Grammar-Quizzes › Adverbials › Stance Adverbs
Stance Adverbs
Express opinion, attitude or circumstance for a situation
What is a stance adverb?
- A stance adverb expresses opinion (perhaps, apparently, maybe), evaluation (sadly, unforunately, happily), or the particular circumstances under which the clause is being spoken or written (frankly, briefly, confidentially). The stance adverb is a loosely-related, add-on comment about the content of the entire clause.
- A stance adverb often takes the -ly suffix and, because it is an additional comment about the content of the entire clause, the clause is set off by commas. Apparently, walking is good for you. Walking is good for you, apparently, Walking is, perhaps, the best exercise.
Stance Adverbs(Index below)
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Stance Adverbs
Summary of Practices
Adverbs for Opinion : express truth or belief about a situation
Intermediate–Advanced ESL, Native Speakers
Opinion Adverbs & Prep Phrases
Practice – edit sentences
Also known as epistemic stance adverbials, modal adjuncts, domain adjuncts, discourse markers
Possibly, he will reach the top. (uncertain)
He might reach the top of the ice wall. (uncertain)
He apparently has super-human strength. (inference)
He must have super-human strength. (inference)
He actually climbed it by himself. (factual, widely accepted)
In my view, he's pretty amazing.
He apparently climbed it in world-record time.
Adv for Evaluation: express an attitude about a situation
Intermediate–Advanced ESL, Native Speakers
Practice – edit sentence
Also known as dangling modifiers, sentence adverbs, evaluative adjuncts, attitude stance adverbials, comment adverbs
Hopefully, he will reach the top. (evaluation adv.)
He set out hopefully to reach to the top. (manner adv.)
Adverbs for Speech-acts: express the conditions under which something is being said
Intermediate–Advanced ESL, Native Speakers
Speech-act Related Adverb List
As it were / If you will (so to speak)
Practice– edit sentences
Also known as style stance adverbials, speech-act related adjuncts, discourse markers
Frankly, I don't think your plan will work. (speech-act related adverb)
He told me frankly about his problems. (adverb)
Confidentially, Ed is having some money problems.
He mentioned confidentially that he's having money problems.
Connective Adverbs: indicate a relationship between two situations
Intermediate–Advanced ESL, Native Speakers
Connective Adverbs vs. Prepositional Phrases
Practice – select connectors in paragraphs
Also known as connectors, connecting adverbs, connective adjuncts
Buying organic fruit and vegetables is a better choice. First, they are less contaminated by chemical pesticides. Second, they are not genetically modified. Furthermore, they are allowed to mature or ripen fully. Finally, they have a shorter "shelf life" so they are sold when fresh or best.
Interjections: express a short emotional response
Intermediate–Advanced ESL
Also known as connecting adverbs in conversation, speech-act related adjuncts, discourse markers
Uh. Which one should I eat?. (pause)
Wow! This tastes good. (surprise)
Oops! I dropped it. (embarrassment)
Good day! (greeting)
Happy Birthday! (holiday greeting)
How vs What: emphasize opinion with an exclamation (!)
Beginning–Intermediate ESL
What–exclamation vs. questions
Grammar Notes (show-hide arrow)
Practice 1 – multiple choice
Practice 2 – edit
Related pages:Â So that/Such that
How beautiful!
How beautiful a creature!
How beautiful it is!
How gracefully it swims!
What a creature! remarkably beautiful or ugly
What a beautiful creature!
*What an awful creature stung me!
*not used
Discourse Markers: grab attention, hesitate, affirm, interject and more
Intermediate–Advanced ESL, Native Speakers
Discourse Markers & Linking Expressions
Like (new uses since the 1970s)
Background "So" vs. Result "So"
Practice – edit sentences
So! What you are saying is that we have to have everything ready by then.
So… what you are saying is that we have to have everything ready by then.
So, you are saying we have to have everything ready by Wednesday midnight. (inf.) I guess that…
So we need to get the testing, advertising and database in place. (inf.) In summary