Use of Adverbs Examples and Exercises

Adverbs of frequency (always, never, often, ever, generally, rarely, frequently, seldom, sometimes) are placed before the Verbs they modify.

He always speaks the truth.

He never does anything wrong.

He often comes home late.

Nothing ever happens in this village.

We generally have breakfast at eight.

She rarely visits us.

We frequently go to the cinema.

He seldom comes late.

She sometimes smokes.

He usually gets up early.

• If the verb is, am, is, are or were these adverbs are placed after the Verb; as;

I am always at home on Sundays.

I am never late for school.

He is often late for school.

We are sometimes late for school.

He’s usually early.

The Correct Use Of Some Adverbs

• The Adverb enough is always placed after the Adjective which it modifies.

He was foolish enough to offend her.

He was rash enough to strike her.

He was clever enough to see through her game.

• Too, very. The Adverb too means the excess of some kind or more than enough.

‘I am too tired to finish the work’ means that I am so tired that I cannot finish the work.

1. It is too hot to go outside. (Not, very hot to go outside.)
2. It is very hot today. (Not too hot today).
3. I was very pleased when I heard the news. (Not, too pleased).
4. This news is too good to be true. (Not very good).
5. My heart is too full for words.
6. She talks too (She talks more than she should.)
7. We are very late, but not too late to catch the train.
8. I am very tired, but not too tired to walk a little farther.
9. Ali was too frightened to speak.
10. The rose is too           (In all these sentences)
    Sugar is too sweet.                    use very instead of too).
    My son’s health is too good.

• Fairly; rather. Both mean ‘moderately’, but fairly is chiefly used with ‘favourable’ Adjectives and Adverbs (e.g., good, bravely, well, nice, ) while rather is chiefly used before ‘unfavourable’ Adjectives and Adverbs (e.g., bad, stupid, ugly, etc.).

Ashok is fairly clever, but his brother is rather stupid.

He is fairly rich, but his uncle is rather poor.

You did fairly well in your examination, but your sister did rather badly.

This book is rather heavy, but that one is fairly light.

We’re rather late, let us hurry.

This train is fairly fast; it gets there in one hour.

You have given me rather a lot; I don’t think I can eat so much.

Exercise 1: In each of the following sentences, there are three answers marked A, B, and C. Only one of these answers is correct. Write the letter of the correct answer in the brackets provided.

(A) very                                       (B) much                                (C) too

1. Honey is ___________ sweet. ( )
2. I am ___________ sorry. ( )
3. Her tone was ___________ threatening. ( )
4. He is ___________ tired. ( )
5. They were ___________ alarmed at the bad news. ( )
6. It is ___________ hot today. ( )
7. I was ___________ pleased when I heard the news. ( )
8. The patient is ___________ better today. ( )
9. I was ___________ respected. ( )
10. He is rich, ___________ yet he is discontented. ( )
11. She was ___________ friqhtened to speak. ( )
12. I am ___________ glad to see you in such good health. ( )
13. This news is ___________ good to be true. ( )
14. It is ___________ hot to go outside. ( )
15. Fruit is ___________ cheap today. ( )

Exercise 2: Rewrite the following sentences using the word in brackets in its proper place :

1. This exercise is bad (rather).
2. He was brave to defy his employer (enough).
3. I have any money (hardly).
4. The bottle is full (quite).
5. We lost the match (nearly).
6. We deceive ourselves (sometimes).
7. He avoids bad companions (generally).
8. He makes a mistake (rarely).
9. He has hurt any person (never).
10. She has come in (just).
11. He did well in the examination (fairly).
12. He hasn’t finished (yet).
13. I am late for my lectures (often).
14. He gets up at six (usually).
15. I have been told that (often).