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Negative Adverbials – Quiz 1
Negative Adverbials Quiz 1 (29 MCQs)
This multiple-choice question set evaluates the understanding of negative adverbials in English sentences, including their role in sentence structure and meaning. It covers concepts such as partial negation, temporal negation, and the use of adverbials like "barely" to convey emphasis on unusual situations.
Quiz Instructions
Select an option to see the correct answer instantly.
1.
Barely had I stepped outside .....
A) Then it began to rain.
B) When began to rain.
C) Than it began to rain.
D) When it began to rain.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
D) When it began to rain.
This option uses the negative adverbial "barely" correctly, indicating that the action of stepping outside almost happened before the rain started. The structure "had I + past participle ... when" is appropriate for this scenario.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect; "Then" does not fit well with "barely." It implies a sequence that doesn't match the intended meaning.
Option B:
Incorrect; "When" is used but the structure "had I + past participle ... when" is needed for proper grammar and meaning.
Option C:
Incorrect; "Than" is not appropriate here. It should be "when," indicating a simultaneous action.
Option D:
Correct; it properly uses the structure with "barely" to indicate that stepping outside almost happened before the rain began.
2.
We use negative adverbials to (a) .
A) Increase intelligence.
B) A. emphasize.
C) Show off.
D) Sound formal.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Negative adverbials are used to emphasize the negative aspect of a sentence, making the statement stronger and more forceful.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Increase intelligence. - Incorrect. Negative adverbials do not increase intelligence.
Option B:
A. emphasize. - Correct. Negative adverbials are used to emphasize the negative aspect of a sentence, making it more forceful and clear.
Option C:
Show off. - Incorrect. Negative adverbials do not serve to show off; they highlight negativity.
Option D:
Sound formal. - Incorrect. While some negative adverbials can be used in formal writing, their primary function is to emphasize the negative aspect of a sentence.
3.
Page 153 | Part 2 | Question 4
A) D.
B) B.
C) C.
D) A.
E) F.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is D because negative adverbials are used to express negation, often with words like "never," "hardly," "rarely," and "seldom." Option D correctly identifies a sentence that uses such a word to negate the action.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. Does not use a negative adverbial.
Option B:
Incorrect. Uses an affirmative rather than a negative construction.
Option C:
Incorrect. Lacks the necessary negation provided by a negative adverbial.
Option D:
Correct. Uses "never" to negate the action, which is characteristic of negative adverbials.
Option E:
Incorrect. Does not include a negative adverbial.
4.
..... does she know that we organized a surprise party for her.
A) Little.
B) Not only.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "..... does she know that we organized a surprise party for her." uses the negative adverbial "little" to indicate partial negation, meaning she knows about some aspects but not all of it. Therefore, Option A is correct.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Little indicates partial negation, suggesting she knows about parts but not all.
Option B:
Not only implies a complete affirmative statement, which does not fit the context of partial knowledge.
Option C:
All the above is incorrect because "little" alone fits the sentence structure and meaning.
Option D:
None of the above is also incorrect since Option A correctly identifies the usage of "little."
5.
..... have I been at such a great concert.
A) Never.
B) Not until.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "..... have I been at such a great concert." uses the negative adverbial "Not until" which is implied in option B, making it correct. Option A (Never) does not fit well because it would imply that the speaker has never attended any concert, which contradicts the context of the sentence suggesting they have indeed been to a great concert.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect as "never" implies no concerts at all, contradicting the statement about attending a great concert.
Option B:
Correct because it uses "Not until," which is implied in the sentence structure.
Option C:
Incorrect as it includes "Never," which contradicts the context of having attended a great concert.
Option D:
Incorrect as there is a correct option (B).
6.
..... do I know how to drive a car, but I can also drive a motorcycle.
A) Little.
B) Not only.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "..... do I know how to drive a car, but I can also drive a motorcycle." uses the negative adverbial "but" which connects two contrasting ideas: knowing how to drive a car and being able to drive a motorcycle. The phrase "Not only" would imply that both activities are done together or emphasize one over the other, which is not the case here. Therefore, Option A) Little is incorrect as it does not accurately describe the use of "but" in this context.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect because "but" connects two contrasting ideas without negation.
