Adverbs commonly modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. But they can sometimes modify pronoun, preposition or prepositional phrase, determiner, conjunction, and noun phrase. Learn the full range of modifying function of adverbs.
In the first three exercises, identify whether the adverb is modifying verb, adjective, or another adverb. Few sentences, may have more than one modifying adverb. Here is a sample question answered for you:
Q. How different this is from passive re-reading many do from their notes or books, which is highly inefficient?
A. How different this is from passive re-reading many do from their notes or books, which is highly inefficient? [Adjective]
Interpretation: Modifier has been underlined and modified is in blue font. Whereas modifier is always an adverb, part of speech of modified has been mentioned in brackets.
Exercise 1
1. Graduates of highly selective colleges earn more in general because of selection bias.
2. Today, the manager was so uncharacteristically curt.
3. Don’t burden a friend, neighbour, or relative with too many visits.
4. He responded a bit too harshly.
5. The store opened early today.
6. My brother performed unbelievably well in the final exam.
7. But, in rural areas, broadband internet penetration is extremely poor or even non-existent.
8. With variety of flowers and lush greenery, the garden was all beautiful.
9. The temperature dropped unexpectedly sharply.
10. We climbed slowly, focusing our torches few feet ahead on the ground, trying to avoid boulders, fully knowing that any injury could be life threatening in absence of food and medical services.
1. Graduates of highly selective colleges earn more in general because of selection bias. [Adjective]
2. Today, the manager was so uncharacteristically curt. [so modifies uncharacteristically (adverb), uncharacteristically modifies curt (adjective)]
3. Don’t burden a friend, neighbour, or relative with too many visits. [Adjective]
4. He responded a bit too harshly. [a bit modifies too (adverb), too modifies harshly (adverb)]
5. The store opened early today. [early and today separately modify opened (verb).]
6. My brother performed unbelievably well in the final exam. [Adverb]
7. But, in rural areas, broadband internet penetration is extremely poor or even non-existent. [Adjective/ Adjective]
8. With variety of flowers and lush greenery, the garden was all beautiful. [Adjective]
9. The temperature dropped unexpectedly sharply. [Adverb]
10. We climbed slowly, focusing our torches few feet ahead on the ground, trying to avoid boulders, fully knowing that any injury could be life threatening in absence of food and medical services. [Verb/ Verb]
Exercise 2
1. After the loss, I started almost afresh.
2. It is almost impossible to curb such kickbacks unless either the transaction is caught red-handed (which is almost impossible for want of timely information) or there is dramatic compromise in the quality of the work.
3. It was this combination of spaced repetition and deep practice (or SAR) that etched the nine-digit, hard-to-remember username almost permanently in my memory.
4. We take care of slightest of their problems and, in the process, make them too dependent on elders.
5. I then decided not to visit them too often because a constant guest is never welcomed.
6. She almost never arrives early for meetings.
7. She recovered from the injury amazingly well and played the next match.
8. The experience was amazingly good.
9. The temperature dropped sharply overnight.
10. We have a meeting scheduled today.
1. After the loss, I started almost afresh. [Adverb]
2. It is almost impossible to curb such kickbacks unless either the transaction is caught red-handed or there is dramatic compromise in quality of work. [Adjective]
3. It was this combination of spaced repetition and deep practice that etched the nine-digit, hard-to-remember username almost permanently in my memory. [Adverb]
4. We take care of slightest of their problems and, in the process, make them too dependent on elders. [Adjective]
5. I then decided not to visit them too often because a constant guest is never welcomed. [Adverb/ Verb]
6. She almost never arrives early for meetings. [almost modifies never (adverb), early modifies arrives (verb)]
7. She recovered from the injury amazingly well and played the next match. [Adverb]
8. The experience was amazingly good. [Adjective]
9. The temperature dropped sharply overnight. [sharply and overnight separately modify dropped (verb).]
10. We have a meeting scheduled today. [Verb]
Exercise 3
1. The plane landed smoothly earlier.
2. He presented confidently today.
3. You would imagine that mismatch in demand and supply of jobs will make landing a job extremely competitive.
4. She performed extremely well during the competition.
5. Last, capital projects, especially the large ones, are perceived by people to be the work of powerful, influential people who are deeply entrenched in the system, and who may harm them if complained against.
