Question

Replace the Adverb in italics with an Adverb Phrase of the same meaning:
He spoke politely. [Basic]

• A. He spoke in a polite manner.
• B. He spoke in a slow manner.
• C. He spoke to the polite old man.
• D. He spoke in a heavy American accent.

Answer 1

The correct option is A He spoke in a polite manner.

An adverb phrase is a group of words that does the work of an adverb, that is, modify the verb. Thus, it is easy to rewrite a phrase as an adverb and vice versa while still retaining the meaning of the sentence.

Option A is correct. While the adverb phrase "in a polite manner" modifies the verb "spoke", it also retains the meaning of the original sentence - that the subject spoke "politely".

Options B and D are incorrect. While they do contain adverb phrases. the meaning of the original sentence has been changed by adding new words. The phrase "in a slow manner" does not mean that he was polite, nor does speaking in a "heavy American accent".

Option C is incorrect as it does not contain an adverb phrase. The adverb "politely" has instead been replaced by a noun phrase that acts as the object of the sentence.