Most words ending in –ly are adverbs. Some adjectives also end in –ly. Sometimes the adverb can have two forms – one ending in –ly and the other having the same form as an adjective. Test your knowledge of these different forms with this grammar exercise.

Fill in the blanks with suitable adverbs.

1. I hate arriving ………………………………….. (late / lately)

2. …………………………………… you are not going out in that torn coat? (sure / surely)

3. Their front door was ………………………………….. open. (wide / widely)

4. Throw it as ……………………………….. as you can. (high / highly)

5. The members of the committee had …………………………………. differing opinions. (wide / widely)

6. I ………………………………….. believed that she loved me. (wrongly / wrong)

7. I ……………………………. assumed that Jane was not coming. (rightly / right)

8. He is doing …………………………………. (fine / finely)

9. She was …………………………… injured in the accident. (fatally / fatal)

10. I haven’t been to the opera much ……………………………….. (late / lately)

Answers

1. I hate arriving late.

2. Surely you are not going out in that torn coat?

3. Their front door was wide open.

4. Throw it as high as you can.

5. The members of the committee had widely differing opinions.

6. I wrongly believed that she loved me.

7. I rightly assumed that Jane was not coming.

8. He is doing fine.

9. She was fatally injured in the accident.

10. I haven’t been to the opera much lately.