Option B:
Correct because "but" is used to contrast knowing how to drive a car with the additional ability to drive a motorcycle.
Option C:
Incorrect as it does not apply here; there's no indication of all abilities or knowledge.
Option D:
Incorrect since one option (B) is correct.
7.
..... , but she also plays the piano.
A) Not only speaks she five languages.
B) Not only she does speak five languages.
C) Not only does she speak five languages.
D) Not only she speaks five languages.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option C is correct because it properly uses the negative adverbial "not only" followed by an inverted verb structure, which is a grammatically correct way to use this construction in English. The subject "she" and the auxiliary verb "does" are correctly placed.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect due to improper inversion of the sentence.
Option B:
Incorrect because it omits the necessary auxiliary verb "does".
Option D:
Incorrect for the same reason as Option B, missing the auxiliary verb "does".
8.
Exercise 8 | Question 1
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
D) C.
This question pertains to negative adverbials, which are words that negate the meaning of a sentence or clause. In this context, option D (C) correctly identifies the negative adverbial in the given exercise.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect as it does not identify the negative adverbial.
Option B:
Incorrect as it does not identify the negative adverbial.
Option C:
Correct, identifying the negative adverbial in the sentence.
Option D:
This is a distractor option to test understanding of the correct answer (C).
9.
..... how much their lives would change that day.
A) Little they knew.
B) Little did they know.
C) Little did knew.
D) They knew little.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B) "Little did they know" is correct because it follows the structure of a negative adverbial phrase used to express surprise or an unexpected outcome. This construction is commonly used in English to indicate that something was not anticipated by the subjects.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect as it lacks the necessary inversion for a negative adverbial.
Option B:
Correct, follows proper structure of a negative adverbial phrase.
Option C:
Incorrect due to grammatical error; "knew" should be in plural form to match "they".
Option D:
Incorrect as it does not use the inversion required for this type of sentence structure.
10.
All the sentence below have an adverbial that emphasizes one event following another except .....
A) Barely had I sat down when there was a knock at the door.
B) Hardly had the baby fallen asleep when the loud music started.
C) No sooner had Max sat down than the door rang.
D) Not in a million years did I think I'd be in Buenos Aires!.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option A, B, and C all use negative adverbials that emphasize a sequence of events (one event following another). For example, "barely," "hardly," and "no sooner" are used to indicate that the second action happened immediately after the first. However, Option D does not describe a sequence of events but rather expresses an extremely unlikely thought or idea.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Emphasizes immediate succession with "barely had I sat down when there was a knock at the door."
Option B:
Emphasizes immediate succession with "hardly had the baby fallen asleep when the loud music started."
Option C:
Emphasizes immediate succession with "no sooner had Max sat down than the door rang."
Option D:
Expresses an extremely unlikely thought or idea with "Not in a million years did I think I'd be in Buenos Aires!"
11.
Use a negative adverbial to emphasize something surprising:(a) will I eat at that restaurant the food was horrible!
A) Rarely.
B) Barely.
C) Hardly.
D) A. Never again.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
D) A. Never again.
This option emphasizes the speaker's surprise and negative experience at the restaurant, indicating they will not return under any circumstances due to the horrible food. Using "never again" as a negative adverbial effectively conveys the intensity of their dissatisfaction.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Rarely - This implies an infrequent occurrence but does not emphasize the speaker's strong reaction or decision.
Option B:
Barely - This suggests a minimal amount, which is not relevant to expressing surprise or a negative experience in this context.
Option C:
Hardly - Similar to "barely," it does not convey the strong negative sentiment needed here.
Option D:
Never again - This option emphasizes the speaker's decision never to return, highlighting their surprise and dissatisfaction with the restaurant's food quality.
12.
