30 Best Exercises on Adverbs for All Levels of Learners

Exercises on adverbs are essential tools for helping ESL students improve their speaking and writing skills. Adverbs add important details to sentences by showing how, when, where, or how often something happens. Understanding these basics also prepares learners for more complex structures like adverb clauses.

However, many learners find adverbs tricky. They often struggle with placing them correctly or choosing the right type to express their meaning clearly.

This post is here to make that easier for you and your students. You’ll find 30 ready-to-use exercises that guide learners from identifying adverbs to using them naturally in everyday English.

Each activity focuses on a different skill—recognizing adverb types, correcting mistakes, building fluency, and using adverbs and adverb clauses in real-life contexts.

These exercises work well in any setting—classroom, homework, or self-study. They require no preparation and suit learners from beginner to upper-intermediate levels.

What Are Adverbs?

Adverbs are words that give us more information about a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or even a whole sentence.

They usually tell us how, when, where, or how often something happens.

Let’s look at each one more closely:

1. Adverbs of Manner (How?)

These describe how something happens.
They usually come after the verb.

• He sings beautifully.
• She worked quickly.
• They smiled happily.

2. Adverbs of Time (When?)

These tell us when something happens.

• I saw him yesterday.
• We’ll leave soon.
• She is coming now.

3. Adverbs of Place (Where?)

These tell us where something happens.

• Please sit here.
• He looked everywhere.
• The children are playing outside.

4. Adverbs of Frequency (How often?)

These describe how often something happens.

• I always eat breakfast.
• They sometimes walk to school.
• He never drinks coffee.

5. Adverbs of Degree (To what extent?)

These show how much or how strongly something happens.

• She is very tired.
• I completely agree.
• The food is too hot.

6. Sentence Adverbs (Comment on the whole sentence)

These adverbs show the speaker’s opinion or attitude.

• Honestly, I didn’t like the movie.
• Luckily, we arrived on time.
• Probably, she will say yes.

Where Do Adverbs Go in a Sentence?

Adverbs can appear in different places depending on the type:

• After the verb: She danced gracefully.
• Before the verb: He never eats fish.
• Beginning of the sentence: Usually, we eat together.
• End of the sentence: They met yesterday.

Some adverbs can move around, but the meaning or focus may change.

Common Mistake:

❌ She very speaks well.
✅ She speaks very well.

Remember, adverbs usually go before adjectives or after verbs, not randomly in the sentence.

Now let’s look at the examples of different types of adverbs in a chart.

Adverb	Type	Example Sentence
quickly	Manner	She finished the test quickly.
loudly	Manner	He spoke loudly during the meeting.
happily	Manner	They laughed happily at the joke.
yesterday	Time	I met her yesterday.
now	Time	We should leave now.
soon	Time	The bus will arrive soon.
here	Place	Please come here.
outside	Place	The kids are playing outside.
everywhere	Place	I looked for my keys everywhere.
always	Frequency	He always drinks tea in the morning.
often	Frequency	They often go to the park.
never	Frequency	She never forgets her homework.
very	Degree	That movie was very interesting.
completely	Degree	I completely understand the lesson.
luckily	Sentence/Comment	Luckily, we found a taxi on time.

Now that you understand the basics of adverbs, let’s practice using them in different ways!

Exercise 1: Spot the Adverb!

Level: A1 (Beginner)
Instruction: Read each sentence and underline the adverb. Then write what kind of adverb it is (e.g., manner, place, time, frequency, or degree).

1. She runs quickly.
2. They arrived yesterday.
3. I always brush my teeth at night.
4. The cat is hiding under the bed.
5. He speaks very clearly.
6. We will meet soon.
7. The baby sleeps peacefully.
8. She sings beautifully.
9. We go to school every day.
10. He is too tired to walk.

Exercise 2: Choose the Right Word

Level: A1 (Beginner)
Instruction: Choose the correct adverb from the box to complete each sentence. Use each word only once.

Word Box: slowly, here, always, never, well, today, fast, carefully, outside, sometimes

1. My grandma walks very __________.
2. They are playing __________.
3. I __________ eat breakfast before school.
4. She __________ drinks soda.
5. He sings very __________.
6. Let’s go shopping __________.
7. You must drive __________ in the rain.
8. We are waiting for you __________.
9. The rabbit runs very __________.
10. I __________ watch cartoons on Sunday.

