Practice
Stance adverbs: show attitude and certainty
Sign in to saveCompare these two messages: The meeting has been moved online. Apparently, the meeting has been moved online. Apparently tells the listener that the speaker is reporting information rather than stating a direct fact.
Use stance adverbs to show how certain you are and how you react to the whole statement, while placing and punctuating them clearly.
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
Apparently, the client has accepted the revised schedule. /əˈpærəntli ðə ˈklaɪənt hæz əkˈseptɪd ðə rɪˈvaɪzd ˈʃedjuːl/
The short answer
Use a stance adverb when you want to comment on the whole message. Put it at the beginning with a comma when it introduces your view, or use a natural middle position with some certainty adverbs such as probably and certainly.
The report will probably be ready by Friday.
Why it works: Probably shows that the speaker expects this result but does not present it as certain.
6 more examples
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Apparently, the client has accepted the revised schedule.
Apparently tells the reader that the speaker is presenting this as reported or observed information.
Not this:The client
has acceptedthe revised schedule. What changes: Without apparently, the sentence presents the acceptance directly and gives no clue about the speaker's source. -
The technicians will probably finish the repair today.
Probably comes after the modal will and before finish to show an expected result.
Not this:The technicians
will certainly finishthe repair today. What changes: Certainly makes the prediction much stronger than probably. -
Fortunately, the backup saved the missing files.
Fortunately expresses the speaker's positive reaction to the whole situation.
Not this:
Sadly, the backup did not save the missing files. What changes: Sadly expresses a negative reaction. It does not describe the way the backup worked. -
Frankly, this proposal needs a clearer budget.
Frankly signals that the speaker is about to state a direct opinion.
Not this:This proposal
needsa clearer budget. What changes: The direct claim remains, but the version without frankly does not prepare the reader for the speaker's personal manner. -
Surprisingly, the new route takes less time.
Surprisingly shows that the result differs from what the speaker expected.
Not this:The new route
takes less time. What changes: Without surprisingly, the sentence reports the result without showing that it was unexpected. -
Honestly, I do not know why the form was rejected.
Honestly introduces a candid statement about the speaker's knowledge.
Not this:I
do not knowwhy the form was rejected. What changes: The second sentence gives the same information but does not signal the speaker's emphasis on honesty.
Read the full guide
First, ask whether the adverb describes an action or the speaker's comment on the message. In She answered calmly, calmly describes her answer. In Frankly, her answer surprised me, frankly shows the speaker's manner of speaking. Once you know which job the adverb has, its position and punctuation are easier to choose.
See the speaker behind the statement
A stance adverb does not add a new event. It tells you how the speaker sees the event. Read the rest of the sentence first, then ask what the adverb adds: uncertainty, a reaction, reported information, or directness. This is different from an adverb of manner, which describes how an action happens.
Fortunately, the pharmacy was still open.
Fortunately is the speaker's reaction to the open pharmacy. It comments on the whole situation.
The pharmacist spoke patiently.
Patiently describes how the pharmacist spoke, so it is an adverb of manner rather than a stance adverb.
Does fortunately describe an action, or the speaker's reaction to a situation?
It shows the speaker's reaction to the situation. It does not describe how anyone acted.
Show how certain you are
Probably and certainly help you state how strong your judgment is. Use probably when you expect something but still allow for another result. Use certainly when you have much stronger confidence. Match the word to your evidence. A strong word can sound misleading if you only have a guess.
The parcel will probably arrive tomorrow.
Probably leaves room for a delay or another outcome.
The parcel will certainly arrive tomorrow.
Certainly makes a much firmer prediction, so use it only when the confidence is justified.
Which word fits a prediction that is likely but not guaranteed: probably or certainly?
Use probably. It shows that the speaker expects the result without treating it as certain.
Use apparently with care
Use apparently when something seems true from what you have heard, read, or noticed. The word signals that you are not presenting the information as a direct, fully confirmed fact. It can make an update more honest when you still need to check the details.
Apparently, the building will close early today.
