Exercise: ADJECTIVE or ADVERB? 1
level: Beginner (A1/A2)Choose the correct form — adjective or adverb — to complete each sentence.
1. James did not want to wake his girlfriend, so he left (quiet/quietly).✓
2. During the conference call, I didn't hear him (clear/clearly).✓
3. We had a (great/greatly) time in Florida.✓
4. He didn't answer the question (honest/honestly).✓
5. I don't have a (hard/hardly) time making friends.✓
6. John arrived at the airport (late/lately) and ended up missing his flight to Miami.✓
7. Ever since he met Sarah, he has looked very (happy/happily).✓
8. I can hear the (loud/loudly) rain falling on the roof.✓
9. Her voice is very (gentle/gently).✓
10. It was (clearly/clear) to me that he was telling the truth.✓
11. My car broke down yesterday. I hope the mechanic can fix it (quick/quickly).✓
12. She is a ✓
(good/well) dancer. She dances very (good/well).✓
13. He's an (honestly/honest) mechanic. He never lies.✓
14. He broke the news to her (gentle/gently).✓
15. My cat is very (quickly/quick).✓
16. I make new friends very (easily/easy).✓
17. Why do you drive so (quickly/quick)?✓
18. In the United States, food is not as (expensively/expensive) as in Europe.✓
19. I was (complete/completely) confused by his question.✓
20. She always wears (brightly/bright) clothes.✓
GRAMMAR REVIEW! Adjectives vs. adverbs
Adjectives are used to describe nouns or pronouns.
They give more information about a person, place, thing, or idea.
Use adjectives when describing:
• What something is or looks like
She is happy.
The car is red.
• How someone or something seems/feels
He feels tired.
The soup smells delicious.
Common verbs that take adjectives:
Be (am, is, are, was, were)
Feel
Look
Smell
Sound
Seem
Become
Examples:
The sky looks blue. They are friendly. She became angry.
Adverbs are used to describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
They often tell how, when, where, or to what extent something happens.
Use adverbs when describing:
• How something is done (manner)
She speaks clearly.
They ran quickly.
• When something happens (time)
He arrived late.
• Where something happens (place)
She looked everywhere.
• To what extent or how much (degree)
I'm very tired.
He almost fell.
Examples:
He quickly closed the door.
She sings beautifully.
It's really cold outside.
Be careful! Some words can be both adjectives and adverbs depending on context.
For example:
Fast
Adjective: It's a fast car.
Adverb: He runs fast.
Hard
Adjective: This test is hard.
Adverb: He works hard.
(Note: "hardly" means "barely," not "in a hard way")
Check out some of our other free exercises on adjectives and adverbs in English:
Possessive adjectives 1 (B)
Participle adjectives 1 (I)
Participle adjectives 2 (I)
Change adjectives to adverbs 1 (B)
Adverbs of frequency (position) 1 (I/A)
Comparative adjectives 1 (B)
Comparative adverbs 1 (I)
Comparative/superlative adverbs 1 (I)
Comparative or superlative (adj.)? 1 (I)
Conjunctive adverbs 1 (I)
Adjective order in English 1 (I)
Adjectives are used to describe nouns or pronouns.
They give more information about a person, place, thing, or idea.
Use adjectives when describing:
• What something is or looks like
She is happy.
The car is red.
• How someone or something seems/feels
He feels tired.
The soup smells delicious.
Common verbs that take adjectives:
Be (am, is, are, was, were)
Feel
Look
Smell
Sound
Seem
Become
Examples:
The sky looks blue. They are friendly. She became angry.
Adverbs are used to describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
They often tell how, when, where, or to what extent something happens.
Use adverbs when describing:
• How something is done (manner)
She speaks clearly.
They ran quickly.
• When something happens (time)
He arrived late.
• Where something happens (place)
She looked everywhere.
• To what extent or how much (degree)
I'm very tired.
He almost fell.
Examples:
He quickly closed the door.
She sings beautifully.
It's really cold outside.
Be careful! Some words can be both adjectives and adverbs depending on context.
For example:
Fast
Adjective: It's a fast car.
Adverb: He runs fast.
Hard
Adjective: This test is hard.
Adverb: He works hard.
(Note: "hardly" means "barely," not "in a hard way")
Check out some of our other free exercises on adjectives and adverbs in English:
Possessive adjectives 1 (B)
Participle adjectives 1 (I)
Participle adjectives 2 (I)
Change adjectives to adverbs 1 (B)
Adverbs of frequency (position) 1 (I/A)
Comparative adjectives 1 (B)
Comparative adverbs 1 (I)
Comparative/superlative adverbs 1 (I)
Comparative or superlative (adj.)? 1 (I)
Conjunctive adverbs 1 (I)
Adjective order in English 1 (I)