Exercise 8 | Question 4
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is C because negative adverbials are used to express negation, often placed before the main verb in a sentence. In this exercise, option C correctly identifies a phrase that functions as a negative adverbial, indicating prohibition or negation.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect; does not identify a negative adverbial.
Option B:
Incorrect; does not express negation.
Option C:
Correct; identifies a phrase functioning as a negative adverbial.
Option D:
Incorrect; does not serve as a negative adverbial in the context provided.
13.
Page 153 | Part 2 | Question 2
A) E.
B) C.
C) A.
D) B.
E) D.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is C) A because the question pertains to negative adverbials, which are words that express negation and typically precede verbs in a sentence. Option A correctly identifies a word functioning as a negative adverbial, such as "never" or "hardly," which would be appropriate for this context.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Identifies a negative adverbial.
Option B:
Incorrect. Does not identify a negative adverbial.
Option C:
Incorrect. Not relevant to the question asked.
Option D:
Incorrect. Does not address the concept of negative adverbials.
Option E:
Incorrect. Misidentifies or does not relate to a negative adverbial.
14.
No sooner had the concert started .....
A) That the power went out.
B) When the power went out.
C) Where the power went out.
D) Than the power went out.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
D) Than the power went out.
This usage of "no sooner ... than" indicates that the power going out happened immediately after the concert started, without any delay. The structure "No sooner had X happened than Y happened" is a common negative adverbial phrase used to emphasize the immediacy or close timing between two events.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect; "That the power went out" does not fit the grammatical structure needed for this sentence.
Option B:
Incorrect; "When the power went out" suggests a more general timing rather than immediate succession.
Option C:
Incorrect; "Where the power went out" is misplaced and does not fit the context of the sentence.
Option D:
Correct; it properly uses "than" to indicate immediacy, fitting the structure needed for this sentence.
15.
..... he came to visit did I know how much I had missed him.
A) Not until.
B) Little.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
"Negative Adverbials" are used to express the absence of an action or state, often indicating that something did not happen when expected. In this sentence, "Not until" is a negative adverbial that emphasizes the timing of the visit, indicating that the speaker was unaware of the visitor's arrival until it occurred.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. "Not until" highlights the delayed realization of missing someone.
Option B:
Incorrect. "Little" is not a negative adverbial in this context; it would be used to indicate a small amount or degree, e.g., "I knew little about his visit."
Option C:
Incorrect. This option suggests all options are correct, which they are not.
Option D:
Incorrect. There is a correct answer among the choices provided.
16.
Scarcely had they finished their meal .....
A) When arrived the guests.
B) Then the guests arrived.
C) That the guests arrived.
D) When the guests arrived.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The negative adverbial "scarcely" is used to indicate that something happened immediately after a stated action, which is expressed using the structure "had + past participle". In this case, "scarcely had they finished their meal" suggests that the guests arrived right after they completed their meal. Option D correctly uses this structure: "When the guests arrived," indicating that the arrival of the guests happened immediately after they finished eating.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect; it implies a delay in the guests' arrival, which contradicts the meaning of "scarcely had they finished their meal."
Option B:
Incorrect; it suggests that the guests arrived after some time passed, not immediately.
Option C:
Incorrect; it implies a direct connection without the necessary immediacy suggested by "scarcely."
Option D:
Correct; it accurately conveys the immediate arrival of the guests following their meal.
17.
Page 153 | Part 2 | Question 1
A) D.
B) A.
C) C.
D) B.
E) E.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is C) C because the question involves identifying a negative adverbial in a sentence, and option C correctly identifies it. Negative adverbials modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to express negation or limitation. In this context, "never" functions as a negative adverbial.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect; does not identify the negative adverbial.
Option B:
Incorrect; does not identify the negative adverbial.
Option C:
Correct; identifies "never" as the negative adverbial.
Option D:
Incorrect; does not identify the negative adverbial.
Option E:
Incorrect; does not identify the negative adverbial.
18.
Exercise 8 | Question 3
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is C) A because the question pertains to negative adverbials, which are words that modify verbs and indicate a negative action or state. Option A likely presents an example of such a word correctly used in context.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correctly identifies a negative adverbial usage.
