Adverbs - Comment, Viewpoint and Focus

📝 Understanding Adverbs: Comment, Viewpoint, and Focus

Adverbs are words or groups of words that modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. They provide additional information about how an action is performed or indicate the quality or degree of an action. Previously, we explored degree adverbs, which tell us “how much”. Now, let’s dive into other fascinating types: Comment, Viewpoint, and Focus adverbs, which add unique flavours and emphasis to our language.

1. Comment Adverbs 🤔💬

• What they are: Comment adverbs are used to express the speaker’s attitude, opinion, or judgment about an entire sentence or action. They often indicate the likelihood of something.
• How they work:
  • They typically end in ’-ly’.
  • They can appear anywhere in the sentence – at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end.
  • When placed at the beginning of a sentence, they are usually separated by a comma.
  • Impact: Using comment adverbs helps to enrich and add flavour to your language, making it more expressive and impressive.
• Common Examples:
  • Indicating likelihood: Apparently, certainly, clearly, definitely, obviously, presumably, undoubtedly.
    • Example: Presumably, he speaks Spanish. (Not sure, but this is the assumption).
  • Expressing attitude/opinion: Astonishingly, frankly, generally, honestly (or to be honest), interestingly, luckily, naturally, personally, sadly, seriously, surprisingly, unbelievably.
    • Example: Honestly speaking, I do not care what the world thinks.
  • Showing judgment of action: Bravely, carelessly, foolishly, generously, kindly, rightly, stupidly, wisely, wrongly.
    • Example: She stupidly left her keys inside.

2. Viewpoint Adverbs 🌍🔎

• What they are: Viewpoint adverbs are used to specify the perspective or point of view from which a statement is made. They are often used for clarity.
• How they work:
  • Many also end in ’-ly’.
  • They provide context about how something is being considered or presented.
  • Can also be expressed as phrases (e.g., morally speaking, in political terms, from a technical point of view, as far as environment is concerned).
• Common Examples:
  • Biologically, chemically, environmentally, financially, ideologically, logically, morally, outwardly, politically, technically, visually.
• Examples:
  • Financially, the hospitalization has been a disaster for my neighbours. (Explains how it was a disaster).
  • The sisters might be alike physically, but they have different personalities. (Specifies the aspect of likeness).
  • Technically, the two countries are still at war. (Explains the situation from a technical standpoint).

3. Focus Adverbs 🎯✨

• What they are: Focus adverbs draw attention to or emphasise a specific part of the sentence, often singling out an element. They can highlight the element that immediately follows them.
• How they work:
  • Key examples include even and only. The word alone can also be used to mean ‘only’ and typically comes after the noun it modifies.
  • There can be differences in their placement and function depending on the variety of English (e.g., Indian English vs. American/British English).
  • In Indian English, these words often appear in the middle of the sentence, and their impact is more local, affecting the element they immediately precede or follow. If they refer to the subject, they may come before it.
• Common Examples: Even, only, alone.
• Examples:
  • My brother has only brought some books. (Emphasis is on “some books,” implying he didn’t bring anything else).
  • Even Liya can speak English. (Emphasis on “Liya,” implying she might not be expected to speak English).
  • Liya can even speak German. (Emphasis on “German,” implying this is an additional surprising ability).
  • It is not possible to pass this exam with luck alone. (Emphasis on “luck,” meaning only with luck).

Why understanding these adverbs is important: These adverbs are crucial for building communicative confidence, helping you convey your messages with impact and clarity. By mastering their use, you can add nuance and sophistication to both your spoken and written English.

✍️ Practice Questions

1. Read the sentences below and identify the type of adverb (Comment, Viewpoint, or Focus). a) Clearly, he was hiding something. 🤔 b) Technically, a tomato is a fruit. 🌍 c) She only eats vegetables. 🎯 d) Luckily, we found our way home. 🤔 e) He can even play the violin. 🎯

2. Fill in the blank with the appropriate adverb from the options provided, considering the type of adverb implied. a) (Comment) _____, I did not enjoy the party. (Frankly / Physically) b) (Viewpoint) From an ____ perspective, the economy is improving. (obviously / economic) c) (Focus) She bought ____ a single ticket. (frankly / only)

3. Explain how the position of the focus adverb changes the meaning in the following sentences: a) Only he speaks English. b) He only speaks English. c) He speaks only English.

✅ Answers

1. Identifying Adverb Types: a) Clearly, he was hiding something. 🤔 - Comment Adverb (expresses speaker’s opinion/judgment). b) Technically, a tomato is a fruit. 🌍 - Viewpoint Adverb (specifies a technical perspective). c) She only eats vegetables. 🎯 - Focus Adverb (emphasises ‘vegetables’, implying nothing else). d) Luckily, we found our way home. 🤔 - Comment Adverb (expresses speaker’s attitude/luck). e) He can even play the violin. 🎯 - Focus Adverb (emphasises ‘play the violin’, implying it’s an additional skill).

2. Filling in the Blanks: a) Frankly, I did not enjoy the party. 🤔 (Comment Adverb expressing honest opinion). b) From an economic perspective, the economy is improving. 🌍 (Viewpoint Adverb specifying an economic angle). c) She bought only a single ticket. 🎯 (Focus Adverb emphasising ‘a single ticket’).

3. Explaining Position Change in Focus Adverbs (only): a) Only he speaks English. * Meaning: This placement suggests that no one else (except him) speaks English. The focus is on the subject ‘he’. b) He only speaks English. * Meaning: This implies that speaking English is the only action he performs related to language, possibly suggesting he doesn’t speak other languages or do other things. The focus is on the verb phrase ‘speaks English’. c) He speaks only English. * Meaning: This clarifies that the only language he speaks is English, and no other language. The focus is on the object ‘English’.