TSA CBT Practice Test

What is the primary purpose of an adverb in a sentence?

1. To indicate possession

2. To modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb

3. To serve as a subject

4. To denote a question

The correct answer is: To modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb

The primary purpose of an adverb in a sentence is indeed to modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb. Adverbs provide additional information about how, when, where, or to what extent an action occurs. For example, in the sentence "She runs quickly," the adverb "quickly" modifies the verb "runs," indicating the manner of the action. Similarly, in "He is very tall," the adverb "very" modifies the adjective "tall," intensifying its meaning. This versatility allows adverbs to enhance sentences by adding detail and clarity to descriptions or actions. The other options touch on different parts of speech and their functions in a sentence but do not accurately describe the role of adverbs. Possession is typically indicated by other grammatical structures, such as possessive nouns or pronouns. A subject is a noun or pronoun that performs the action of the verb, and a question is commonly formed through interrogative pronouns or auxiliary verbs, rather than being defined by the function of adverbs.