Option B:
Incorrect; does not involve a negative adverbial.
Option C:
Incorrect; involves the correct use of a negative adverbial.
Option D:
Incorrect; does not demonstrate a negative adverbial.
19.
What does an inversion look like?
A) I don't want to eat right now.
B) Are you coming to the movies?.
C) Maria said she hasn't seen it.
D) Tomas also wants to come with us.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B) "Are you coming to the movies?" is correct because it contains a negative adverbial in its inverted form. In this sentence, the inversion of "haven't" and "you" places emphasis on the negation, making it grammatically correct when used as a question.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
No inversion needed or present.
Option B:
Correct: Inversion of "haven't" and "you".
Option C:
Incorrect: Proper placement would be "Maria hasn't said she has seen it." for a negative adverbial in reported speech.
Option D:
No inversion needed or present.
20.
In no way ..... to blame.
A) Does he.
B) Were he.
C) Did he.
D) Was he.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
D) Was he.
This option correctly uses the negative adverbial "in no way" with the past tense auxiliary verb "was," which matches the subject-verb agreement and the context of a negative statement.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. "Does he" is in present tense, not matching the context.
Option B:
Incorrect. "Were he" is past subjunctive, not appropriate here.
Option C:
Incorrect. "Did he" is in simple past, which doesn't fit with "in no way."
Option D:
Correct. Uses proper past tense and subject-verb agreement.
21.
Page 153 | Part 2 | Question 5
A) D.
B) E.
C) B.
D) C.
E) A.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
C) B.
Negative adverbials are used to express negation, often with words like "never," "hardly," "seldom," and "rarely." In the context of this question, option B correctly identifies a negative adverbial that modifies the verb in the sentence.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Not relevant to negative adverbials.
Option B:
Correct. Identifies a negative adverbial modifying the verb.
Option C:
Not applicable here.
Option D:
Incorrect context for this question.
Option E:
Does not pertain to the given options.
22.
Page 153 | Part 2 | Question 3
A) A.
B) B.
C) F.
D) C.
E) D.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
C) F.
This option correctly identifies a negative adverbial in the context of the question, which typically involves words like "never," "rarely," "hardly ever," or similar expressions that negate or limit the action or state described.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. Does not identify a negative adverbial.
Option B:
Incorrect. Does not identify a negative adverbial.
Option C:
Correct. Identifies the negative adverbial in the sentence.
Option D:
Incorrect. Does not identify a negative adverbial.
Option E:
Incorrect. Does not identify a negative adverbial.
23.
..... such an opportunity to make a difference.
A) Seldom get we.
B) Seldom do we get.
C) Seldom do get we.
D) Seldom we get.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B) "Seldom do we get" is correct because it follows the structure required for negative adverbials in English, where a negative adverbial like "seldom" precedes the auxiliary verb (do/does/did), followed by the subject and main verb. This structure ensures proper inversion.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect as it lacks the required inversion.
Option B:
Correct for following the negative adverbial structure properly.
Option C:
Incorrect due to improper word order and lack of inversion.
Option D:
Incorrect because it omits the auxiliary verb "do" needed with "seldom".
24.
Use a negative adverbial to emphasize something unusual:(a) do you meet someone as polite as he is. He was charming.
A) Barely.
B) Hardly.
C) A. Rarely.
D) No sooner.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is C) A. Rarely. Using "rarely" in this sentence emphasizes the unusual nature of meeting someone as polite and charming as he is, making it stand out more than other negative adverbials provided.
Option A: Barely - implies something almost not happening, which doesn't fit well with describing a person's politeness.
Option B: Hardly - similar to "barely," it suggests negation rather than emphasizing the rarity of such politeness.
Option D: No sooner - is used in conditional sentences and does not fit this context.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
implies something almost not happening, which doesn't fit well with describing a person's politeness.
Option B:
similar to "barely," it suggests negation rather than emphasizing the rarity of such politeness.
