Viewpoint and commenting adverbs

There are some adverbs and adverbial expressions which tell us about the speaker's viewpoint or opinion about an action, or make some comment on the action. These adverbs are different from other adverbs because they do not tell us how an action occurred. Commenting and viewpoint adverbs modify entire clauses rather than single verbs, adverbs, or adjectives. There is no real distinction between commenting adverbs and viewpoint adverbs, except in their sentence placement. Many adverbs that can be used as viewpoint adverbs can also be used as commenting adverbs. However, in some cases, an adverb is far more common as one or the other.

Sentence placement

Viewpoint adverbs are placed at the beginning, or more rarely, at the end of the sentence. They are usually separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma. Commenting adverbs are placed before the main verb unless the verb "to be" is used, in which case placement can be either before or after the verb. In some cases, commenting adverbs placed before the main verb will also be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas, although in most cases they will not be. In the examples below, viewpoint and commenting adverbs are shown in the correct sentence placements. When a sentence placement is unusual, stilted, or too formal for spoken language, it is marked with an asterisk.

Viewpoint or commenting adverb	At the start of a sentence	Before the main verb	At the end of a sentence
clearly	Clearly, he doesn't know what he is doing.	He clearly doesn't know what he is doing.	He doesn't know what he is doing, clearly.
obviously	Obviously, you are acting silly.	You are obviously acting silly	You are acting silly, obviously.
personally	Personally, I'd rather go by train.	I'd personally rather go by train.	I'd rather go by train, personally.
presumably	Presumably, he didn't have time to go to the post office.	He presumably didn't have time to go to the post office.	He didn't have time to go to the post office, presumably.
seriously	Seriously, I can't give this speech.	I seriously can't give this speech.	I can't give this speech, seriously.
surely	Surely you tried to get here on time.	You surely tried to get here on time.	You tried to get here on time, surely.
technically	Technically, we cannot fly to Mars and back.	We technically cannot fly to Mars and back.	We cannot fly to Mars and back, technically.
undoubtedly	Undoubtedly, he has a good reason not to come.	He undoubtedly has a good reason not to come.	He has a good reason not to come, undoubtedly.
bravely	Bravely, I kept on walking.	I bravely kept on walking.	I kept on walking, bravely*.
carelessly	Carelessly, she threw her book into the pond.	She carelessly threw her book into the pond.	She threw her book into the pond, carelessly*.
certainly	Certainly you should be there.	You certainly should be there. / You should certainly be there.	You should be there, certainly.
cleverly	Cleverly, Sally hid the jellybeans.	Sally cleverly hid the jellybeans.	Sally hid the jellybeans, cleverly*.
definitely	*Definitely, you are smart.	You defintely are smart. / You are definitely smart.	You are smart, definitely*.
foolishly	Foolishly, they cried out.	They foolishly cried out.	They cried out, foolishly.
generously	Generously, he donated the money.	He generously donated the money.	He donated the money, generously*.
stupidly	Stupidly, they played in the street.	They stupidly played in the street.	They played in the street, stupidly*.
obviously	Obviously, we are lost.	We are obviously lost. / We obviously* are lost.	We are lost, obviously.
kindly	Kindly, she fed the cat first.	She kindly fed the cat first.	She fed the cat first, kindly.
luckily	Luckily, you got here on time.	You luckily got here on time.	You got here on time, luckily.
fortunately	Fortunately, we found the boat.	We fortunately found the boat.	We found the boat, fortunately.
naturally	Naturally, you cannot be in the circus now.	You naturally cannot be in the circus now.	You cannot be in the circus now, naturally.
wisely	Wisely, she stayed home to take a nap.	She wisely stayed home to take a nap.	She stayed home to take a nap, wisely.
confidentially	Confidentially, I never gave him the envelope.		I never gave him the envelope, confidentially.
theoretically	Theoretically, we could send astronauts to Mars.	We could theoretically send astronauts to Mars. / We theoretically could send astronauts to Mars.	We could send astronauts to Mars, theoretically.
truthfully	Truthfully, I don't like chocolate much.	I truthfully don't like chocolate much.	I don't like chocolate much, truthfully.
disappointingly	Disappointingly, she got fourth place.	She disappointingly got fourth place.	She got fourth place, disappointingly.
thoughtfully	Thoughtfully, I turned away.	I thoughtfully turned away.	I turned away, thoughtfully.
simply	*Simply, I don't want to come.	I simply don't want to come.
unbelievably	Unbelievably, she showed up late again.	She unbelievably showed up late again.	She showed up late again, unbelievably.
unfortunately	Unfortunately, there is no more room.	There is unfortunately no more room. / There unfortunately is no more room.	There is no more room, unfortunately.

Resources for learning English

Sentence placement

Learn English with EF

Learn English abroad

Learn English online

Learn English with our app