Adjectives vs. Adverbs Worksheets - 15 Worksheets Library - Free Printable

Let's solve this worksheet step by step. The goal is to choose the correct word (either an adjective or an adverb) to complete each sentence, based on what it modifies.

---

🔹 First, recall:

- Adjectives describe nouns or pronouns.
- Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

We’ll go through each sentence and determine what the missing word is modifying.

---

✔ 1. Class starts (prompt / promptly) at two.

- "starts" is a verb.
- We need an adverb to modify the verb.
- "promptly" is an adverb; "prompt" is an adjective.
- ✔ Answer: promptly

---

✔ 2. My (regular / regularly) doctor is out of town this week.

- "doctor" is a noun.
- We need an adjective to describe the noun "doctor".
- "regular" = adjective (describes the doctor).
- "regularly" = adverb (would modify a verb).
- ✔ Answer: regular

---

✔ 3. That (beautiful / beautifully) painted picture is my favorite.

- "painted" is a past participle used as an adjective.
- But we’re looking at how the word "beautiful" or "beautifully" modifies "painted".
- Here, "beautifully" is an adverb modifying the past participle "painted" → describes *how* the picture was painted.
- So we use "beautifully" to describe the action of painting.
- ✔ Answer: beautifully

> Note: This is a common tricky one — "beautifully painted" is correct because it’s describing the manner in which the painting was done.

---

✔ 4. The last (good / well) pizza I had was in Italy.

- "pizza" is a noun, so we need an adjective to describe it.
- "Good" is an adjective.
- "Well" is an adverb (used for verbs like "eat", "sleep", etc.), but not for describing food directly.
- However, "well" can be used as an adjective meaning "in good health" — but that doesn't fit here.
- We want to describe the quality of the pizza → "good".
- ✔ Answer: good

> Tip: “Well” is not used to describe taste or quality of food. Use “good”.

---

✔ 5. She gazed (empty / emptily) into space.

- "gazed" is a verb.
- We need an adverb to describe how she gazed.
- "Empty" is an adjective.
- "Emptily" is not a standard English word. It's not commonly used.
- Wait — actually, "emptily" is not a real word. The correct adverb form of "empty" would be "emptily", but it's rare and awkward.

But let’s check: Is there a better choice?

Actually, "empty" cannot be used as an adverb. There’s no common adverb form like "emptily".

Wait — perhaps the intended answer is "emptily"? But it's not standard.

Alternatively, maybe it's a typo or test of logic.

But in standard English, we say:
- “She gazed into space” — no adverb needed.
- But if we must choose between "empty" and "emptily", neither is correct.

Wait — let’s reconsider:

Maybe the intended word is "emptily", but it’s not standard.

Actually, "emptily" is not a word in standard English.

But wait — "empty" is an adjective. Can’t modify a verb.

So both choices are problematic.

But perhaps the intended answer is "emptily" — though rare.

However, in most cases, such sentences use "vacantly" or "absently".

But since only two options are given, and "empty" is an adjective (can't modify verb), and "emptily" is the adverbial form (even if rare), we pick:

✔ Answer: emptily (though it's very uncommon)

> Note: This may be a poorly constructed question. In practice, "she gazed vacantly into space" is more natural.

But based on the choices, "emptily" is the adverb form.

---

✔ 6. The (wild / wildly) dog eyed us warily.

- "dog" is a noun, so we need an adjective to describe it.
- "Wild" = adjective (describes the dog).
- "Wildly" = adverb (modifies verbs, adjectives, adverbs).
- Here, "eyed" is the verb, and "warily" already modifies it.
- So we need to describe the dog → use "wild".
- ✔ Answer: wild

---

✔ 7. The cookies were (even / evenly) distributed.

- "distributed" is a past participle (part of passive verb phrase).
- We need an adverb to describe how they were distributed.
- "Even" = adjective (e.g., "an even number").
- "Evenly" = adverb (means "in an even manner").
- ✔ Answer: evenly

---

✔ 8. Jack spoke (strange / strangely), and it scared us.

- "spoke" is a verb.
- Need an adverb to describe how he spoke.
- "Strange" = adjective.
- "Strangely" = adverb.
- ✔ Answer: strangely

---

✔ 9. The most (obvious / obviously) solution was the best one.

- "solution" is a noun.
- We need an adjective to describe it.
- "Obvious" = adjective (describes the solution).
- "Obviously" = adverb (would modify a verb, e.g., "It is obviously the best").
- Here, we're describing the solution, so use "obvious".
- ✔ Answer: obvious

---

✔ 10. I have (hard / hardly) started on my homework.

- "have started" is a verb phrase.
- "Hard" = adjective/adverb (meaning effort), but not appropriate here.
- "Hardly" = adverb meaning almost not at all.
- "I have hardly started" = I’ve barely begun.
- "Hard" would mean "I’ve worked hard", but that doesn’t fit.
- ✔ Answer: hardly

---

✔ Final Answers:

1. promptly
2. regular
3. beautifully
4. good
5. emptily *(note: unusual, but only adverb option)*
6. wild
7. evenly
8. strangely
9. obvious
10. hardly

---

📝 Summary of Key Rules Used:

| Sentence | Word Type | Reason |
|--------|----------|-------|
| 1 | Adverb | Modifies verb "starts" |
| 2 | Adjective | Describes noun "doctor" |
| 3 | Adverb | Modifies past participle "painted" |
| 4 | Adjective | Describes noun "pizza" |
| 5 | Adverb | Modifies verb "gazed" (though "emptily" is rare) |
| 6 | Adjective | Describes noun "dog" |
| 7 | Adverb | Modifies verb "distributed" |
| 8 | Adverb | Modifies verb "spoke" |
| 9 | Adjective | Describes noun "solution" |
|10 | Adverb | "Hardly" means "almost not" – modifies verb phrase |

---

✔ Correct Answers:
1. promptly
2. regular
3. beautifully
4. good
5. emptily
6. wild
7. evenly
8. strangely
9. obvious
10. hardly

Let me know if you'd like a printable version or explanation for any specific item!