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    Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #5052: Adjectives and adverbs
    > Other English exercises on the same topics: Adjectives | Adverbs [Change theme]
    > Similar tests: - Adverbs of frequency - Comparative of superiority - Adjectives and prepositions - Order of adjectives - Superlative + and adjective - Adjectives-ing and ed - Adverbs of frequency - Superlative
    > Double-click on words you don't understand


    Adjectives and adverbs


    Adjectives and adverbs

    A-   Look at these examples:

    • Our holiday was too short - the time went very quickly.

    • The driver of the car was seriously injured in the accident.

     

    Quickly and seriously are adverbs. Many adverbs are made from an adjective + -ly:

     

    Adjective

    quick

    serious

    careful

    quiet

    bad

    heavy

    Adverb

    quickly

    seriously

    carefully

    quietly

    badly

    heavily

     

     

     

    Not all words ending in -ly are adverbs. Some adjectives end in -ly too, for example:

    Friendly / lively / elderly / lonely / silly / lovely

    B- Adjective or adverb


    Adjectives (quick/careful etc.) tell us about a noun. We use adjectives before nouns and after some verbs, especially be:

     

    • Tom is a careful driver, (not 'a carefully driver')

    • We didn't go out because of the heavy rain.            

    • Please be quiet.

    • I was disappointed that my exam results were so bad.

    We also use adjectives after the verbs look/ feel/ sound etc.

    • Why do you always look so serious?

    Compare:

    She speaks perfect English                 

                    Adjective + noun

     

    Compare these sentences with look:

     

    • Tom looked sad when I saw him. (= he seemed sad, his expression was sad)


    Adverbs (quickly/carefully etc.) tell us about a verb. An adverb tells us how somebody does something or how something happens:

     

    • Tom drove carefully along the narrow road, (not 'drove careful')

    • We didn't go out because it was raining heavily, (not 'raining heavy')

    • Please speak quietly, (not 'speak quiet')

    • I was disappointed that I did so badly on the exam, (not 'did so bad')

    • Why do you never take me seriously?

    She speaks English perfectly.

           Verb + object + adverb

    Tom looked at me sadly. (= he looked at me in a sad way)

     

     

    C- W e also use adverbs before adjectives and other adverbs. For example:


    - reasonably cheap
    » (adverb + adjective)
    - terribly sorry       
    » (adverb + adjective)
    - incredibly quickly 
    » (adverb + adverb)

              

    It's a reasonably cheap restaurant and the food is extremely good.            

    Oh, I'm terribly sorry. I didn't mean to push you. (not 'terrible sorry')

    Maria learns languages incredibly quickly.  

    The examination was surprisingly easy.


    You can also use an adverb before a past participle (injured/ organised/ written etc.):

    Two people were seriously injured in the accident, (not 'serious injured')

    The meeting was very badly organised.

     


     

     

     Put in the right word:





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    English exercise "Adjectives and adverbs" created by felin with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from felin]
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    1. The driver of the car was injured.

    2. I think you behaved very .

    3. Rose is upset about losing her job.

    4. There was a change in the weather.

    5. Everybody at the party was dressed.

    6. She fell and hurt herself quite .

    7. I cooked this meal for you, so I hope you like it.

    8. Don't go up that ladder. It doesn't look .

    9. He looked at me when I interrupted him.

    10. Our holiday was too short. The time passed very .

    11. Sue works . She never seems to stop.

    12. Alice and Stan are very married.

    13. Monica's English is very although she makes quite a lot of mistakes.

    14. I would like to buy a car but it's impossible for me at the moment.

    15. I tried on the shoes and they fitted me .










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