GV

Comment Adverbs

Expressing attitude: fortunately, obviously, surprisingly, honestly

intermediate

When to Use Comment Adverbs

  • •Expressing luck: fortunately, unfortunately, luckily.
  • •Expressing certainty: obviously, clearly, evidently, apparently.
  • •Expressing surprise: surprisingly, amazingly, remarkably.
  • •Expressing honesty: honestly, frankly, truthfully.
  • •Usually at start of sentence, followed by comma.

How to Form Comment Adverbs

Affirmative (+)

Comment adverb + comma + sentence

Negative (-)

Same structure

Question (?)

Less common in questions

💡 These modify the whole sentence, not just the verb.

Examples of Comment Adverbs

✓Fortunately, no one was hurt.

✗Fortunately no one was hurt.

Comma after comment adverb at start.

✓Obviously, she didn't understand.

✗She obviously didn't understand.

Both positions work; start position emphasizes the comment.

✓Honestly, I don't know the answer.

✗I don't know the answer honestly.

At end, 'honestly' would modify 'know', not the whole sentence.

Common Mistakes with Comment Adverbs

💡 Practice Tips for Comment Adverbs

  • • Position: usually at start + comma, or mid-sentence.
  • • Luck: fortunately/unfortunately, luckily/unluckily.
  • • Certainty: obviously, clearly, apparently, evidently.
  • • These express YOUR view about the whole statement.
Quick Quiz
  1. 1. , no one was injured in the accident.
  2. 2.She is   very tired after the long flight.
  3. Question 3: blank , I think we should leave early. (insert comment adverb + comma)
    3. , I think we should leave early. (insert comment adverb + comma)
  4. Question 4: Hopefully blank the weather will improve tomorrow. (add the missing punctuation)
    4.Hopefully the weather will improve tomorrow. (add the missing punctuation)
  5. Question 5: blank (surprise), she finished the marathon despite her injury.
    5. (surprise), she finished the marathon despite her injury.
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