Monday, November 30, 2009

KINDS OF ADVERBS

ADVERBS OF CERTAINTY

These adverbs express how certain or sure we feel about an action or event.

Common adverbs of certainty:

certainly, definitely, probably, undoubtedly, surely

Adverbs of certainty go before the main verb but after the verb 'to be':

* He definitely left the house this morning.
* He is probably in the park.

With other auxiliary verb, these adverbs go between the auxiliary and the main verb:

* He has certainly forgotten the meeting.
* He will probably remember tomorrow.

Sometimes these adverbs can be placed at the beginning of the sentence:

* Undoubtedly, Winston Churchill was a great politician.

BE CAREFUL! with surely. When it is placed at the beginning of the sentence, it means the speaker thinks something is true, but is looking for confirmation:

Example:

* Surely you've got a bicycle?

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