Question

Fill in the blank with the most suitable adverb:
We met after very long. We could ______ recognise each other.
a) hardly
b) hard
c) much
d) rather

Answer 1

Hint: With the simple addition of the appropriate suffix, the adjective ‘hard’ can be converted into an adverb. This means that the word needed is an adverb that can fulfill the meaning being conveyed.

Complete answer:
The most basic construction in English is ‘subject + verb + object’. However, it becomes more complicated when other parts of speech come into play. We can add describing words such as adjectives, adverbs, and prepositions. Adjectives are usually placed before a noun and adverbs are usually placed before an adjective or verb. The articles should be placed in appropriate places, as required.
We already know that we need an adverb for the given blank. Adverbs are words or phrases that modify or qualify an adjective, verb, or other adverb or a word group, expressing a relation of place, time, circumstance, manner, cause, degree, etc. They are of various kinds.
Now, we know what we are looking for. Let’s look at the given options:
a) hardly - The word ‘hardly’ refers to ‘scarcely (used to qualify a statement by saying that it is true to an insignificant degree)’. This fits into the meaning of the sentence, and it is an adverb. This is the required answer. So, this is the correct option.
b) hard - The word ‘hard’ refers to ‘solid, firm, and rigid; not easily broken, bent, or pierced'. This does not fit into the meaning of the sentence, and it is not an adverb, it is an adjective. This is not the required answer. So, this is an incorrect option.
c) much - The word ‘much’ refers to ‘a great amount or quantity of'. This does not fit into the meaning of the sentence at all. It is a determiner. This is not the required answer. So, this is an incorrect option.
d) rather - The word ‘rather’ refers to ‘used to indicate one's preference in a particular matter’. This does not fit into the meaning of the sentence. This is not the required answer. So, this is an incorrect option.

Note:
Make sure to identify all the parts of speech in the given sentence, and place the adverb before the appropriate word. Go through all the options and pick the option that is grammatically correct.