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

#### a) Match each pair of adverbs with a pair of sentences. Then decide which adverb goes where and write it in the adverb column.

We are given pairs of similar adverbs (some are easy to confuse), and we must choose the correct one for each sentence based on meaning and grammar.

The pairs are:
- right now / actually
- especially / specially
- ever / even
- hard / hardly
- in the end / at the end
- late / lately
- near / nearly
- still / yet

We’ll go through each sentence and fill in the blanks.

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1. He trains very ___ – at least three hours a day.
It’s incredibly foggy. I can ___ see anything.

- First blank: "He trains very ___" → needs an adverb modifying *trains*. "Hard" means with effort; "hardly" means almost not.
- "He trains very hard" ✔
- Second blank: "I can ___ see anything" → "hardly" means almost not.
- "I can hardly see anything." ✔

✔ Adverbs: hard, hardly

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

- First: "arrive ___ for meetings" → "late" (after the expected time), not "lately" (recently).
- "arrive late" ✔
- Second: "I haven’t heard from Mike ___" → negative sentence + present perfect → use yet (at the end of negative questions or statements).
- "I haven’t heard from Mike yet." ✔

✔ Adverbs: late, yet

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3. ___ of a movie I always stay and watch the credits roll.
I didn’t want to go, but ___ they persuaded me.

- First: "___ of a movie" → "At the end" = after the film finishes.
- "At the end of a movie..." ✔
- Second: "but ___ they persuaded me" → "even" is used for surprising contrast.
- "but even they persuaded me." ✔

✔ Adverbs: at the end, even

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

- First: "but ___ jazz" → "especially" emphasizes preference.
- "but especially jazz." ✔
- Second: "was ___ made" → "specially" means "for a particular purpose".
- "was specially made" ✔

✔ Adverbs: especially, specially

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

- First: "but ___ she’s two years older" → contrast with appearance → "actually" means “in reality”.
- "but actually she’s two years older." ✔
- Second: "___ they’re renting" → "right now" = currently.
- "Right now they’re renting..." ✔

✔ Adverbs: actually, right now

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6. I’m ___ finished with my book. I’m on the last chapter.
Excuse me, is there a bank ___ here?

- First: "I’m ___ finished" → not completely done → "still" (not yet complete).
- "I’m still finished..." ✘ Wait — "still" doesn't go with "finished" like that.

Wait — "I’m nearly finished" or "I’m not quite finished". But the options are "near/nearly".

→ "I’m nearly finished" ✔

- Second: "is there a bank ___ here?" → "near" = close to (place)
- "is there a bank near here?" ✔

✔ Adverbs: nearly, near

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7. Have you found a job ___?
He’s 35, but he ___ lives with his parents.

- First: "Have you found a job ___?" → question about time → "yet" (used in questions with present perfect).
- "Have you found a job yet?" ✔
- Second: "but he ___ lives" → "still" indicates ongoing situation.
- "but he still lives..." ✔

✔ Adverbs: yet, still

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8. Have you ___ been to the US?
I’ve been all over the US – I’ve ___ been to Alaska!

- First: "Have you ___ been to the US?" → "ever" (used in questions about experience).
- "Have you ever been to the US?" ✔
- Second: "I’ve ___ been to Alaska!" → "even" = surprising addition.
- "I’ve even been to Alaska!" ✔

✔ Adverbs: ever, even

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Now let’s compile the answers:

| Sentence | Adverb(s) Used |
|--------|----------------|
| 1 | hard, hardly |
| 2 | late, yet |
| 3 | at the end, even |
| 4 | especially, specially |
| 5 | actually, right now |
| 6 | nearly, near |
| 7 | yet, still |
| 8 | ever, even |

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2. COMMENT ADVERBS

#### a) Read the sentences. Then match the bold adverbs with definitions 1–8.

We are given 8 adverbs:
- in fact
- eventually
- ideally
- basically
- apparently
- anyway
- obviously
- gradually

And 8 definitions.

Let’s match them:

1. ideally → "in a perfect world" ✔
→ Definition: 1

2. in fact → "the truth is; actually (used to emphasize something, especially the opposite of what was previously said)" ✔
→ Definition: 2

3. basically → "in the most important ways" ✔
→ Definition: 3

4. apparently → "according to what you have heard or read" ✔
→ Definition: 6

5. gradually → "little by little" ✔
→ Definition: 5

6. eventually → "in the end; after a series of events or difficulties" ✔
→ Definition: 8

7. obviously → "clearly (used to give information you expect other people to know or agree with)" ✔
→ Definition: 4

8. anyway → "in any case (used to change or finish a conversation)" ✔
→ Definition: 7

So the matching is:

| Number | Adverb | Definition |
|--------|---------------|----------|
| 1 | ideally | in a perfect world |
| 2 | in fact | the truth is; actually... |
| 3 | basically | in the most important ways |
| 4 | obviously | clearly... |
| 5 | gradually | little by little |
| 6 | apparently | according to what you have heard or read |
| 7 | anyway | in any case... |
| 8 | eventually | in the end... |

Now fill in the blanks:

1. ideally → 1
2. in fact → 2
3. basically → 3
4. obviously → 4
5. gradually → 5
6. apparently → 6
7. anyway → 7
8. eventually → 8

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✔ Final Answers:

#### Section 1: Confusing Adverbs

| Sentence | Adverb(s) Used |
|--------|----------------|
| 1 | hard, hardly |
| 2 | late, yet |
| 3 | at the end, even |
| 4 | especially, specially |
| 5 | actually, right now |
| 6 | nearly, near |
| 7 | yet, still |
| 8 | ever, even |

#### Section 2: Comment Adverbs

Match:
1. ideally → 1
2. in fact → 2
3. basically → 3
4. obviously → 4
5. gradually → 5
6. apparently → 6
7. anyway → 7
8. eventually → 8

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✔ Summary of Key Points:

- Hard vs. Hardly:
- *Hard* = with effort → "work hard"
- *Hardly* = almost not → "I can hardly see"

- Late vs. Lately:
- *Late* = after the expected time → "arrive late"
- *Lately* = recently → "I haven’t seen him lately"

- Near vs. Nearly:
- *Near* = close to (place) → "a bank near here"
- *Nearly* = almost → "nearly finished"

- Still vs. Yet:
- *Still* = continues to be true → "I’m still reading"
- *Yet* = used in negatives/questions with present perfect → "Have you finished yet?"

- Even vs. Ever:
- *Even* = surprising addition → "even my dog likes it"
- *Ever* = at any time (questions) → "Have you ever been?"

- Comment adverbs add opinion, emphasis, or transition. They often go at the beginning or middle of a sentence.

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