Practice
Attitude adverbs: meaning and examples
Fortunately, the train was delayed too. Here fortunately does not describe how the train was delayed. It tells us how the speaker feels about the delay because it prevented someone from missing the train.
Recognize attitude adverbs, choose one that matches a speaker's view of a whole statement, and place it naturally in a sentence.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
fortunately, sadly, surprisingly /ˈfɔrtʃənətli/, /ˈsædli/, /sərˈpraɪzɪŋli/
The short answer
Use an attitude adverb to comment on the whole statement, not on the way an action happens. Words such as fortunately, sadly, and surprisingly show the speaker's view of the situation.
Sadly, the museum closed before we arrived.
Why it works: Sadly comments on the entire fact that the museum closed early. It does not describe the way the museum closed.
5 more examples
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Fortunately, the technician found the missing file.
Fortunately shows that the speaker sees the result as good or relieving.
Not this:The technician
carefullysearched for the missing file. What changes: Carefully describes the technician's action, not the speaker's view of the result. -
Surprisingly, nobody objected to the new schedule.
Surprisingly tells us that the speaker did not expect this response.
Not this:Nobody spoke
loudlyduring the meeting. What changes: Loudly describes how people spoke during the meeting. -
Sadly, the building will remain closed this week.
Sadly presents the closing as an unwelcome fact from the speaker's point of view.
Not this:The guard closed the building
quietly. What changes: Quietly describes the manner of closing the building. -
Honestly, I did not notice the error until this morning.
Honestly signals that the speaker wants the statement to be understood as frank.
Not this:I answered the question
honestly. What changes: Here honestly describes the way the speaker answered one question. -
The proposal has, surprisingly, received support from every department.
The adverb is placed inside the sentence, but it still comments on the proposal receiving support.
Not this:Every department responded
quicklyto the proposal. What changes: Quickly tells us how the departments responded.
Read the full guide
First, ask whether the adverb describes an action or gives the speaker's reaction to the whole statement. If it gives a reaction, choose an attitude adverb. Then read the sentence aloud to check that its position makes the comment easy to connect with the right idea.
Comment on the whole statement
An attitude adverb gives the speaker's reaction to a complete idea. It may express relief, regret, surprise, or frankness. It does not usually answer the question how did the action happen?
Fortunately, the rain stopped before the event began.
Fortunately comments on the fact that the rain stopped. It does not say how the rain stopped.
Does fortunately describe the rain or the speaker's reaction to the situation?
It describes the speaker's reaction to the whole situation.
Separate attitude from manner
A manner adverb describes the action itself. Compare the two kinds of meaning before you choose a word. This check is useful when the same adverb can work in more than one way.
Honestly, I forgot to save the document.
Honestly comments on the speaker's statement. In I answered honestly, the adverb describes how the answer was given.
Which sentence uses honestly as a comment on the whole statement?
Honestly, I forgot to save the document uses it as a comment on the whole statement.
Use a clear position
At the beginning of a sentence, an attitude adverb makes its scope easy to see. A comma commonly follows it in edited prose. Some attitude adverbs can also appear in the middle of a sentence, especially after an auxiliary verb, when the sentence remains easy to read.
Surprisingly, the package arrived a day early.
The package has, surprisingly, arrived a day early.
Both sentences show surprise about the arrival. The first position is simpler and is often the better choice for a learner's own writing.
Where can you place surprisingly when it comments on the whole sentence?
Place it at the beginning for a clear comment, or use a natural middle position when the sentence stays easy to follow.
Match the speaker's view
Choose the adverb by the attitude you want to show. Fortunately suggests a good or relieving outcome. Sadly suggests regret. Surprisingly tells the reader that an outcome was unexpected.
Sadly, the last bus had already left.
The bus leaving is the fact. Sadly adds the speaker's regret about that fact.
Which attitude adverb fits an unexpected result: fortunately, sadly, or surprisingly?
Use surprisingly when the result is unexpected.
Keep your comment proportionate
An attitude adverb adds a personal angle. Leave it out when the fact should remain neutral, or when the reader may see the situation differently. In professional writing, a precise fact can sometimes do the job better than a comment about it.
The report was submitted on Tuesday.
This neutral sentence reports the timing. Fortunately, the report was submitted on Tuesday adds the speaker's positive reaction.
When should you omit an attitude adverb?
Omit it when you only need to state the fact or when a personal reaction would not help the reader.
Before you go
Remember this
Attitude adverbs comment on a whole statement. Fortunately can show relief, sadly can show regret, and surprisingly can show an unexpected result. Compare the adverb with the rest of the sentence to decide whether it describes an action or the speaker's view.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Attitude adverbs: meaning and examples"
What is an attitude adverb?
An attitude adverb comments on a whole statement and shows the speaker's view of it. Fortunately can show relief, sadly can show regret, and surprisingly can show that a result was not expected. It does not normally describe the way an action happened.
Fortunately, the technician found the missing file.
How is an attitude adverb different from a manner adverb?
A manner adverb describes how an action happens, as in The technician worked carefully. An attitude adverb comments on the whole situation, as in Fortunately, the technician found the file. Ask whether the word describes the action or the speaker's reaction to the result.
The technician carefully searched for the missing file.
Do attitude adverbs always come at the beginning?
No. A sentence-opening position is common because it makes the comment clear: Surprisingly, the plan worked. Some attitude adverbs can also appear in the middle of a sentence, especially after an auxiliary verb, as long as the reader can see what statement the adverb comments on.
Surprisingly, nobody objected to the new schedule.
Do I need a comma after an attitude adverb?
In edited prose, a comma commonly follows a short attitude adverb at the beginning of a sentence: Sadly, the building will remain closed. Punctuation can vary with sentence structure and house style, so use a form that makes the comment and the main statement easy to read.
Nobody spoke loudly during the meeting.
Can attitude adverbs sound too personal in formal writing?
They can. Fortunately and sadly make the writer's reaction visible, which may not fit a neutral report. Use an attitude adverb when the comment helps the reader understand the point. Otherwise, state the fact directly, such as The report was submitted on Tuesday.
Sadly, the building will remain closed this week.