TOEIC Part 5 Adverbs: Word Forms and 20 Practice Questions
Choose adverbs, adjectives and nouns by their role in the sentence. Practise 20 original workplace questions with all 80 choices explained and six transfer tasks.
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Identify the action, description or noun phrase that contains the gap.
Compare the related forms
Check the noun, adjective, adverb or verb function of each option.
Read the complete sentence
Keep all printed words unchanged and check the intended meaning.
Explain and transfer
Explain why each rejected option fails, then use the pattern in a new workplace message.
Use the job of a word to choose its form: a careful inspection, inspected carefully, or check its accuracy. Work through seven rules, a complete demonstration, 20 original workplace questions and six transfer tasks. Every question explains all four choices.
Independent, untimed practice: English AIdol prepared this material with AI assistance. An independent AI content review checked the questions and explanations. It is not an official or recalled ETS question set. No human expert or examiner review, ETS endorsement, or calibrated difficulty is claimed. Keep your answers in your own notes; this page does not save them or calculate a TOEIC score.
What this practice covers
The standard TOEIC Listening and Reading test includes 30 Part 5 Incomplete Sentences questions, with four choices labelled A–D. Its full Reading section contains 100 questions and lasts 75 minutes. This lesson practises one family of language choices; it is not a full Reading test. ETS: About the TOEIC Listening and Reading Test; ETS: TOEIC Listening & Reading Score User Guide (PDF), printed page 5.
ETS converts correct-answer counts to a 5–495 score for each section and does not deduct points for wrong answers. These original teaching questions have not been equated to an ETS test form. Their answer count is not a Reading score estimate. ETS: TOEIC Listening & Reading Score User Guide (PDF), printed page 9.
Seven checks for adverbs and related word forms
Ask what the gap does in this particular sentence. Word endings can help you recognise a form, but they cannot tell you whether that form fits the sentence.
Identify the action being described
In a manner construction, an adverb tells the reader how an action happens. Compare the noun phrase a careful inspection with inspected carefully. First locate the action and its object; do not choose a form solely because it is close to a verb.
Distinguish an action from a description of the subject
An adjective can describe a noun directly or describe the subject after a linking verb such as seem or remain. In The scanner remains reliable, reliable describes the scanner. In The scanner operates reliably, reliably describes its operation.
In particularly useful, the adjective useful describes something; the adverb particularly adds information about that description. The noun may appear later or not at all. Compare a useful tool with a particularly useful tool.
In remarkably quickly, quickly describes the action and remarkably comments on its degree. Treat the two words as a phrase. Seeing an adverb immediately after a gap does not mean the gap needs an adjective.
This lesson mixes adverb choices with noun and adjective slots. In check its accuracy, accuracy names the quality being checked; accurately cannot name it. Read the whole phrase after a possessive or determiner, because a noun may already be printed later.
We checked its accuracy. We checked its accurate figures.
The trainer gave a demonstration. The trainer demonstrated the method clearly.
Many adverbs end in -ly, but friendly is an adjective and fast can be an adverb without that ending. Hard and hardly have different meanings. Check an unfamiliar word’s actual use; do not manufacture an adverb by attaching -ly automatically.
The receptionist gave us a friendly greeting.
The crew worked hard. The crew hardly worked. These make different claims.
Read the whole claim when the adverb expresses certainty
Some adverbs express certainty about an event rather than how it happens. In The courier will definitely return, definitely adds certainty to the prediction. Identify this role before choosing among related noun, adjective and verb forms.
The finance lead will probably join the meeting.
The courier will definitely return for the second parcel.
The finance assistant calculated the travel refund ___ before issuing a receipt. Options: (A) accurate · (B) accurately · (C) accuracy · (D) inaccuracy.
Find the action: calculated. Its object, the travel refund, is already complete.
The gap describes how the calculation was performed, so choose the adverb (B) accurately.
Accurate is an adjective; accuracy and inaccuracy are nouns. None directly modifies calculated in this position.
Read it back: The finance assistant calculated the travel refund accurately before issuing a receipt.
This demonstration is separate from the 20 questions. For each practice item, write the answer and its job, such as describes an action, describes a noun or names a quality.
