Question

Identify and replace the Adverb Phrase with an Adverb of the same meaning:
The victim was murdered in a brutal manner. [Intermediate]

• A. The victim was brutally murdered.
• B. The victim was violently murdered.
• C. They victim was quietly murdered.
• D. The victim was murdered cruelly.

Answer 1

The correct option is A The victim was brutally murdered.

An adverb phrase is a group of words that does the work of an adverb, that is, modify the verb. Thus, the adverb phrase can be rewritten with an adverb. Here the adverb phrase is "in a brutal manner".

Option A is correct. Not only is the adverb phrase replaced by the adverb "brutally", it also retains the meaning of the original sentence.

Option B, C and D are incorrect. While the adverb phrase has been replaced by adverbs, the meaning of the adverbs - "violently", "quietly", "cruelly" - are not the same as the original phrase "brutal manner".