Exercise: ADJECTIVE or ADVERB? 1
level: Beginner (A1/A2)Grammar review
Adjectives vs. adverbs
Adjectives describe a person, place, or thing.
She is happy. The car is red. He feels tired.
They often come after verbs like be, feel, look, smell, sound, seem, become.
The sky looks blue. They are friendly. She became angry.
Adverbs describe a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. They usually tell you how, when, where, or how much.
She speaks clearly. He arrived late. I'm very tired.
Watch out: some words look the same as adjectives and adverbs, but mean different things.
Fast: It's a fast car. (adjective) / He runs fast. (adverb, no -ly)
Hard: This test is hard. (adjective) / He works hard. (adverb)
(Hardly is different again, it means "barely.")
Adjectives describe a person, place, or thing.
She is happy. The car is red. He feels tired.
They often come after verbs like be, feel, look, smell, sound, seem, become.
The sky looks blue. They are friendly. She became angry.
Adverbs describe a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. They usually tell you how, when, where, or how much.
She speaks clearly. He arrived late. I'm very tired.
Watch out: some words look the same as adjectives and adverbs, but mean different things.
Fast: It's a fast car. (adjective) / He runs fast. (adverb, no -ly)
Hard: This test is hard. (adjective) / He works hard. (adverb)
(Hardly is different again, it means "barely.")
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.✓
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 3 (I)
Adjective order in English 1 (I)
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 3 (I)
Adjective order in English 1 (I)
