Adverb part-9 {Relative adverbs}
The relative adverbs where, when & why can be used to join sentences or clauses. They replace the more formal structure of preposition + which used to introduce a relative clause.
| Formal structure, preposition + which | More common stucture using a relative adverb |
|---|---|
| That's the restaurant in which we met for the first time. | That's the restaurant where we met for the first time. |
| That picture was taken in the park at which I used to play. | That picture was taken in the park where I used to play. |
| I remember the day on which we first met. | I remember the day when we first met. |
| There was a very hot summer the year in which he was born. | There was a very hot summer the year when he was born. |
| Tell me the reason for which you came home late. | Tell me (the reason) why you came home late. |
| Do you want to know the reason for which he is angry with Sally? | Do you want to know (the reason) why he is angry with Sally? |
on Friday, 24 June 2016
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Adverb Part-8 {Viewpoint and commenting adverbs}
Viewpoint and commenting adverbs
There are some adverbs and adverbial expressions which tell us about the speaker's viewpoint or opinion about an action, or make some comment on the action. These adverbs are different from other adverbs because they do not tell us how an action occurred. Commenting and viewpoint adverbs modify entire clauses rather than single verbs, adverbs, or adjectives. There is no real distinction between commenting adverbs and viewpoint adverbs, except in their sentence placement. Many adverbs that can be used as viewpoint adverbs can also be used as commenting adverbs. However, in some cases, an adverb is far more common as one or the other.
Sentence placement
Viewpoint adverbs are placed at the beginning, or more rarely, at the end of the sentence. They are usually separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma. Commenting adverbs are placed before the main verb unless the verb "to be" is used, in which case placement can be either before or after the verb. In some cases, commenting adverbs placed before the main verb will also be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas, although in most cases they will not be. In the examples below, viewpoint and commenting adverbs are shown in the correct sentence placements. When a sentence placement is unusual, stilted, or too formal for spoken language, it is marked with an asterisk.| Viewpoint or commenting adverb | At the start of a sentence | Before the main verb | At the end of a sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| clearly | Clearly, he doesn't know what he is doing. | He clearly doesn't know what he is doing. | He doesn't know what he is doing, clearly. |
| obviously | Obviously, you are acting silly. | You are obviously acting silly | You are acting silly, obviously. |
| personally | Personally, I'd rather go by train. | I'd personally rather go by train. | I'd rather go by train, personally. |
| presumably | Presumably, he didn't have time to go to the post office. | He presumably didn't have time to go to the post office. | He didn't have time to go to the post office, presumably. |
| seriously | Seriously, I can't give this speech. | I seriously can't give this speech. | I can't give this speech, seriously. |
| surely | Surely you tried to get here on time. | You surely tried to get here on time. | You tried to get here on time, surely. |
| technically | Technically, we cannot fly to Mars and back. | We technically cannot fly to Mars and back. | We cannot fly to Mars and back, technically. |
| undoubtedly | Undoubtedly, he has a good reason not to come. | He undoubtedly has a good reason not to come. | He has a good reason not to come, undoubtedly. |
| bravely | Bravely, I kept on walking. | I bravely kept on walking. | *I kept on walking, bravely. |
| carelessly | Carelessly, she threw her book into the pond. | She carelessly threw her book into the pond. | *She threw her book into the pond, carelessly. |
| certainly | Certainly you should be there. | You certainly should be there. / You should certainly be there. | You should be there, certainly. |
| cleverly | Cleverly, Sally hid the jellybeans. | Sally cleverly hid the jellybeans. | *Sally hid the jellybeans, cleverly. |
| definitely | *Definitely, you are smart. | You defintely are smart. / You are definitely smart. | *You are smart, definitely. |
| foolishly | Foolishly, they cried out. | They foolishly cried out. | They cried out, foolishly. |
| generously | Generously, he donated the money. | He generously donated the money. | *He donated the money, generously. |
| stupidly | Stupidly, they played in the street. | They stupidly played in the street. | *They played in the street, stupidly. |
| obviously | Obviously, we are lost. | We are obviously lost. / *We obviously are lost. | We are lost, obviously. |
| kindly | Kindly, she fed the cat first. | She kindly fed the cat first. | She fed the cat first, kindly. |
| luckily | Luckily, you got here on time. | You luckily got here on time. | You got here on time, luckily. |