Exercise 3: How Often Do You…?

Level: A1 (Beginner)
Instruction: Answer each question using adverbs of frequency (always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never). Write complete sentences.

1. How often do you eat vegetables?
2. How often do you clean your room?
3. How often do you watch movies?
4. How often do you exercise?
5. How often do you go to the park?
6. How often do you do your homework?
7. How often do you talk to your friends?
8. How often do you drink water?
9. How often do you wake up early?
10. How often do you listen to music?

Exercise 4: Match and Move: Adverbs in Action

Level: A1 (Beginner)
Instruction: Match the sentence in Column A with the correct adverb in Column B. Then, rewrite each complete sentence.

Column A	Column B
1. He reads books	a. loudly
2. The children played	b. quickly
3. She opened the door	c. every morning
4. We walk to school	d. carefully
5. The dog barked	e. quietly
6. I brush my teeth	f. happily
7. The teacher spoke	g. sometimes
8. They eat lunch	h. slowly
9. She sings songs	i. politely
10. He answers questions	j. usually

Exercise 5: Fix the Sentence (Too or Very?)

Level: A1 (Beginner)
Instruction: Each sentence uses too or very, but some are incorrect. Fix the mistakes and rewrite the correct sentence.

1. I am too happy today.
2. The test was very hard for me to finish.
3. She is very tired to work.
4. This coffee is too hot to drink.
5. He is too nice to say no.
6. My room is very messy.
7. It is too cold outside.
8. I am very excited for the trip.
9. The story was too interesting.
10. She is too good at drawing.

Exercise 6: Complete the Sentence with an Adverb

Level: A2 (Elementary)
Instruction: Fill in each blank with a suitable adverb. Use adverbs of manner, frequency, time, or place. Try not to repeat any word.

1. She danced __________ at the party.
2. I go to the gym __________.
3. We arrived __________ to catch the bus.
4. He speaks English __________.
5. The kids are playing __________ the house.
6. I eat breakfast __________ in the morning.
7. They answered the question __________.
8. The dog barked __________ at the stranger.
9. My father comes home __________ from work.
10. The movie will start __________.

Exercise 7: Adverb or Not?

Level: A2 (Elementary)
Instruction: Look at each word. If it’s an adverb, write Yes. If not, write No. Then use 5 of the adverbs in your own sentences.

1. slowly
2. table
3. outside
4. car
5. often
6. happy
7. very
8. quickly
9. teacher
10. never

Exercise 8: Silly Sentences with Adverbs

Level: A2 (Elementary)
Instruction: Choose an adverb from the box to make each sentence silly or fun. Try to be creative!

Word Box: lazily, loudly, upside-down, never, always, quickly, outside, suddenly, politely, secretly

1. My cat sings __________ in the shower.
2. They eat pizza __________ with a fork and spoon.
3. I __________ brush my teeth with a carrot.
4. We danced __________ on the table.
5. The teacher spoke __________ during the fire drill.
6. She wrote her name __________ on the wall.
7. He arrived __________ with a monkey on his back.
8. I walk __________ like a robot.
9. They sleep __________ in the daytime.
10. We __________ whisper during a concert.

Exercise 9: Rewrite It with More Detail

Level: A2 (Elementary)
Instruction: Add an adverb to each sentence to make it more detailed. Try to use a different type of adverb each time.

1. She opened the window.
2. They eat lunch together.
3. I go to school.
4. He speaks English.
5. We play football.
6. She dances.
7. I read books.
8. The dog sleeps.
9. They arrive.
10. He answered the phone.

Exercise 10: Put It in Order: Where Does the Adverb Go?

Level: A2 (Elementary)
Instruction: Rearrange the words to form a correct sentence. Make sure the adverb is in the right place.

1. quickly / he / ran / the / to / door
2. home / they / go / usually / at / 5 p.m.
3. watches / often / TV / she / at night
4. my / very / is / cold / room
5. arrives / always / on time / teacher / the
6. laughs / loudly / she / movies / at
7. sometimes / miss / we / the / bus
8. outside / the / are / kids / playing
9. I / quietly / the / close / door
10. we / eat / never / fast food

Exercise 11: Choose the Right Adverb

Level: B1 (Intermediate)
Instruction: Choose the best adverb to complete each sentence. Think about meaning and natural usage.