20 original Part 5-style questions
Choose the one option that completes the printed sentence in standard written English. Keep every other word unchanged. The stages organise the lesson; they are not calibrated difficulty levels. Grammar can permit different meanings in other sentences, so the transfer tasks discuss those contrasts separately.
Stage 1: Find the word’s job
Questions 1–8 distinguish actions, subject descriptions and noun slots. Write a short reason before opening each answer.
Question 1
The warehouse assistant checked each parcel ___ before signing the collection sheet.
(A) care
(B) carefully
(C) careful
(D) carefulness
Show answer and explanation for question 1
Answer: (B) carefully
Completed sentence: The warehouse assistant checked each parcel carefully before signing the collection sheet.
Pattern clue: The gap describes how the assistant checked the parcels. Review this rule.
(A) care: Care is a noun or base verb. Neither use describes the manner of checked in this position; a noun phrase such as with care would need additional words.
(B) carefully: Correct. Carefully is the adverb describing how the assistant checked each parcel. The object each parcel is already complete.
(C) careful: Careful is an adjective. The sentence describes the checking action rather than assigning an adjective to the assistant or a parcel.
(D) carefulness: Carefulness names a quality. It cannot be inserted directly here to modify checked; the sentence would need a different phrase or construction.
Question 2
The help desk will respond ___ to requests marked as urgent.
(A) promptness
(B) prompting
(C) prompts
(D) promptly
Show answer and explanation for question 2
Answer: (D) promptly
Completed sentence: The help desk will respond promptly to requests marked as urgent.
Pattern clue: Will respond is complete; the gap describes the response. Review this rule.
(A) promptness: Promptness is a noun naming the quality of responding without delay. It does not directly modify respond in this sentence.
(B) prompting: Prompting is an -ing form. There is no auxiliary or connected clause that would let it replace the manner adverb required here.
(C) prompts: Prompts can be a plural noun or a present-tense verb. Neither fits between will respond and the phrase to requests.
(D) promptly: Correct. Promptly modifies respond and tells the reader that the help desk will reply without delay.
Question 3
The figures must remain ___ after the currency conversion.
(A) accurate
(B) accurately
(C) accuracy
(D) inaccurately
Show answer and explanation for question 3
Answer: (A) accurate
Completed sentence: The figures must remain accurate after the currency conversion.
Pattern clue: Remain links the figures to a description of their condition. Review this rule.
(A) accurate: Correct. Accurate is an adjective describing the figures after the linking verb remain. It does not describe the manner of remaining.
(B) accurately: Accurately describes how an action is carried out. Here the sentence needs a description of the figures themselves after remain.
(C) accuracy: Accuracy is a noun naming a quality. The figures cannot remain accuracy; the noun does not supply the required description.
(D) inaccurately: Inaccurately is an adverb with a negative meaning. Changing the meaning does not solve the structural problem: remain needs an adjective describing the figures here.
Question 4
The legal assistant explained ___ how the revised clause would affect the supplier.
(A) precision
(B) precise
(C) precisely
(D) imprecision
Show answer and explanation for question 4
Answer: (C) precisely
Completed sentence: The legal assistant explained precisely how the revised clause would affect the supplier.
Pattern clue: The gap describes explained; the following how-clause supplies what was explained. Review this rule.
(A) precision: Precision names a quality. A phrase such as with precision could describe the explanation, but the printed sentence has no with.
(B) precise: Precise is an adjective. It cannot directly describe how explained was carried out in the printed sentence.
(C) precisely: Correct. Precisely modifies explained, indicating that the assistant described the clause in an exact and careful way.
(D) imprecision: Imprecision is a noun naming a lack of exactness. It cannot directly describe the manner of the explanation in this position.
Question 5
The annotated floor plan is ___ useful for visitors arriving after reception has closed.
(A) particular
(B) particulars
(C) particularity
(D) particularly
Show answer and explanation for question 5
Answer: (D) particularly
Completed sentence: The annotated floor plan is particularly useful for visitors arriving after reception has closed.
Pattern clue: Useful is already an adjective; the gap modifies that description. Review this rule.