The speaker has information about an early closing but signals that it may need confirmation.
The building will close early today.
This version states the closing directly and does not show any distance from the information.
Why might you choose apparently in an early update?
It shows that the information seems true but has not been presented as your own confirmed knowledge.
Add a reaction without changing the event
Fortunately, sadly, and surprisingly show a reaction to an event. The basic fact can remain unchanged when you add one of these words. Choose the reaction that fits your meaning, and avoid adding a reaction when you only want to report a neutral fact.
Sadly, the workshop was canceled.
Sadly tells the reader that the speaker sees the cancellation as a bad result.
Surprisingly, the workshop was full by noon.
Surprisingly tells the reader that a full workshop was not the expected result.
Which stance adverb could introduce a result that is better than expected?
Fortunately can introduce a result that the speaker sees as positive or relieving.
Introduce a direct opinion
Frankly and honestly can introduce a personal view. They tell the listener that you are speaking directly, which can be useful before careful criticism or an admission of uncertainty. The words do not make an opinion more accurate. Give a reason or evidence when the situation needs one.
Frankly, the instructions are hard to follow.
Frankly prepares the listener for a direct assessment of the instructions.
Honestly, I need more time to check the figures.
Honestly emphasizes that the speaker is being candid about a limit or need.
What should you add after a direct opinion when the reader needs to act on it?
Add a clear reason, evidence, or next step. A stance adverb shows your manner, but it does not support the claim by itself.
Place and punctuate the adverb
At the beginning of a sentence, stance adverbs are usually followed by a comma: Apparently, the room is available. In a normal middle position, probability adverbs often follow a modal or first auxiliary: The room will probably be available. Read the sentence as a whole. The punctuation should help the reader see that the opening word comments on the statement.
Certainly, we can discuss the problem tomorrow.
Certainly begins the sentence and is followed by a comma because it introduces the speaker's view of the whole proposal.
We can certainly discuss the problem tomorrow.
Certainly follows the modal can. This middle position is also natural when the certainty belongs closely with the action.
Complete the natural middle position: 'They will ___ need a larger room.'
Use probably: They will probably need a larger room. It comes after will and before need.
Before you go
Remember this
Use stance adverbs to comment on a whole statement. Choose probably or certainly for degrees of certainty, apparently for information presented as reported or observed, and words such as fortunately, sadly, frankly, and surprisingly for a reaction or attitude. At the beginning, use a comma after the adverb. In the middle of a clause, place probably and certainly naturally after a modal or first auxiliary.
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 "Stance adverbs: show attitude and certainty"
What is a stance adverb?
A stance adverb shows the speaker's view of a whole statement. It can show certainty, a reaction, reported information, or directness. In 'Fortunately, the backup saved the missing files,' fortunately tells us how the speaker feels about the result rather than how the backup acted.
Apparently, the client has accepted the revised schedule.
What is the difference between probably and certainly?
Probably shows that something is likely but still uncertain. Certainly shows much stronger confidence. Compare 'The technicians will probably finish the repair today' with 'The technicians will certainly finish the repair today.' Choose the word that matches the strength of your evidence.
The client has accepted the revised schedule.
When should I use apparently?
Use apparently when information seems true because of what you have heard, read, or noticed, but you are not presenting it as your own confirmed fact. 'Apparently, the client has accepted the revised schedule' signals that the source or confirmation is separate from the speaker.
The technicians will probably finish the repair today.
Why do stance adverbs often have a comma?
When a stance adverb begins a sentence, a comma usually separates it from the statement it comments on: 'Frankly, this proposal needs a clearer budget.' The comma helps the reader see that frankly introduces the speaker's view. Middle-position probably and certainly usually do not need commas.
The technicians will certainly finish the repair today.
Are stance adverbs the same as adverbs of manner?
No. An adverb of manner describes how an action happens, as in 'The pharmacist spoke patiently.' A stance adverb comments on the whole message, as in 'Surprisingly, the new route takes less time.' The first describes an action; the second shows the speaker's reaction.
Fortunately, the backup saved the missing files.