Comment Adverbs

Expressing attitude: fortunately, obviously, surprisingly, honestly

intermediate

When to Use

•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

Affirmative (+)

Comment adverb + comma + sentence

Negative (-)

Same structure

Question (?)

Less common in questions

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

Examples

✓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

💡 Practice Tips

• 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.

adverbs-manner adverb-position comma-rules 📝 adverbs-intermediate 📝 comment-adverbs-quiz

Comment Adverbs

Expressing attitude: fortunately, obviously, surprisingly, honestly

intermediate

When to Use

•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

Affirmative (+)

Comment adverb + comma + sentence

Negative (-)

Same structure

Question (?)

Less common in questions

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

Examples

✓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

💡 Practice Tips

• 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.

adverbs-manner adverb-position comma-rules 📝 adverbs-intermediate 📝 comment-adverbs-quiz

Comment Adverbs

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

Comment Adverbs

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗Hopefully the weather will be nice.

✗I surprisingly passed the exam.

✗She is obvious tired.

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗Hopefully the weather will be nice.

✗I surprisingly passed the exam.

✗She is obvious tired.

💡 Practice Tips

Related