Option C:
correctly emphasizes the unusual nature of meeting someone as polite and charming, fitting well with the context.
Option D:
is used in conditional sentences and does not fit this context.
25.
..... has she felt so sad in her life.
A) Not only.
B) Never.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "..... has she felt so sad in her life." is asking about a negative experience (feeling very sad) that the subject has experienced. The correct answer, "Never," indicates that the subject has never felt this level of sadness in their entire life. This aligns with the use of the negative adverbial "never" which negates the possibility of the event or state occurring.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Not relevant to the context of a negative experience.
Option B:
Correct. Indicates she has never felt so sad in her life.
Option C:
Incorrect as it suggests multiple times, contradicting "never."
Option D:
Not applicable since "Never" is the correct choice.
26.
..... when the phone started ringing.
A) Hardly he had entered the room.
B) Hardly had he entered the room.
C) Hardly entered the room.
D) Hardly he entered the room.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B is correct because it uses the negative adverbial "hardly" in its perfect aspect form, which is necessary to indicate that the action of entering the room was barely completed before the phone started ringing. The structure "had + past participle" (had entered) correctly forms the perfect aspect.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect due to missing auxiliary verb "had".
Option B:
Correct for proper use of negative adverbial and perfect aspect.
Option C:
Missing auxiliary verb, incorrect structure.
Option D:
Incorrect due to missing auxiliary verb "had".
27.
Not only did she win the competition, .....
A) She also set a new record.
B) That she also set a new record.
C) But she also set a new record.
D) And she also set a new record.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option C is correct because "But" introduces a contrast, which is not appropriate in this context since the sentence starts with a positive statement ("Not only did she win the competition"). The other options use coordinating conjunctions that fit well: "She also set a new record" smoothly follows "Not only did she win the competition."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correctly uses a coordinating conjunction to connect two positive statements.
Option B:
Uses "That," which is unnecessary and awkward in this context.
Option C:
Correct, but not the best fit due to the contrast introduced by "But."
Option D:
Correctly uses a coordinating conjunction to connect two positive statements.
28.
Exercise 8 | Question 2
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B is correct because it correctly identifies the use of a negative adverbial in the context provided. Negative adverbials are words like "never," "hardly," and "seldom" that modify verbs, indicating a lack or absence of an action.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect; does not relate to negative adverbials.
Option B:
Correct; identifies the use of a negative adverbial.
Option C:
Incorrect; does not pertain to the concept of negative adverbials.
Option D:
Incorrect; unrelated to the topic of negative adverbials.
29.
..... such a beautiful sunset in my life.
A) Never seen I.
B) Never I seen.
C) Never saw I.
D) Never have I seen.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
D) Never have I seen.
This sentence uses the negative adverbial "never" in its inverted form, which requires the use of "have" before the subject "I". The structure "Never have I + past participle" is a common way to express that something has never happened.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. It places "never" after the verb, which is not grammatically correct in this context.
Option B:
Incorrect. The word order is incorrect; it should be inverted with "have".
Option C:
Incorrect. This option uses past tense without inversion, which does not fit the sentence structure.
Option D:
Correct. It correctly uses the negative adverbial "never" in its inverted form with "have" before the subject "I".
Frequently Asked Questions
What are negative adverbials?
Negative adverbials in English sentences modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to express negation or a lack of something. They can include words like 'never', 'hardly', and 'rarely'.
How do negative adverbials differ from negative pronouns?
Negative adverbials modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to express negation, while negative pronouns replace nouns and are used in sentences like 'No one came'.
Can a sentence have more than one negative adverbial?
Yes, a sentence can contain multiple negative adverbials. For example, 'Hardly ever do I go there' uses two negative adverbials: 'hardly ever'.
Are all negative adverbial phrases the same in structure?
No, not all negative adverbial phrases have the same structure. They can be simple words like 'never' or longer phrases such as 'not at all'.
How do negative adverbials affect sentence meaning?
Negative adverbials can significantly alter the meaning of a sentence by expressing negation or limitation. For example, 'Almost never' implies something happens very infrequently.