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Question

Difficulty: EasyAdjectives, Adverbs, and Modifiers

Choose the option that best completes the sentence below.

Although the mechanic worked _______ on the damaged engine all afternoon, he could not get the car to start.

  1. hardAnswer
  2. B
    hardly
  3. C
    harderly
  4. D
    hardest

Answer

The correct option is 'hard' because it functions as an adverb meaning with great effort or intensity.
The word 'hard' functions as an adverb modifying the action verb 'worked', accurately indicating that significant effort was applied during the repair attempt.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence context to determine the required modifier meaning.
The sentence describes continuous effort exerted on repairing an engine throughout an afternoon.
Understanding context clarifies whether the modifier implies high effort ('hard') or near-zero effort ('hardly').
2
Evaluate the distinction between the adverbs 'hard' and 'hardly'.
'Hard' modifies the verb 'worked' to indicate diligence, whereas 'hardly' carries a restrictive negative meaning (scarcely).
Using 'hardly' would incorrectly imply that the mechanic did almost no work during the afternoon.

Key Concept

Adverbial Modifier Selection (Hard vs. Hardly)
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Topics

Adjectives, Adverbs, and Modifiers

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