Adverb – advanced usage & inversion after adverbs
ADVERBS MODIFYING THE WHOLE SENTENCE
Adverb modifying the whole sentence (also known as sentence adverbs) usually express a speaker’s or narrator’s opinion.
SENTENCE ADVERBS – POSSIBLE POSITION:
After a verb “to be”:
She is obviously intelligent.
Before the main verb or between auxiliary and main verb:
He actually sold his house!
He has actually sold his house!
At the beginning and the end:
Unfortunately, Mark didn’t pass the exam.
No one got hurt, fortunately.
Example of sentence adverbs:
| actually apparently certainly evidently | fortunately luckily naturally obviously | presumably undoubtedly unfortunately thankfully |
ADVERBS ENDING WITH –WARDS AND –WISE
Adverbs ending with –wards and –wise (this group also includes words with endings –ward and –ways) refers to the physical direction:
She glanced sideways at the visitor.
Move forward.
If you look upwards, you will see a big bird in the sky.
Figuratively adverbs with ending –wise refers to orientation and perspectives concerning the sentence. We create them by adding –wise to a noun.
Healthwise, I don’t have any problems.
The twin sisters were always dressed likewise. Excluding adverbs as likewise and otherwise, those expressions shall not be overused.
INVERSION USED AFTER ADVERBS
After some adverbs and adverbial phrases, you can use inversion.
As a result of moving adverb to the beginning of the sentence, the emphasis is placed on the ban, negation or dramatic nature of a statement.
Here are some adverbs and adverbial phrases which most often undergoes inversion:
| adverbs and adverbial phrases | example |
|---|---|
| hardly ever | He hardly ever spoke English. Hardly ever did he speak English. |
| hardly…when | He had hardly stepped outside when it started to rain. Hardly had he stepped outside when it started to rain. |
| in/ under no circumstances | We can accept the offer under no circumstances. Under no circumstances can weaccept the offer. |
| never | I had never seen so many people in one room. Never had Iseen so many people in one room. |
| not only | She is not only a talented singer but also an amazing actress. Not only is she a talented singer but also an amazing actress |
| nowhere | He was nowhere to be found. Nowhere was he to be found. |
| only | He looked for his ticket only after he arrived at the station. Only after he arrived at the station did he look for his ticket. |
| scarcely…. when | I had scarcely entered the room when the telephone rang. Scarcely had I entered the room when the telephone rang. |
