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4th Grade Identifying Adverbs Worksheets

An adverb describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. By 4th grade, students find adverbs anywhere in a sentence, including openers like "Suddenly" or "Yesterday." They also learn that -ly endings can trick you: "lovely" is an adjective, while "fast" can be an adverb with no -ly at all.

Free printable PDF, aligned to Common Core L.3.1.a. 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 4th 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 technicians should calibrate the seismograph weekly.

    Answer: weekly

  2. A spotted lizard darted suddenly under my garden bench.
  3. The coach spoke firmly about good sportsmanship.

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

Fourth graders are ready for adverbs that open a sentence (Yesterday, we visited the museum) and adverbs of frequency (rarely, always). This is also the year to tackle the -ly trap head on: friendly, lonely, and lovely are adjectives, while fast, hard, and late work as adverbs without changing form. Ask students to prove each answer by naming the verb it describes. If they can't point to the action, it isn't an adverb.

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

Can an adverb start a sentence?
Yes, and 4th grade is when students should start noticing it. Openers like Yesterday, Suddenly, and Finally are all adverbs. They still describe the verb, just from the front of the sentence. Have students draw an arrow from the adverb back to the action it describes.
Is "friendly" an adverb?
No, and it's the most common trap at this level. Friendly describes a noun (a friendly wave), which makes it an adjective. The same goes for lonely, lovely, and silly. Meanwhile fast, hard, and late can be adverbs without any -ly at all.

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Aligned to Common Core L.3.1.a. Reviewed by the One More Sheet curriculum team. Content version 68, updated July 2026.