Identify the kind of adverb underlined in the following sentence:
By the time the guests reached the hall, the caterers had already cleared the tables.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Adverb of Time
An adverb is a word that tells how, when, where or how much something happens. It can also describe an adjective or another adverb, for example she sings sweetly, very hot.
“Already” means ‘before this time’: the tables were cleared before the guests reached the hall.
| Option | What it tells | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Adverb of Place | where something happens (here, outside, upstairs) | The children are playing outside. |
| (2) Adverb of Manner | how something is done (slowly, neatly) | The old man walked slowly to the gate. |
| (3) Adverb of Time (answer) | when something happens (now, soon, then) | We will leave for the airport soon. |
| (4) Adverb of Reason | why something happens (therefore, hence) | It rained all night; therefore the school stayed shut. |