3. V He walked ADV slowly toward the ADJ foggy N station.
4. The ADJ experienced N senator ADV quickly V evaded their ADJ probing N questions.
5. ADV Later, we V took a ADJ leisurely N walk down by the N beach.
In simple words: Identify each word's role: N marks nouns (things), V marks verbs (actions), ADJ marks adjectives (describe nouns), and ADV marks adverbs (describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs).

Exam Tip: Work through the sentence word by word. First find the verb and noun, then check if any words modify them. This systematic approach prevents mistakes.