(A) particular: Particular is an adjective. The gap does not describe a following noun directly; it modifies the adjective useful.
(B) particulars: Particulars is a plural noun meaning details. It cannot modify useful in this adjective phrase.
(C) particularity: Particularity is a noun naming a quality or characteristic. It cannot express the degree of usefulness in this position.
(D) particularly: Correct. Particularly modifies useful and emphasises the value of the floor plan in the stated situation.
Question 6
The replacement cable must be ___ with both versions of the scanner.
(A) compatible
(B) compatibly
(C) compatibility
(D) incompatibility
Show answer and explanation for question 6
Answer: (A) compatible
Completed sentence: The replacement cable must be compatible with both versions of the scanner.
Pattern clue: The gap describes the cable, followed by the complement with both versions. Review this rule.
(A) compatible: Correct. Compatible is an adjective describing the cable. Compatible with names the relationship it must have with both scanners.
(B) compatibly: Compatibly is an adverb. Be compatibly with does not supply the adjective needed to describe the cable in this sentence.
(C) compatibility: Compatibility is a noun naming a relationship. The cable must be compatibility with is not a valid description of the cable.
(D) incompatibility: Incompatibility is a noun naming a lack of compatibility. It cannot replace the adjective required to describe the cable before with.
Question 7
Mina ___ presented the revised budget, even when the committee asked unexpected questions.
(A) confidence
(B) confident
(C) confidently
(D) confidences
Show answer and explanation for question 7
Answer: (C) confidently
Completed sentence: Mina confidently presented the revised budget, even when the committee asked unexpected questions.
Pattern clue: The gap before presented describes Mina’s manner of presenting the budget. Review this rule.
(A) confidence: Confidence is a noun. The sentence would need a phrase such as with confidence to use it as a description of the manner of presenting.
(B) confident: Confident is an adjective. There is no linking verb or separate adjective construction here; the gap modifies presented.
(C) confidently: Correct. Confidently describes how Mina presented the budget, including when she was asked unexpected questions.
(D) confidences: Confidences is a plural noun, often referring to private disclosures. It does not describe how Mina presented the budget.
Question 8
The laboratory repeated the measurement to check its ___.
(A) accurate
(B) accuracy
(C) accurately
(D) inaccurate
Show answer and explanation for question 8
Answer: (B) accuracy
Completed sentence: The laboratory repeated the measurement to check its accuracy.
Pattern clue: Its introduces what is being checked, and no noun follows the gap. Review this rule.
(A) accurate: Accurate is an adjective and cannot finish its accurate by itself here. A noun such as reading would be needed after it.
(B) accuracy: Correct. Accuracy is the noun naming the quality of the measurement that the laboratory wanted to check.
(C) accurately: Accurately is an adverb. It cannot serve as the thing possessed after its at the end of this noun phrase.
(D) inaccurate: Inaccurate is also an adjective. Regardless of its negative meaning, it cannot complete the noun phrase its ___ on its own here.
Stage 2: Read the surrounding phrase
Questions 9–15 add passive forms, degree and certainty. Identify the word or claim that the answer modifies.
Question 9
Please ensure that the cabinet door is ___ closed before you lock it.
(A) completely
(B) completion
(C) complete
(D) completes
Show answer and explanation for question 9
Answer: (A) completely
Completed sentence: Please ensure that the cabinet door is completely closed before you lock it.
Pattern clue: The gap specifies the extent to which the door is closed. Review this rule.
(A) completely: Correct. Completely modifies closed and means that the door must be shut fully before it is locked.
(B) completion: Completion is a noun naming the act or state of finishing. It cannot modify closed in the printed phrase is ___ closed.
(C) complete: Complete is an adjective or base verb. Neither use can modify closed in this construction without changing the printed wording.
(D) completes: Completes is a present-tense verb. Inserting it after is would create an invalid verb sequence before closed.
Question 10
The revised booking process is ___ simpler than the previous one.
(A) significance
(B) significant
(C) signify
(D) significantly
Show answer and explanation for question 10
Answer: (D) significantly
Completed sentence: The revised booking process is significantly simpler than the previous one.