1. She smiled (warmly / rarely / outside) at the child.
2. I (quietly / usually / never) leave without saying goodbye.
3. They arrived (early / slowly / upstairs) for the meeting.
4. He speaks (fluently / correctly / very) Spanish.
5. The dog (gently / always / happily) licked my hand.
6. I (happily / upstairs / loudly) sing when I’m alone.
7. We (rarely / carefully / quickly) go hiking in the rain.
8. He (loudly / always / kindly) offered to help.
9. I (always / fast / politely) answer customer emails.
10. She looked (beautifully / tiredly / often) after work.

Exercise 12: Adverb Placement Challenge

Level: B1 (Intermediate)
Instruction: Rewrite each sentence with the adverb in the correct position.

1. He is on time always.
2. They go to the park in the morning usually.
3. I eat breakfast at 8 a.m. always.
4. She reads in bed often.
5. We have pizza for dinner sometimes.
6. The bus late arrives never.
7. My friend forgets rarely her homework.
8. He goes for a walk after dinner usually.
9. I have lunch at home usually.
10. They travel in summer always.

Exercise 13: Match the Sentence with Its Adverb

Level: B1 (Intermediate)
Instruction: Match each sentence to the most suitable adverb from the list.

Adverbs: softly, regularly, never, late, outdoors, politely, angrily, carefully, daily, fast

1. He runs __________ to stay fit.
2. She speaks __________ to the elderly.
3. I __________ argue with my parents.
4. They entered the classroom __________.
5. The cat walks __________ when hunting.
6. We eat __________ in the garden.
7. She always finishes her work __________.
8. Please listen __________ to the instructions.
9. He shouted __________ at the driver.
10. I take vitamins __________.

Exercise 14: Fix the Mistakes

Level: B1 (Intermediate)
Instruction: Each sentence has a mistake in adverb usage or placement. Rewrite the corrected version.

1. She always go to school on foot.
2. I late arrived to the party.
3. They playing happily are outside.
4. We have usually lunch together.
5. He drives very the car fast.
6. Sometimes I eats junk food.
7. The students loudly answered always.
8. My sister speaks very good English.
9. He replied me politely.
10. They are working hardly today.

Exercise 15: Add an Adverb to Show Emotion or Attitude

Level: B1 (Intermediate)
Instruction: Add an adverb to each sentence to show emotion or speaker attitude. Example: “He answered” → “He answered angrily.”

1. She shouted at the boy.
2. He thanked me.
3. They declined the offer.
4. I accepted the invitation.
5. He looked at the photo.
6. She apologized to the teacher.
7. They listened to the story.
8. He told the joke.
9. We responded to the news.
10. She opened the gift.

Exercise 16: Choose the Better Adverb

Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
Instruction: Choose the adverb that best fits the tone or meaning of each sentence.

1. She (gracefully / carelessly) danced across the stage.
2. He (sarcastically / cheerfully) told me I looked tired.
3. They (hurriedly / peacefully) packed up their belongings.
4. The teacher (firmly / shyly) explained the rules.
5. I (deeply / lightly) regret what I said.
6. She (generously / cautiously) refused to accept any help.
7. He (sincerely / lazily) apologized for being late.
8. They (eagerly / reluctantly) agreed to join the project.
9. The child (proudly / rudely) showed his artwork.
10. He (angrily / calmly) walked away from the argument.

Exercise 17: Rewrite Using a Different Type of Adverb

Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
Instruction: Rewrite each sentence using a different type of adverb (manner, frequency, time, degree, place). Example: “She speaks clearly.” → “She rarely speaks.”

1. He left quickly.
2. She sings beautifully.
3. We arrive early.
4. They smiled kindly.
5. I walked home.
6. He always wins.
7. She reads carefully.
8. We sometimes argue.
9. They met yesterday.
10. He responded rudely.

Exercise 18: Adverb Transformation Challenge

Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
Instruction: Transform the adjective in parentheses into an adverb and complete the sentence correctly.

