Adjectives vs adverbs worksheet - Free Printable

This worksheet focuses on distinguishing between adjectives and adverbs. Adjectives describe nouns or pronouns, while adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Let's solve each question step by step:

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1. Martha is always ________ when he talks to you.

- a) polite (adjective)
- b) politely (adverb)

Explanation: The word "always" modifies the verb "talks," so we need an adverb to describe how Martha talks.
Answer: b) politely

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2. She put the glasses on the table ________.

- a) carefully (adverb)
- b) careful (adjective)

Explanation: The verb "put" needs an adverb to describe how she did it.
Answer: a) carefully

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3. Your granny walks ________.

- a) slow (adjective)
- b) slowly (adverb)

Explanation: The verb "walks" needs an adverb to describe how your granny walks.
Answer: b) slowly

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4. That’s a ________ work for him.

- a) easy (adjective)
- b) difficult (adjective)

Explanation: The noun "work" needs an adjective to describe it. Both options are correct, but let's assume the context implies difficulty.
Answer: b) difficult

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5. She’s been working ________.

- a) hard (adverb/adjective)
- b) hardly (adverb)

Explanation: "Hard" as an adverb describes the intensity of her work. "Hardly" means "almost not," which doesn't fit here.
Answer: a) hard

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6. There’s a ________ man in the street.

- a) homeless (adjective)
- b) homelessly (adverb)

Explanation: The noun "man" needs an adjective to describe him.
Answer: a) homeless

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7. They ran ________ to the police station.

- a) quick (adjective)
- b) quickly (adverb)

Explanation: The verb "ran" needs an adverb to describe how they ran.
Answer: b) quickly

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8. I know your job is ________ and badly paid.

- a) hard (adjective)
- b) hardly (adverb)

Explanation: The verb "is" needs an adjective to describe the job.
Answer: a) hard

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9. He cleaned his flat ________ two days ago.

- a) complete (adjective)
- b) completely (adverb)

Explanation: The verb "cleaned" needs an adverb to describe how thoroughly he cleaned.
Answer: b) completely

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10. Of course, he was ________ right.

- a) absolutely (adverb)
- b) absolute (adjective)

Explanation: The verb "was" needs an adverb to describe how right he was.
Answer: a) absolutely

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11. Their baby girl was really ________.

- a) beauty (noun)
- b) beautiful (adjective)

Explanation: The verb "was" needs an adjective to describe the baby girl.
Answer: b) beautiful

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12. Sarah is a very ________ woman.

- a) tall (adjective)
- b) happily (adverb)

Explanation: The noun "woman" needs an adjective to describe her.
Answer: a) tall

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13. I don’t like his portraits; he paints ________.

- a) awful (adjective)
- b) awfully (adverb)

Explanation: The verb "paints" needs an adverb to describe how he paints.
Answer: b) awfully

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14. The teacher was angry and talked ________.

- a) angry (adjective)
- b) angrily (adverb)

Explanation: The verb "talked" needs an adverb to describe how the teacher talked.
Answer: b) angrily

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15. Harry’s English is ________ than Sam’s.

- a) good (adjective)
- b) better (adjective)

Explanation: The comparative form "than" requires the comparative adjective "better."
Answer: b) better

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16. It isn’t difficult. You have to read it ________.

- a) slowly (adverb)
- b) slow (adjective)

Explanation: The verb "read" needs an adverb to describe how to read it.
Answer: a) slowly

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17. Spain is a ________ country.

- a) greatly (adverb)
- b) great (adjective)

Explanation: The noun "country" needs an adjective to describe it.
Answer: b) great

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18. Johnny always answers me ________.

- a) patient (adjective)
- b) patiently (adverb)

Explanation: The verb "answers" needs an adverb to describe how Johnny answers.
Answer: b) patiently

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19. The house wasn’t ________ but I love it.

- a) cheap (adjective)
- b) cheaply (adverb)

Explanation: The verb "wasn’t" needs an adjective to describe the house.
Answer: a) cheap

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20. He broke two glasses ________.

- a) accident (noun)
- b) accidentally (adverb)

Explanation: The verb "broke" needs an adverb to describe how he broke the glasses.
Answer: b) accidentally

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21. My friend had an ________ hair.

- a) incredible (adjective)
- b) incredibly (adverb)

Explanation: The noun "hair" needs an adjective to describe it.
Answer: a) incredible

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22. We were laughing ________ while watching TV.

- a) happy (adjective)
- b) happily (adverb)

Explanation: The verb "laughing" needs an adverb to describe how we were laughing.
Answer: b) happily

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Final Answers:

1. b) politely
2. a) carefully
3. b) slowly
4. b) difficult
5. a) hard
6. a) homeless
7. b) quickly
8. a) hard
9. b) completely
10. a) absolutely
11. b) beautiful
12. a) tall
13. b) awfully
14. b) angrily
15. b) better
16. a) slowly
17. b) great
18. b) patiently
19. a) cheap
20. b) accidentally
21. a) incredible
22. b) happily

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Boxed Final Answer:
\boxed{
\begin{array}{ll}
1. \text{b) politely} & 12. \text{a) tall} \\
2. \text{a) carefully} & 13. \text{b) awfully} \\
3. \text{b) slowly} & 14. \text{b) angrily} \\
4. \text{b) difficult} & 15. \text{b) better} \\
5. \text{a) hard} & 16. \text{a) slowly} \\
6. \text{a) homeless} & 17. \text{b) great} \\
7. \text{b) quickly} & 18. \text{b) patiently} \\
8. \text{a) hard} & 19. \text{a) cheap} \\
9. \text{b) completely} & 20. \text{b) accidentally} \\
10. \text{a) absolutely} & 21. \text{a) incredible} \\
11. \text{b) beautiful} & 22. \text{b) happily} \\
\end{array}
}