Pattern clue: Simpler is a comparative adjective; the gap adds information about the difference. Review this rule.
(A) significance: Significance is a noun. It cannot modify the comparative adjective simpler in this sentence.
(B) significant: Significant is an adjective. The comparison needs an adverb before simpler, not a second adjective in this slot.
(C) signify: Signify is a base verb. The printed structure is ___ simpler does not allow another active verb here.
(D) significantly: Correct. Significantly modifies simpler, describing a meaningful degree of difference between the two processes.
Question 11
The trainee ___ answered the caller’s questions and offered to email a summary.
(A) polite
(B) politely
(C) politeness
(D) politer
Show answer and explanation for question 11
Answer: (B) politely
Completed sentence: The trainee politely answered the caller’s questions and offered to email a summary.
Pattern clue: The gap before answered describes how the trainee carried out that action. Review this rule.
(A) polite: Polite is an adjective. The sentence describes how the questions were answered rather than linking the trainee to an adjective.
(B) politely: Correct. Politely is the adverb describing the trainee’s manner of answering the questions.
(C) politeness: Politeness names a quality. Without a preposition or a different construction, it cannot modify answered here.
(D) politer: Politer is a comparative adjective. A comparison of people’s politeness would need a different structure; this gap describes an action.
Question 12
The technician made a ___ adjustment to the focus before taking another photograph.
(A) finally
(B) finalize
(C) final
(D) finality
Show answer and explanation for question 12
Answer: (C) final
Completed sentence: The technician made a final adjustment to the focus before taking another photograph.
Pattern clue: The noun adjustment is already printed after the gap. Review this rule.
(A) finally: Finally is an adverb. In this position it cannot directly describe the noun adjustment after a.
(B) finalize: Finalize is a verb. It cannot fit between the determiner a and the noun adjustment as a modifier.
(C) final: Correct. Final is the adjective describing adjustment, forming the noun phrase a final adjustment.
(D) finality: Finality is a noun naming the state of being final. It does not provide the ordinary adjective needed to describe this adjustment.
Question 13
The branch manager will ___ attend the briefing; she has already confirmed her place.
(A) definitely
(B) definite
(C) definition
(D) define
Show answer and explanation for question 13
Answer: (A) definitely
Completed sentence: The branch manager will definitely attend the briefing; she has already confirmed her place.
Pattern clue: The gap expresses certainty about attending between the modal will and the verb attend. Review this rule.
(A) definitely: Correct. Definitely is an adverb expressing certainty about the manager’s attendance, consistent with her confirmation.
(B) definite: Definite is an adjective. It cannot modify the attendance prediction between will and attend in this construction.
(C) definition: Definition is a noun. It does not express certainty or fit the verb phrase will ___ attend.
(D) define: Define is another base verb. It would require its own complement and cannot directly precede attend in the printed verb phrase.
Question 14
The cooling fan operated ___ throughout the overnight inspection.
(A) reliability
(B) reliable
(C) reliably
(D) rely
Show answer and explanation for question 14
Answer: (C) reliably
Completed sentence: The cooling fan operated reliably throughout the overnight inspection.
Pattern clue: The gap describes the way the fan operated during the inspection. Review this rule.
(A) reliability: Reliability names a quality. It cannot directly modify operated; a phrase such as with reliability would require additional wording.
(B) reliable: Reliable is an adjective. Operated describes the fan’s action here and is not a linking verb introducing a description of its identity.
(C) reliably: Correct. Reliably modifies operated and describes consistent, dependable operation during the inspection.
(D) rely: Rely is a base verb. It cannot be attached directly after operated to form the required description.
Question 15
All contact information must remain ___ during the recruitment process.
(A) confidentially
(B) confidentiality
(C) confide
(D) confidential
Show answer and explanation for question 15
Answer: (D) confidential
Completed sentence: All contact information must remain confidential during the recruitment process.
Pattern clue: Remain introduces the required condition of the information itself. Review this rule.
(A) confidentially: Confidentially could describe how someone handles information. Here remain requires a description of the information itself.
(B) confidentiality: Confidentiality is a noun naming a condition. The information cannot remain confidentiality; an adjective is needed here.