1. She smiled (warm).
2. He answered (quick).
3. They worked (efficient).
4. I explained it (clear).
5. We behaved (good).
6. He listened (attentive).
7. The children played (happy).
8. She looked (sad).
9. He danced (graceful).
10. You spoke (polite).

Exercise 19: Insert the Adverb Naturally

Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
Instruction: Insert the given adverb into the sentence in the most natural position.

1. I have seen that movie. (never)
2. They play video games on weekends. (usually)
3. She forgot her keys. (almost)
4. He speaks in public. (confidently)
5. We go to the mountains in winter. (often)
6. I finish my homework before dinner. (usually)
7. They agreed to the plan. (reluctantly)
8. He answers questions in class. (rarely)
9. She apologized for the mistake. (sincerely)
10. I visit my grandparents. (every week)

Exercise 20: Adverb Dialogue Practice

Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
Instruction: Fill in the blanks in this short dialogue with appropriate adverbs that fit the tone and situation.

A: Did you talk to the manager?
B: Yes, I spoke to him __________.
A: What did he say?
B: He __________ told me the project is delayed.
A: That’s frustrating. Did you reply?
B: I responded __________, but I made my point.
A: Good. We need to act __________ now.
B: Agreed. I’ll email the team __________ to keep them updated.
A: Thanks. Let’s handle this __________.

(Use adverbs like: calmly, politely, firmly, quickly, clearly, honestly, immediately)

Exercise 21: Adverb Position Awareness

Level: C1 (Advanced)
Instruction: Reorder the words in each sentence so the adverb is placed correctly and sounds natural in advanced English.

1. She / has / been / definitely / promoted.
2. You / can / completely / trust / him.
3. They / have / recently / moved / to Canada.
4. He / has / always / admired / her work.
5. I / honestly / didn’t / expect / that.
6. We / have / rarely / seen / such results.
7. He / probably / won’t / come / today.
8. She / had / already / left / when we arrived.
9. You / should / never / ignore / feedback.
10. They / are / clearly / enjoying / the trip.

Exercise 22: Style Shift with Adverbs

Level: C1 (Advanced)
Instruction: Rewrite each informal sentence using more formal or precise adverbs to elevate the tone. Example: “He always talks loud.” → “He consistently speaks loudly.”

1. She always helps us out.
2. He really tries hard.
3. They kind of agreed.
4. I totally forgot.
5. We sort of finished it.
6. He’s always late.
7. She quickly left.
8. They got there really fast.
9. I really liked it.
10. We always eat early.

Exercise 23: Adverb + Adjective Collocations

Level: C1 (Advanced)
Instruction: Complete each phrase using a strong adverb that naturally collocates with the adjective. Use advanced collocations. Example: “deeply concerned.”

1. __________ aware
2. __________ mistaken
3. __________ convinced
4. __________ opposed
5. __________ grateful
6. __________ disappointed
7. __________ involved
8. __________ embarrassed
9. __________ impressed
10. __________ satisfied

Exercise 24: Short Writing – Adverb Variety

Level: C1 (Advanced)
Instruction: Write a short paragraph (3–5 sentences) describing your morning using at least 5 different types of adverbs (manner, place, time, degree, frequency, etc.).

Exercise 25: Adverb Alternatives for Natural Style

Level: C1 (Advanced)
Instruction: Replace the underlined adverb in each sentence with a more natural-sounding or advanced alternative.

1. She very quickly reacted to the news.
2. I really liked his presentation.
3. He spoke very loudly during the meeting.
4. They totally ignored the warning signs.
5. We extremely enjoyed our stay.
6. The room was completely silent.
7. He was really mad about the delay.
8. She very confidently delivered her speech.
9. The guests arrived very late.
10. I totally forgot our appointment.

Exercise 26: Spot the Subtle Adverb Error

Level: C2 (Proficient)
Instruction: One adverb in each sentence below is slightly incorrect, unnatural, or redundant. Identify and replace it with a better alternative.