| fortunately | Fortunately, we found the boat. | We fortunately found the boat. | We found the boat, fortunately. |
| naturally | Naturally, you cannot be in the circus now. | You naturally cannot be in the circus now. | You cannot be in the circus now, naturally. |
| wisely | Wisely, she stayed home to take a nap. | She wisely stayed home to take a nap. | She stayed home to take a nap, wisely. |
| confidentially | Confidentially, I never gave him the envelope. | I never gave him the envelope, confidentially. | |
| theoretically | Theoretically, we could send astronauts to Mars. | We could theoretically send astronauts to Mars. / We theoretically could send astronauts to Mars. | We could send astronauts to Mars, theoretically. |
| truthfully | Truthfully, I don't like chocolate much. | I truthfully don't like chocolate much. | I don't like chocolate much, truthfully. |
| disappointingly | Disappointingly, she got fourth place. | She disappointingly got fourth place. | She got fourth place, disappointingly. |
| thoughtfully | Thoughtfully, I turned away. | I thoughtfully turned away. | I turned away, thoughtfully. |
| simply | *Simply, I don't want to come. | I simply don't want to come. | |
| unbelievably | Unbelievably, she showed up late again. | She unbelievably showed up late again. | She showed up late again, unbelievably. |
| unfortunately | Unfortunately, there is no more room. | There is unfortunately no more room. / There unfortunately is no more room. | There is no more room, unfortunately. |
Adverb part-7 {Adverbs of certainty}
Adverbs of certainty express how certain we feel about an action or event. Adverbs of certainty go before the main verb unless the main verb is 'to be', in which case the adverb of certainty goes after. certainly, definitely, probably, undoubtedly, surely
If there is an auxiliary verb, the adverb of certainty goes between the auxiliary and the main verb.
Sometimes these adverbs of certainty can be placed at the beginning of the sentence.
When the adverb of certainty surely is placed at the beginning of the sentence, it means the speaker thinks something is true, but is looking for confirmation.
Examples
- He definitely left the house this morning.
- He surely won't forget.
- He is probably in the park.
- He is certainly a smart man.
Examples
- He has certainly forgotten the meeting.
- He will probably remember tomorrow.
- He is definitely running late.
Examples
- Undoubtedly, Winston Churchill was a great politician.
- Certainly, I will be there.
- Probably, he has forgotten the meeting.
Examples
- Surely you've got a bicycle.
- Surely you're not going to wear that to the party.
Adverb part-6 {Adverbs of manner}
Adverbs of manner tell us how something happens. They are usually placed either after the main verb or after the object.
An adverb of manner cannot be put between a verb and its direct object. The adverb must be placed either before the verb or at the end of the clause.
If there is a preposition before the verb's object, you can place the adverb of manner either before the preposition or after the object.
Adverbs of manner should always come immediately after verbs which have no object (intransitive verbs).
These common adverbs of manner are almost always placed directly after the verb: well, badly, hard, & fast
The position of the adverb is important when there is more than one verb in a sentence. If the adverb is placed before or after the main verb, it modifies only that verb. If the adverb is placed after a clause, then it modifies the whole action described by the clause. Notice the difference in meaning between the following sentences.
Some writers put an adverb of manner at the beginning of the sentence to catch our attention and make us curious.
Examples
- He swims well.
- He ran quickly.
- She spoke softly.
- James coughed loudly to attract her attention.
- He plays the flute beautifully. (after the direct object)
- He ate the chocolate cake greedily. (after the direct object)
Examples
- He ate greedily the chocolate cake. [incorrect]
- He ate the chocolate cake greedily. [correct]
- He greedily ate the chocolate cake. [correct]
- He gave us generously the money. [incorrect]
- He gave us the money generously. [correct]
- He generously gave us the money. [correct]
Examples
- The child ran happily towards his mother.
- The child ran towards his mother happily.
Examples
- The town grew quickly after 1997.
- He waited patiently for his mother to arrive.
Examples
- He swam well despite being tired.
- The rain fell hard during the storm.
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| She quickly agreed to re-type the letter. | the agreement is quick |
| She agreed quickly to re-type the letter. | the agreement is quick |
| She agreed to re-type the letter quickly. | the re-typing is quick |
| He quietly asked me to leave the house. | the request is quiet |
| He asked me quietly to leave the house. | the request is quiet |
| He asked me to leave the house quietly. | the leaving is quiet |
Literary usage
Sometimes an adverb of manner is placed before a verb + object to add emphasis.Examples
- He gently woke the sleeping woman.
- She angrily slammed the door.
Examples
- Slowly she picked up the knife.
- Roughly he grabbed her arm.