(C) confide: Confide is a verb. It cannot serve as the descriptive complement after must remain in this sentence.
(D) confidential: Correct. Confidential is the adjective describing the condition that the contact information must retain.
Stage 3: Mix the patterns
Questions 16–20 include a second adverb and an adjective ending in -ly. Keep the whole printed sentence unchanged.
Question 16
The receptionist checked that each visitor’s name was spelled ___.
(A) correction
(B) correctly
(C) corrected
(D) correctness
Show answer and explanation for question 16
Answer: (B) correctly
Completed sentence: The receptionist checked that each visitor’s name was spelled correctly.
Pattern clue: Was spelled is passive; the gap describes the manner or correctness of the spelling. Review this rule.
(A) correction: Correction is a noun naming a change or remedy. It cannot describe how the name was spelled in this position.
(B) correctly: Correct. Correctly modifies was spelled. A passive verb can still be described by an adverb.
(C) corrected: Corrected is a verb or participle form. Was spelled corrected does not create a valid passive construction or a description of the spelling.
(D) correctness: Correctness is a noun naming a quality. The gap does not introduce a noun phrase; it describes the spelling action.
Question 17
The new software processed the files ___ quickly during the trial.
(A) remarkable
(B) remark
(C) remarkably
(D) remarks
Show answer and explanation for question 17
Answer: (C) remarkably
Completed sentence: The new software processed the files remarkably quickly during the trial.
Pattern clue: Quickly already describes processing; the gap modifies that adverb. Review this rule.
(A) remarkable: Remarkable is an adjective. It cannot modify the adverb quickly in the printed phrase.
(B) remark: Remark is a noun or base verb. Neither use can add the intended degree or evaluation before quickly here.
(C) remarkably: Correct. Remarkably modifies quickly, indicating that the processing speed was noticeable or impressive.
(D) remarks: Remarks is a plural noun or a present-tense verb. Neither fits between the object the files and the adverb quickly.
Question 18
The reception team was consistently ___ to every visitor.
(A) friendly
(B) friendship
(C) friendliness
(D) befriend
Show answer and explanation for question 18
Answer: (A) friendly
Completed sentence: The reception team was consistently friendly to every visitor.
Pattern clue: The gap describes the team after was; consistently modifies that description. Review this rule.
(A) friendly: Correct. Friendly is an adjective even though it ends in -ly. It describes the reception team, and consistently modifies it.
(B) friendship: Friendship is a noun naming a relationship. Was consistently friendship to every visitor does not describe the team correctly.
(C) friendliness: Friendliness is a noun naming a quality. The team can show friendliness, but was friendliness does not fit this sentence.
(D) befriend: Befriend is a base verb. Was consistently befriend cannot form a valid tense or descriptive complement.
Question 19
The safety briefing began with a ___ of the evacuation procedure.
(A) demonstrably
(B) demonstration
(C) demonstrate
(D) demonstrated
Show answer and explanation for question 19
Answer: (B) demonstration
Completed sentence: The safety briefing began with a demonstration of the evacuation procedure.
Pattern clue: A introduces a noun followed by the phrase of the evacuation procedure. Review this rule.
(A) demonstrably: Demonstrably is an adverb meaning in a way that can be shown. It cannot be the noun after a in this phrase.
(B) demonstration: Correct. Demonstration is the noun naming what the briefing began with; of the evacuation procedure identifies its subject.
(C) demonstrate: Demonstrate is a base verb. The determiner a requires a noun phrase here, not an uninflected verb.
(D) demonstrated: Demonstrated is a verb or participle form. No noun follows it before of, so it cannot complete the printed noun phrase a ___ of.
Question 20
The service team had ___ handled the last-minute schedule change before the customer arrived.
(A) profession
(B) professional
(C) professionals
(D) professionally
Show answer and explanation for question 20
Answer: (D) professionally
Completed sentence: The service team had professionally handled the last-minute schedule change before the customer arrived.
Pattern clue: The gap between had and handled describes how the team handled the change. Review this rule.
(A) profession: Profession is a noun naming an occupation. It cannot directly modify handled in this position.
