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2nd Grade Identifying Adverbs Worksheets

An adverb is a word that tells how, when, or where something happens. In 2nd grade, students learn to spot the adverb that describes the action in a sentence, like "quickly" in "The rabbit hopped quickly." Many adverbs end in -ly, but plenty don't.

Free printable PDF, aligned to Common Core L.2.1.e. One skill per page, answer key on page two.

Every sheet is one of a kind and prints with a version code, so you can reprint the exact same one later. New version every click.

A sample 2nd grade sheet. Yours will have different sentences. Click it to print your own.

The kind of sentences you'll get

Underline the adverb in each sentence.

  1. The goats bleated, and the lambs napped nearby.

    Answer: nearby

  2. Grandpa is napping now on the porch.
  3. Dad flipped the pancakes perfectly.

Every print draws a fresh mix of sentences at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling gets a different sheet.

What's on each sheet

Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.

How to teach this

Start with -ly adverbs attached to actions the child can act out: hop slowly, clap loudly, wave wildly. Acting the sentence out makes the adverb's job obvious. Once that clicks, add when and where words like today, outside, and soon. Keep the routine the same every time: find the action first, then ask how, when, or where it happened.

Watch for: Not every word that ends in -ly is an adverb. In 'a friendly dog', friendly describes the dog, so it is an adjective. Adverbs do not always end in -ly. Words like soon, here, never, and fast can be adverbs too.

Common questions about identifying adverbs

What is an adverb for a 2nd grader?
It's a word that tells more about an action. If your child can find the action word in a sentence, the adverb answers how, when, or where it happened. In "The dog barked loudly," the action is barked, and loudly tells how.
Do all adverbs end in -ly?
No. Lots of common adverbs never take -ly: soon, now, outside, fast. The -ly ending is a helpful clue in 2nd grade, but the real test is whether the word tells how, when, or where something happens.

Related worksheets

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Aligned to Common Core L.2.1.e. Reviewed by the One More Sheet curriculum team. Content version 68, updated July 2026.