Common mistakes with adverbs

This grammar exercise tests your ability to use adverbs correctly.

1. He came here .....................................

2. He .................................. to our house.

3. Though John worked very ................................., he failed.

4. He ......................................... to see me.

5. I have .....................................

6. I have never seen such a man; he is ............................... noble.

7. Alice is ..................................... tall as Peter.

Answers

1. He came here two months ago. (Ago is used to date back from the time of speaking. Before is used to date back from a point of time in the past.)

2. He often comes to our house. (Adverbs like always, before, never and often are placed before the verb. When the verb consists of an auxiliary and a principal verb, the adverb is placed between the two; if there are two auxiliaries, the adverb is placed after the first auxiliary.)

3. Though John worked very hard, he failed.

4. He seldom comes to see me. (Seldom is an adverb of frequency. It is placed before the verb.)

5. I have always wanted to meet him.

6. I have never seen such a man; he is very noble. (Too has a negative meaning. It means ‘more than is good or desirable or necessary for a specific purpose’. It is not used in the general sense of very or much.)

7. Alice is as tall as Peter. (We prefer as in affirmative sentences and so in negative sentences.)