(B) professional: Professional is an adjective or a noun for a person. Neither use describes the manner of handled in this printed sentence.
(C) professionals: Professionals is a plural noun referring to people. It is not an adverb and cannot describe how the team handled the change.
(D) professionally: Correct. Professionally modifies handled, describing an appropriate and competent response to the change.
Use the distinction in a new sentence
For each error, record the expression around the gap, the form you chose, and why it does not fit. Close the answer and retry the full sentence. Then change the situation and use the same pattern in your own message.
Transfer 1
Rewrite this message using explained and carefully: The trainer gave a careful explanation of the booking policy.
Check transfer 1
The trainer explained the booking policy carefully.
Careful describes the noun explanation in the first sentence. Carefully describes the action explained in the rewrite. Other natural placements of carefully are possible.
Transfer 2
Explain the difference: The visitor looked anxious. The visitor looked anxiously at the clock.
Check transfer 2
The first sentence describes the visitor’s appearance. The second describes the manner of looking at the clock.
Both sentences are grammatical. Looked acts as a linking verb in the first and describes an action in the second; the answer depends on the complete construction.
Transfer 3
Repair one word, keeping extremely: The inspector completed an extremely carefully inspection of the lifting equipment.
Check transfer 3
The inspector completed an extremely careful inspection of the lifting equipment.
Careful describes the noun inspection. Extremely is an adverb modifying careful; replacing both words with adverbs would not produce the needed noun phrase.
Transfer 4
Rewrite with greeted and in a ... way: Our driver gave the guests a friendly greeting.
Check transfer 4
Our driver greeted the guests in a friendly way.
Friendly remains an adjective describing way. The whole phrase in a friendly way describes how the driver greeted the guests.
Transfer 5
Explain why these reports are not equivalent: The sales staff worked hard yesterday. The sales staff hardly worked yesterday.
Check transfer 5
Worked hard reports substantial effort. Hardly worked reports almost no work.
Hard can be an adverb without -ly. Hardly is a different adverb with a different meaning. Both sentences are possible, so the choice requires the writer’s intended claim.
Transfer 6
Write a two-sentence update using accuracy as a noun and accurately as an adverb. Change the workplace details from question 8.
Check transfer 6
We checked the accuracy of the stock list. The new assistant recorded each delivery accurately.
This is one possible response. In the first sentence, accuracy names the quality being checked. In the second, accurately describes recorded. Keep the distinction when you write your own version.
Source information checked on . ETS supports the test-format and scoring facts. British Council and Cambridge references support the grammar principles; those organisations did not write or endorse these exercises.
The examples, questions, choices, explanations and transfer tasks are original English AIdol material prepared with AI assistance. An independent AI content review checked all 20 keys, 80 option explanations, potential alternative readings, rules, worked example, transfer tasks and FAQs. No human expert or examiner review, ETS endorsement, or psychometric validation is claimed. English AIdol is an independent preparation service, not an ETS affiliate. Report an error through our editorial and corrections policy.
Should I choose the word ending in -ly every time?
No. The sentence may need a noun or adjective. Friendly is an adjective, while some adverbs, such as fast, have no -ly ending. Identify the function before checking the ending.
Does every word after a verb need to be an adverb?
No. A linking verb can introduce an adjective describing the subject, as in The instructions seem practical. An action can take an adverb, as in The technician explained the instructions patiently. Read the construction.
Can two adverbs appear together?
Yes. In The software processed the files remarkably quickly, quickly describes the processing and remarkably modifies quickly. The two words have different jobs within one adverb phrase.
Are hard and hardly interchangeable?
No. Worked hard describes effort; hardly worked means almost no work. Both forms can be grammatical while expressing different claims.
Can my answer count predict a TOEIC Reading score?
No. These are 20 original, untimed teaching items on a narrow grammar topic. They have not been equated to an ETS form, so no conversion to an official Reading score is offered.
Who wrote and reviewed these exercises?
English AIdol prepared the questions and explanations with AI assistance. An independent AI content review checked the answer keys, option explanations and teaching material. It is not an official or recalled ETS set, and no human expert or examiner review is claimed.