1. He practically never answers emails during meetings.
2. She highly enjoys working with international clients.
3. I entirely agree with what you said about management.
4. The speaker somewhat loudly expressed his concerns.
5. They deeply understood the meaning of the poem.
6. I fairly believe this project is worth investing in.
7. She absolutely laughed at the joke.
8. He kindly explained the complex theory.
9. We directly were told not to interfere.
10. They dramatically overreacted very slightly.

Exercise 27: Transform Sentences Using Emphatic Adverbs

Level: C2 (Proficient)
Instruction: Rewrite each sentence to include a suitable emphatic adverb (e.g., indeed, certainly, undoubtedly, clearly, surely) for emphasis.

1. He is the best person for the job.
2. This method works better than the last one.
3. She has done well in her new role.
4. It will help the company grow.
5. The weather is getting worse.
6. You should be proud of yourself.
7. That decision helped a lot.
8. They deserve the recognition.
9. The experiment was successful.
10. I enjoy working with this team.

Exercise 28: Creative Sentence Challenge – One Adverb, Five Uses

Level: C2 (Proficient)
Instruction: Choose one adverb (e.g., clearly, hopefully, surprisingly, hardly, honestly) and write five different sentences using it in different contexts and positions.

Example using “clearly”:

• Clearly, she was not ready.
• She clearly didn’t understand.
• It’s clearly a mistake.
• He spoke clearly during the meeting.
• The road was clearly marked.

(Repeat with your chosen adverb.)

Exercise 29: Adverb Substitution for Tone and Register

Level: C2 (Proficient)
Instruction: Substitute the adverb in each sentence to change the tone (e.g., from casual to formal, informal to professional, or neutral to emphatic). Briefly explain the effect of the change.

1. She quickly responded to the request.
2. He casually dismissed the issue.
3. We obviously made a mistake.
4. They frequently interrupt.
5. I totally agree.
6. You barely noticed it.
7. She spoke kindly.
8. He probably won’t attend.
9. They massively underestimated the task.
10. She directly challenged the claim.

Exercise 30: Mini Essay – Advanced Adverb Use

Level: C2 (Proficient)
Instruction: Write a short opinion essay (5–7 sentences) on one of the following topics. Use at least 10 different adverbs (of various types) to enhance clarity, tone, and sophistication. Underline each adverb.

Topics (choose one):

• The importance of lifelong learning
• How technology is changing communication
• Why travel broadens the mind

Conclusion

Teaching adverbs doesn’t have to feel repetitive or overwhelming. With the right mix of structure and variety, students can gain confidence using adverbs in both speaking and writing.

The 30 exercises in this post are designed to help your learners build step-by-step mastery—first by recognizing adverbs, then by using them naturally and correctly.

Use the easier tasks for review or new introductions, and save the more advanced ones for group work, fluency building, or test prep.

Encourage students to notice adverbs in real conversations, reading materials, and their own writing. With consistent practice, they’ll begin to use adverbs more accurately and with greater ease.

And don’t forget—you can always revisit these exercises whenever your class needs a refresher or some focused grammar practice.

FAQs about Exercises on Adverbs

What is an adverb?
An adverb is a word that gives more information about a verb, adjective, or another adverb. It often tells how, when, where, or how often something happens.

How are adverbs different from adjectives?
Adjectives describe nouns, while adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Read the adverb vs adjective exercises.

What are some common types of adverbs?
The main types are adverbs of manner, time, place, frequency, degree, and sentence adverbs.

Where do adverbs usually go in a sentence?
Adverbs can appear before or after verbs, at the beginning or end of sentences, depending on their type and meaning.

What are adverb clauses?
Adverb clauses are groups of words with a subject and verb that act as adverbs, showing time, reason, condition, or contrast.

How can exercises on adverbs help my students?
They help learners recognize adverbs, understand their types, improve correct usage, and build fluency in speaking and writing.

Can adverbs change the meaning of a sentence?
Yes, the position of an adverb can change the sentence’s meaning or focus.

Are all adverbs easy to identify?
No, some adverbs look like adjectives (e.g., fast), so learners need practice to recognize them correctly.

How often should students practice adverbs?
Regular practice, like short daily exercises, helps students internalize adverb use better.

Can I use these exercises for both beginner and advanced students?
Yes, the exercises in this post range from beginner to advanced levels, suitable for all CEFR levels.