Adverbs and adverbial phrases - Free Printable

Let's solve this worksheet step by step, explaining each part clearly.

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1. CONFUSING ADVERBS AND ADVERBIAL PHRASES

We are given pairs of adverbs/adverbial phrases and need to match them with the correct sentences, then choose which word fits in each blank.

#### Step 1: Understand the differences between the pairs
- right now / actually
- *right now* = at this moment (time)
- *actually* = in reality (emphasizing truth or contrast)

- especially / specially
- *especially* = particularly (used to emphasize a specific thing)
- *specially* = for a particular purpose

- ever / even
- *ever* = at any time (often used in questions or negative statements)
- *even* = surprising addition (emphasizes something unexpected)

- hard / hardly
- *hard* = with great effort
- *hardly* = almost not at all

- in the end / at the end
- *in the end* = finally, after everything has happened
- *at the end* = at the final point in time or space

- late / lately
- *late* = after the expected time
- *lately* = recently (in the recent past)

- near / nearly
- *near* = close in distance
- *nearly* = almost (close to completion or occurrence)

- still / yet
- *still* = continuing to be true
- *yet* = up to now (used in questions and negatives)

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Now let’s go sentence by sentence and fill in the blanks.

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Exercise 1a – Fill in the blanks and write the adverb used

#### 1.
> He trains very hard – at least three hours a day.
> It's incredibly foggy. I can hardly see anything.

✔ hard / hardly
- "hard" = intense effort → he trains hard
- "hardly" = almost not → barely able to see

✔️ Adverbs: hard, hardly

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#### 2.
> I hate it when people arrive late for meetings.
> I haven’t heard from Mike lately. He must be very busy.

✔ late / lately
- "late" = arriving after the scheduled time
- "lately" = recently (no contact recently)

✔️ Adverbs: late, lately

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#### 3.
> At the end of a movie I always stay and watch the credits roll.
> I didn't want to go, but even they persuaded me.

✔ at the end / even
- "at the end" = at the conclusion of the movie
- "even" = surprising emphasis → even though I didn’t want to go, they convinced me

✔️ Adverbs: at the end, even

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#### 4.
> I love most kinds of music, but especially jazz.
> My wedding dress was specially made for me by a dressmaker.

✔ especially / specially
- "especially" = particularly → I like jazz more than others
- "specially" = made for a specific person → custom-made

✔️ Adverbs: especially, specially

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#### 5.
> She looks younger than me, but actually she’s two years older.
> Still they’re renting a house, but they’re hoping to buy one soon.

✔ actually / still
- "actually" = in reality → contradicts appearance
- "still" = continue to do so → they are still renting

✔️ Adverbs: actually, still

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#### 6.
> I’m nearly finished with my book. I'm on the last chapter.
> Excuse me, is there a bank near here?

✔ nearly / near
- "nearly" = almost finished
- "near" = close in location

✔️ Adverbs: nearly, near

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#### 7.
> Have you found a job yet?
> He’s 35, but he still lives with his parents.

✔ yet / still
- "yet" = used in questions about something not done up to now
- "still" = continues to live with parents

✔️ Adverbs: yet, still

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#### 8.
> Have you ever been to the US?
> I've been all over the US – I've even been to Alaska!

✔ ever / even
- "ever" = at any time in your life (common in questions)
- "even" = emphasizes surprise → going to Alaska is an extra detail

✔️ Adverbs: ever, even

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✔ Final Answers for Part 1a – Adverbs Column:

| Sentence | Adverbs Used |
|--------|--------------|
| 1 | hard, hardly |
| 2 | late, lately |
| 3 | at the end, even |
| 4 | especially, specially |
| 5 | actually, still |
| 6 | nearly, near |
| 7 | yet, still |
| 8 | ever, even |

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2. COMMENT ADVERBS

Now we match the bolded adverbs in the sentences with their definitions.

Sentences:
1. ...but in fact it’s very easy.
2. ...but eventually we were able to relax.
3. Ideally we would go to Australia...
4. Basically it’s pretty a simple idea.
5. ...but apparently they’re back together again.
6. ...so you can see it was a really awful weekend. Anyway, let’s forget about it...
7. She’s only 14, so obviously she can’t stay at home on her own.
8. ...but gradually she’s beginning to feel better.

Definitions:
1. ideally → in a perfect world
2. ______ → the truth is; actually (used to emphasize something, especially the opposite of what was previously said)
3. ______ → in the most important ways
4. ______ → clearly (used to give information you expect other people to know or agree with)
5. ______ → little by little
6. ______ → according to what you have heard or read
7. ______ → in any case (used to change or finish a conversation)
8. ______ → in the end; after a series of events or difficulties

Now match:

- in fact → matches definition 2: *the truth is; actually...*
- eventually → matches definition 8: *in the end; after a series of events...*
- ideally → matches definition 1: *in a perfect world*
- basically → matches definition 3: *in the most important ways*
- apparently → matches definition 6: *according to what you have heard or read*
- anyway → matches definition 7: *in any case (used to change or finish a conversation)*
- obviously → matches definition 4: *clearly (used to give information you expect others to know or agree with)*
- gradually → matches definition 5: *little by little*

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✔ Final Matching for Part 2a:

| Number | Adverb | Definition Match |
|--------|--------------|------------------|
| 1 | ideally | 1 |
| 2 | in fact | 2 |
| 3 | basically | 3 |
| 4 | apparently | 6 |
| 5 | anyway | 7 |
| 6 | obviously | 4 |
| 7 | gradually | 5 |
| 8 | eventually | 8 |

Wait — the numbering in the matching list is out of order.

Let’s re-check the matching task:

They ask: "Match the bold adverbs with definitions 1–8."

But the definitions are listed as 1 to 8, and we need to fill in the blanks next to numbers 1 to 8.

So the adverbs are:
- in fact
- eventually
- ideally
- basically
- apparently
- anyway
- obviously
- gradually

And the definitions are numbered 1–8.

So we need to write the adverb in the blank corresponding to its definition.

Let’s do that:

1. ideally → in a perfect world → ✔ already matched
2. in fact → the truth is; actually → matches definition 2
3. basically → in the most important ways → matches definition 3
4. obviously → clearly → matches definition 4
5. gradually → little by little → matches definition 5
6. apparently → according to what you have heard or read → matches definition 6
7. anyway → in any case → matches definition 7
8. eventually → in the end → matches definition 8

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✔ Final Answer for Part 2a – Fill in the blanks:

| Number | Adverb |
|--------|--------------|
| 1 | ideally |
| 2 | in fact |
| 3 | basically |
| 4 | obviously |
| 5 | gradually |
| 6 | apparently |
| 7 | anyway |
| 8 | eventually |

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✔ Summary of All Answers

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Part 1a – Adverbs Used in Sentences

| Sentence | Adverbs |
|--------|---------|
| 1 | hard, hardly |
| 2 | late, lately |
| 3 | at the end, even |
| 4 | especially, specially |
| 5 | actually, still |
| 6 | nearly, near |
| 7 | yet, still |
| 8 | ever, even |

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Part 2a – Comment Adverbs Matching

| Definition # | Adverb |
|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | ideally |
| 2 | in fact |
| 3 | basically |
| 4 | obviously |
| 5 | gradually |
| 6 | apparently |
| 7 | anyway |
| 8 | eventually |

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This completes the worksheet with full explanations. Let me know if you'd like a printable version or further clarification!