Adjectives vs Adverbs of Manner: A1 Exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. She is a ___ driver. → careful

Driver is a noun, so it needs an adjective in front of it.

2. She drives very ___ . → carefully

Drives is a verb, so it needs an adverb of manner.

3. He speaks English very ___ . → well

Good is an adjective; its adverb is the irregular form well.

4. That is a ___ idea. → good

Idea is a noun, so the describing word is the adjective good.

5. The children were playing ___ in the garden. → quietly

Playing is a verb, so it takes an adverb of manner.

6. He drives too ___ on these roads. → fast

Fast is both an adjective and an adverb — fastly does not exist in English.

7. She works very ___ . → hard

The adverb of hard is hard; hardly means almost not at all.

8. I can ___ hear you. → hardly

Hardly means almost not, which is exactly what a bad connection produces.

9. This soup smells ___ . → delicious

Smell is a linking verb, so it takes an adjective rather than an adverb.

10. What is the adverb of "easy"? → easily

A consonant plus -y becomes -ily: easy, easily.

11. He arrived ___ for the interview. → late

The adverb of late is late; lately means recently.

12. Which sentence is correct? → She sings very well.

Sings is a verb, so it needs the adverb well.

13. The exam was surprisingly ___ . → easy

After be an adjective is needed, and surprisingly modifies that adjective.

14. What is the adverb of "careful"? → carefully

Adjectives ending in -ful add -ly, which produces a double l.

15. You look ___ today. → happy

Look is a linking verb here, so it takes an adjective describing the person.

16. He answered the question ___ . → correctly

Answered is a verb, so the describing word is an adverb.

17. Which sentence means "he barely works"? → He hardly works.

Hardly means almost not at all, and it goes before the main verb.

18. The train arrived ___ . → early

Early is both an adjective and an adverb, with no -ly form.

19. That music sounds ___ . → beautiful

Sound is a linking verb, so it takes an adjective.

20. What is the adverb of "terrible"? → terribly

An adjective ending in -le drops the e and adds -y: terrible, terribly.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. She is a very ___ worker. (care) → careful

Worker is a noun, so it needs an adjective in front of it.

2. Please drive more ___ on this road. (care) → carefully

Drive is a verb, so it takes an adverb of manner.

3. He plays the violin extremely ___ . (good) → well

The adverb of good is the irregular form well.

4. That was a ___ idea, thank you. (opposite of bad) → good

Idea is a noun, so the describing word is an adjective.

5. The children were talking ___ at the back. (quiet) → quietly

Talking is a verb, so it needs an adverb.

6. She finished the exercise very ___ . (easy) → easily

A consonant plus -y becomes -ily in the adverb.

7. He works very ___ , sometimes twelve hours a day. → hard

The adverb of hard is hard; hardly would mean almost not at all.

8. I could ___ hear a word she said. → hardly

Hardly means almost not, which is what a very quiet voice produces.

9. This bread smells ___ . (wonder) → wonderful

Smell is a linking verb and takes an adjective, not an adverb.

10. He answered every question ___ . (correct) → correctly

Answered is a verb, so the adverb form is needed.

11. The train left ___ , at exactly nine o'clock. → punctually

Left is a verb, so it takes an adverb of manner.

12. You look very ___ today. Did you sleep well? (tire) → tired

Look here is a linking verb, so it takes an adjective describing the person.

13. She speaks Italian ___ . (fluent) → fluently

Speaks is a verb, so the describing word is an adverb.

14. That is a ___ answer to a difficult question. (sense) → sensible

Answer is a noun, so it needs an adjective in front of it.

15. The dog barked ___ all night. (loud) → loudly

Barked is a verb, so it takes an adverb of manner.

16. He arrived twenty minutes ___ for the meeting. → late

Late is both adjective and adverb; lately would mean recently.

17. This coffee tastes very ___ — I think it has been on the hotplate too long. → bitter

Taste is a linking verb and takes an adjective, not an adverb.

18. She explained the rule very ___ . (clear) → clearly

Explained is a verb, so the adverb form is required.

19. What is the adverb of terrible? He sang ___ . → terribly

An adjective ending in -le drops the e and adds -y.

20. The children behaved ___ at the wedding. (perfect) → perfectly

Behaved is a verb, so it takes an adverb of manner.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. Describe a woman with an adjective before the noun. → She is a careful driver.

Describe a woman with an adjective before the noun.

2. Describe how a woman drives, using an adverb. → She drives very carefully.

Describe how a woman drives, using an adverb.

3. Praise a man's language ability with the irregular adverb. → He speaks English very well.

Praise a man's language ability with the irregular adverb.

4. Approve of a suggestion, using an adjective. → That is a very good idea.

Approve of a suggestion, using an adjective.

5. Describe how some children behaved. → The children played quietly upstairs.

Describe how some children behaved.

6. Complain about a man's speed, using an adverb with no -ly. → He drives much too fast.

Complain about a man's speed, using an adverb with no -ly.

7. Describe how much effort a woman puts in. → She works extremely hard.

Describe how much effort a woman puts in.

8. Say that something was almost inaudible. → I could hardly hear the announcement.

Say that something was almost inaudible.

9. Compliment a dish, using a linking verb. → This soup smells delicious.

Compliment a dish, using a linking verb.

10. Say that a man got something right. → He answered the question correctly.

Say that a man got something right.

11. Report a delay, using an adverb with no -ly. → The train arrived twenty minutes late.

Report a delay, using an adverb with no -ly.

12. Comment on somebody's appearance, using a linking verb. → You look very tired today.

Comment on somebody's appearance, using a linking verb.

13. Describe how well a woman speaks a language. → She speaks Italian fluently.

Describe how well a woman speaks a language.

14. Approve of a choice, using an adjective. → That was a sensible decision.

Approve of a choice, using an adjective.

15. Complain about an animal's noise. → The dog barked loudly all night.

Complain about an animal's noise.

16. Comment on a drink, using a linking verb. → This coffee tastes very bitter.

Comment on a drink, using a linking verb.

17. Praise how a woman gave an explanation. → She explained everything very clearly.

Praise how a woman gave an explanation.

18. Describe a man with two contrasting adjectives. → He is a slow but accurate worker.

Describe a man with two contrasting adjectives.

19. Praise how some children acted. → The children behaved perfectly at dinner.

Praise how some children acted.

20. Describe how a woman performs music. → She sings beautifully in the choir.

Describe how a woman performs music.