Fill in the blank with the correct adverb from the options given:
Williams, who had to admit to driving without a licence, had ____ blacked out:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → apparently
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.
Complete sentence: Williams, who had to admit to driving without a licence, had apparently blacked out. The blank stands between had and blacked out, so it needs an adverb that describes the verb.
| Option | What it tells | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) appear | Appear is a verb (to seem or to come into view). "Had appear blacked out" is ungrammatical. | – |
| (2) true | True is an adjective. It cannot describe the verb "blacked out". | – |
| (3) apparently (answer) | Apparently means as far as one can tell, it seems. Williams's blackout is what people believe happened, not a proven fact. | The shop was closed. Apparently the owner had gone on holiday. |
| (4) apparent | Apparent (seeming, plain to see) is the adjective. The verb needs the adverb apparently. | For no apparent reason, the baby began to cry. |