6. He rarely speaks loudly during meetings.
7. We had barely eaten since six in the morning.
8. Your typing is pretty slow.
9. It rained heavily yesterday.
10. Despite working so diligently, she barely finished her assignment on time.
In the next two exercises, we move beyond modification of verb, adjective, and adverb. In these exercises, the adverb can modify verb, adjective, adverb, noun phrase, pronoun, preposition or prepositional phrase, conjunction, or determiner.
1. The plane landed smoothly earlier. [smoothly and earlier separately modify landed (verb).]
2. He presented confidently today. [confidently and today separately modify presented (verb).]
3. You would imagine that mismatch in demand and supply of jobs will make landing a job extremely competitive. [Adjective]
4. She performed extremely well during the competition. [Adverb]
5. Last, capital projects, especially the large ones, are perceived by people to be the work of powerful, influential people who are deeply entrenched in the system, and who may harm them if complained against. [Adjective]
6. He rarely speaks loudly during meetings. [rarely and loudly separately modify speaks (verb)]
7. We had barely eaten since six in the morning. [Verb]
8. Your typing is pretty slow. [Adjective]
9. It rained heavily yesterday. [heavily and yesterday separately modify rained (verb).]
10. Despite working so diligently, she barely finished her assignment on time. [Adverb/ Verb]
In the next two exercises, we move beyond modification of verb, adjective, and adverb. In these exercises, the adverb can modify verb, adjective, adverb, noun phrase, pronoun, preposition or prepositional phrase, conjunction, or determiner.
Exercise 4
1. He ate nearly nothing at the party.
2. The package was delivered right on time.
3. It turned out to be quite a challenge to solve the puzzle.
4. Shortly after the sun set, the stars began to appear in the night sky.
5. The movie was indeed boring, forcing nearly half the audience to leave within 30 minutes.
6. There’s virtually nothing left to discuss.
7. Matthew Syed, in his book Bounce, gives example of how his mother’s typing speed hardly changed despite several years of practice.
8. He finished the 100-meter dash in barely eleven seconds.
9. The spokesperson arrived unexpectedly late for the press conference.
10. It was rather a long speech for such a simple topic.
1. He ate nearly nothing at the party. [Pronoun]
2. The package was delivered right on time. [Preposition or Prepositional phrase]
3. It turned out to be quite a challenge to solve the puzzle. [Noun phrase]
4. Shortly after the sun set, the stars began to appear in the night sky. [Conjunction]
5. The movie was indeed boring, forcing nearly half the audience to leave within 30 minutes. [Adjective]
6. There’s virtually nothing left to discuss. [Pronoun]
7. Matthew Syed, in his book Bounce, gives example of how his mother’s typing speed hardly changed despite several years of practice. [Verb]
8. He finished the 100-meter dash in barely eleven seconds. [Determiner]
9. The spokesperson arrived unexpectedly late for the press conference. [Adverb]
10. It was rather a long speech for such a simple topic. [Noun phrase]
Exercise 5
1. Just before the sun rose, the sky was painted with beautiful colors.
2. She stood well within the boundaries of the park.
3. The committee is sharply divided on the issue.
4. She gave us quite a surprise by arriving unannounced.
5. She trusted hardly anyone in the group.
6. The party was rather a disappointment due to the poor planning.
7. The restaurant is right around the corner.
8. Absolutely nobody knew the answer to the question.
9. The task was handled almost effortlessly by the experienced team.
10. He often works very late to meet deadlines.
1. Just before the sun rose, the sky was painted with beautiful colors. [Conjunction]
2. She stood well within the boundaries of the park. [Preposition or Prepositional phrase]
3. The committee is sharply divided on the issue. [Adjective]
4. She gave us quite a surprise by arriving unannounced. [Noun phrase]
5. She trusted hardly anyone in the group. [Pronoun]
6. The party was rather a disappointment due to the poor planning. [Noun phrase]
7. The restaurant is right around the corner. [Preposition or Prepositional phrase]
8. Absolutely nobody knew the answer to the question. [Pronoun]
9. The task was handled almost effortlessly by the experienced team. [Adverb]
10. He often works very late to meet deadlines. [Verb/ Adverb]
