11+ Adverb of Negation Examples in English Grammar [With Exercises]

Adverbs of negation are effective linguistic tools. They add precision, clarity, and balance to communication. Speakers and writers describe the denial or disagreement of actions or qualities through these words. They also maintain balance in both affirmative and negative aspects. So, it is necessary to use them precisely for constructing grammatically correct and meaningful sentences. Thus, enhancing the communication skills. In this blog post, we will explore the adverb of negation examples corresponding to the adverb of affirmation and will try to solve the practice exercises based on adverbs of negation.

What is the Adverb of Negation?

As the name suggests, the adverb of negation is a word that describes the absence, contradiction, or denial of the action or the quality within a sentence. They are also defined as negative adverbs as they are used to negate or deny any situation. Some of the common examples of the adverbs of negation are no, never, nowhere, nothing, hardly, scarcely, etc.

Its counterpart is the adverb of affirmation, a bearer of positivity, let’s take how it differs from the negative adverbs from the image below.

Also Read: Deciphering the Difference: Adjective vs. Adverb in English Grammar

15 Adverb of Negation Examples for Everyday Usage

Some common examples that deny or show disagreement or denial of actions or situations in a sentence are mentioned below. 

Let us read more such examples carefully for proper usage and understanding of the concept.

• Nor: She neither wanted tea nor coffee; she preferred water.
• Nowise: The solution to the problem is nowise apparent.
• Noway: There’s no way we can finish the project by tomorrow.
• Hardly: She could hardly contain her excitement when she heard the news.
• Barely: He barely managed to finish the race before collapsing from exhaustion.
• Scarcely: Scarcely had they begun their journey when it started to rain.
• Seldom: They seldom go out for dinner; they prefer cooking at home.
• Rarely: I rarely watch television because I find it uninteresting.
• Little: Little did she know that her life was about to change.
• Not: I’m not interested in participating in the event.
• No: There’s no chance of rain today; the sky is clear.
• Never: I never expected to see such a breathtaking sunset.
• Nowhere: I searched everywhere, but the missing keys were nowhere to be found.
• None: None of the students were able to answer the difficult question.
• Neither: Neither of the options seemed appealing, so I chose a third one.

Also Read: Conjunctive Adverbs Meaning, Examples & Exercises

Adverb of Negation Exercises for Practice

Exercise 1 – Fill in the Adverbs 

As you are well versed with the adverbs of negation let us solve the exercise based on the fill-in-the-blanks with the negative adverbs in the sentences.

1. She completed the task __________.
2. The cat jumped onto the table, but it didn’t land __________.
3. He spoke about the accident __________.
4. The weather turned colder, making the outdoor event __________ enjoyable.
5. They promised to arrive early but showed up __________.
6. The magician tried to make the rabbit disappear, but it didn’t vanish __________.
7. The movie was supposed to be a comedy, but it turned out __________ funny.
8. She played the piano __________, with little enthusiasm.
9. The chef prepared the dish __________, forgetting key ingredients.
10. The news about the project’s success spread __________.
11. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t solve the puzzle __________.
12. The team worked hard, but their performance was __________ impressive.
13. The singer performed the song __________, forgetting the lyrics.
14. They searched for the lost keys __________, but they were nowhere to be found.
15. The comedian’s jokes fell __________, and the audience remained silent.

Answers

1. She completed the task incompletely.
2. The cat jumped onto the table, but it didn’t land gracefully.
3. He spoke about the accident nonchalantly.
4. The weather turned colder, making the outdoor event less enjoyable.
5. They promised to arrive early but showed up late.
6. The magician tried to make the rabbit disappear, but it didn’t vanish completely.
7. The movie was supposed to be a comedy, but it turned out not funny.
8. She played the piano indifferently, with little enthusiasm.
9. The chef prepared the dish carelessly, forgetting key ingredients.
10. The news about the project’s success spread slowly.
11. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t solve the puzzle successfully.
12. The team worked hard, but their performance was not impressive.
13. The singer performed the song poorly, forgetting the lyrics.
14. They searched for the lost keys thoroughly, but they were nowhere to be found.
15. The comedian’s jokes fell flat, and the audience remained silent.

Also Read: Adverbs: Definition, Types, Use, Examples & Exercises

Exercise 2 – Identify the Adverbs

Identify the adverb of affirmation and negation in the following sentences.

1. He absolutely aced the exam with a perfect score.
2. Unfortunately, he did not pass the driving test.
3. The team worked diligently to meet the project deadline.
4. Surprisingly, the experiment did not yield the expected results.
5. He certainly deserves recognition for his outstanding achievements.
6. Regrettably, she is not available for the meeting tomorrow.
7. The weather is indeed beautiful for an outdoor picnic.
8. Sadly, the concert has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
9. The chef prepared the dish exceptionally well.
10. Unfortunately, the airline lost our luggage during the journey.
11. The teacher praised the students for their excellent performance.
12. Remarkably, she did not complain about the delay in delivery.
13. He certainly grasped the concept quickly during the class.
14. Regrettably, the product did not meet our expectations.
15. The party was truly enjoyable with lively music and good company.

 Answers

1. absolutely (adverb of affirmation)
2. unfortunately (adverb of negation)
3. diligently (adverb of affirmation)
4. surprisingly (adverb of negation)
5. certainly (adverb of affirmation)
6. regrettably (adverb of negation)
7. indeed (adverb of affirmation)
8. sadly (adverb of negation)
9. exceptionally (adverb of affirmation)
10. unfortunately (adverb of negation)
11. excellent (adverb of affirmation)
12. remarkably (adverb of affirmation)
13. certainly (adverb of affirmation)
14. regrettably (adverb of negation)
15.  truly (adverb of affirmation)

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