Comment Adverbs (1)

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Comment adverbs express the speaker's feelings, judgement, or opinion about what they are saying. They help add emotion, emphasis, or evaluation to a statement.

Types of Comment Adverbs:

  1. Expressing certainty/uncertainty

    • Undoubtedly, she is the best candidate. (Strong certainty)
    • Presumably, he got lost on the way. (Likely but not confirmed)

  2. Expressing evaluation/judgement

    • Luckily, we found a taxi just in time. (A positive situation)
    • Regrettably, the event was cancelled. (A negative situation)

  3. Expressing personal opinion

    • Frankly, I don’t like your tone. (Blunt honesty)
    • To be honest, I expected better. (Personal disappointment)

  4. Expressing generalisation

    • Generally speaking, people prefer summer over winter. (A broad truth)
    • By and large, the project was successful. (Overall assessment)
They are often used at the beginning, but they can also appear in the middle or end of a sentence.

✅ At the beginning:

  • Honestly, I don’t understand his decision.
  • Financially speaking, this plan makes no sense.

✅ In the middle:

  • He was, strangely enough, very calm about the accident.
  • The team is, without a doubt, the best in the league.

✅ At the end (less common):

  • He finished the test on time, luckily.
  • She handled the situation well, to my surprise.

  1. Luckily, we arrived before the storm hit. - Used to express relief or fortune in a situation.
  2. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to meet up with her. - Introduces negative or unwanted news.
  3. Hopefully, the weather will improve. - Expresses optimism.
  4. Unsurprisingly, he failed the test after not studying. - Used when something happens exactly as expected.
  5. Clearly, he wasn’t paying attention. - Indicates certainty or strong evidence.
  6. Obviously, you shouldn’t touch a hot stove. - Emphasises that something is clear or self-evident.
  7. Naturally, she was nervous before her speech. - Suggests that something is logical or expected.
  8. In theory, / Theoretically, this plan should work. - Introduces an idea that works in principle but may not in reality.
  9. Sadly, the concert was canceled due to rain. -  Introduces unfortunate or disappointing information.
  10. Presumably, the procedure will be the same as the last time. - Suggests something is likely but not certain.
  11. Undoubtedly, she is the best candidate for the job. - Indicates strong confidence in a fact or opinion.
  12. Thank goodness we caught the last train! - Expresses relief about a positive outcome.
  13. It’s a good job we brought umbrellas! - Indicates that something happened just in time or was necessary.
  14. (It’s) just as well we left early—the traffic was terrible. - Indicates relief that something happened a certain way.
  15. Quite frankly, I don’t trust him. - Introduces a direct, possibly harsh opinion.
  16. To be perfectly honest, I found the movie boring. - Similar to "quite frankly," but softer.
  17. Funnily enough, I met her the day before.- Indicates mild surprise at an amusing coincidence.
  18. I’m glad to say that she recovered quickly. - Introduces positive news.
  19. To make matters worse, the car broke down. - Introduces information that worsens a bad situation.
  20. Much to my disappointment, the show was postponed. - Emphasises personal letdown.
  21. Much to my surprise, he agreed immediately. - Highlights unexpected events.
  22. To my utter astonishment, she won first place! - Stronger than “much to my surprise.”
  23. On the whole, the trip was enjoyable. - Gives a general assessment.
  24. Generally speaking, people enjoy holidays. - Introduces a broad or common truth.
  25. All being well, we should arrive by noon. - Expresses hope for a smooth outcome.


 


 



 


 


 


 

Comments

Sir Joseph said…
Hi Graham,

1.- Undoubtedly, everyone is organized itself. Wath is it mean? That all elements, systems and people regulate themselves.

2.- Scientifics talk about the force of gravity but, strangely enough, nobody has encountered the “graviton” which is the particle which can take the force of gravity if it would be.

3.- I have discovered that there wasn´t Big Bang, to my surprise.

4.- There wasn´t origin, neither finish will be. Totality –beginning and end- doesn´t principle neither finish, luckily.

5.- Obiously, if there isn´t principle neither finish, it´s because totality generates himself. It´s clearly.

6.- I´m glad to say you that everything is composed of existence and not existence, there isn´t another alternative.

7.- People saiy that it´s imposible that there was not existence because a thing what not exists, naturally, it not exists, but it isn´t true because one thing which exists is for the reason that there is anything what doensn´t exists. Otherwise, existence and not existence would be the same, without a doubt.

8.- People and things, generally speaking, go from existence to not existence. This doesn´t need evidence because everyone can see it.

9.- Much to my disappointment, people believe things without evidences and when I try to prove my theory, they answer me: “Sorry, I can´t believe it”.

10.- It´s a good job that people read a lot of books

See you.
Saturday, 10 May, 2025
Graham said…
Hello José,

I've had a quick look at your comment. Unfortunately, I don't have the energy to decipher it today. It's just as well that I can turn to Chat GPT to help me out.

1. Undoubtedly, everything is self-organising. What does this mean? That all elements, systems, and people regulate themselves.

📝 “Everyone is organised itself” is grammatically incorrect and logically confusing. “Everything is self-organising” captures the likely intended meaning.

2. Scientists talk about the force of gravity, but, strangely enough, nobody has ever detected the “graviton”—the particle that is believed to carry the gravitational force, if it exists.

📝 “Scientifics” should be “scientists.” The phrase “take the force of gravity if it would be” is unclear, but likely meant “if it exists” or “if it were real.”

3. To my surprise, I have come to believe that the Big Bang never happened.

📝 The student may mean they personally no longer believe in the Big Bang, not that they've "discovered" this in a scientific sense.

4. Possibly intended meaning (Option 1): There was no beginning, and there will be no end. Fortunately, totality has neither a starting point nor a final one.
Option 2 (if more abstract): There is neither origin nor end. The universe as a whole is beyond beginning and conclusion—luckily.

📝 “Doesn’t principle neither finish” is grammatically nonsensical. It might be a mistranslation or confusion with "doesn't have a beginning or an end."

5. Obviously, if there is neither beginning nor end, it’s because the universe generates itself. Clearly.

📝 “Principle” should likely be “beginning.” “Generates himself” should be “generates itself.” “It’s clearly” is ungrammatical; “clearly” as an adverb alone works.

6. I’m glad to tell you that everything is composed of existence and non-existence. There is no other alternative.

📝 “Say you” should be “tell you.” “Not existence” is better phrased as “non-existence.”

7. Possible corrected version (best guess):
People say it’s impossible for non-existence to be real because something that doesn’t exist, naturally, does not exist. But that’s not true—something exists because something else does not. Otherwise, existence and non-existence would be indistinguishable, without a doubt.

📝 This is philosophically abstract and quite unclear in parts. The student seems to be arguing that existence is defined by contrast with non-existence.

8. Generally speaking, people and things go from existence to non-existence. This doesn’t require evidence, as everyone can observe it.

📝 Just a matter of smoother, more natural phrasing.

9. Much to my disappointment, people believe things without evidence. And when I try to prove my theory, they respond: “Sorry, I can’t believe it.”

📝 “Evidence” is uncountable, so not “evidences.” Also smoothed for style.

10. It’s a good thing that people read a lot of books.

📝 “It’s a good job” is a British idiom meaning “fortunately,” but here it’s unclear if that’s the intended tone. “Good thing” is more universally understood.
Sunday, 11 May, 2025
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