Adverbs
Why to use adverbs in IELTS?
We use adverbs in IELTS to modify or give extra information about verbs, adjectives, other words or whole clauses. If you want to make your IELTS Writing/Speaking Tasks look more academic and professional then you should start to use various adverbs and expressions to introduce ideas in your sentences.
Adverbs add meaning and accuracy to what you say (and as a result of this, they make what you say more interesting.) Using adverbs at the beginning of a sentence can express a lot of meaning in one word and it is good cohesion (language that has linkages of meaning) because it helps the listener (or reader) to follow what you are going to say next.
Now, let’s see some examples.
Where to use adverbs?
We use adverbs in Task 1, Task 2, and Speaking module of IELTS test.
Expressing Feeling(Speaking) :-
| Amazingly, | Sadly, |
| Astonishingly, | Seriously, |
| Curiously, | Strangely, |
| Disappointingly, | Surprisingly, |
| Fortunately, | Thankfully, |
| Frankly, (Be careful – overused and sometimes incorrectly used.) | Tragically, |
| Happily, | Unbelievably, |
| Hopefully, | Unfortunately, |
| Luckily, | Unluckily, |
| Regrettably, |
Expressing Personal Opinion or Judgment(Speaking, Writing)
| Admittedly, | Miraculously, |
| Allegedly, | Mysteriously, |
| Apparently, | Naturally, |
| Appropriately, | Obviously, |
| Clearly, | Paradoxically, |
| Conveniently, | Personally, |
| Foolishly, | Plainly, |
| Ideally, | Presumably, |
| Importantly, | Remarkably, |
| Incredibly, | Superficially, |
| Inevitably, | Undeniably, |
| Inexplicably, | Undoubtedly, |
| Interestingly, | Unjustly, |
| Ironically, | Unnaturally, |
Expressing a Logical Idea(Speaking, Writing)
| Accordingly, | Hypothetically, |
| Actually, | Immediately, |
| Additionally, | Incidentally, |
| Alternatively, | Lastly, |
| Basically, | Logically, |
| Certainly, | Officially, |
| Characteristically, | Possibly, |
| Coincidentally, | Potentially, |
| Conceivably, | Predictably, |
| Consequently, | Previously, |
| Consistently, | Probably, |
| Conversely, | Realistically, |
| Correctly, | Roughly (speaking), |
| Definitely, | Secondly, |
| Equally, | Significantly, |
| Essentially, | Similarly, |
| Eventually, | Specifically, |
| Evidently, | Subsequently, |
| Finally, | Supposedly, |
| Firstly, | Technically (speaking), |
| Fundamentally, | Theoretically, |
| Generally, | Typically, |
To show a dramatic turn of an effect/event(Speaking, Writing)
| Arrogantly, | Proudly, |
| Carelessly, | Reluctantly, |
| Casually, | Sensibly, |
| Childishly, | Unexpectedly, |
| Courageously, | Unwillingly, |
| Cunningly, | Wisely, |
| Desperately, |
To indicate the area where a situation exists(Speaking, Wrting)
| Globally, | Locally, |
| Internationally, | Nationally, |
Adverbs of manner(Speaking, Writing)
| abruptly | professionally |
| carefully | rapidly |
| carelessly | simply |
| closely | softly |
| dramatically | steadily |
| distinctly | steeply |
| easily | strangely |
| explicitly | superbly |
| formally | thickly |
| frankly | thoroughly |
| patiently | urgently |
| plainly | vividly |
| politely | voluntarily |
TO show degree(Speaking, Writing)
| absolutely | purely |
| approximately | quite |
| completely | radically |
| considerably | really |
| drastically | reasonably |
| entirely | roughly |
| extensively | scarcely |
| extremely | seemingly |
| fairly | simply |
| fully | simply |
| greatly | sincerely |
| gradually | slightly |
| hardly | somewhat |
| largely | strongly |
| nearly | thoroughly |
| noticeably | totally |
| outright | tremendously |
| partly | truly |
| poorly | utterly |
| positively | very |
| powerfully | virtually |
| pretty | well |
| profoundly |
To Focus on the Most Relevant Thing, or Restrict(Speaking, Writing)
| alone | particularly |
| chiefly | predominantly |
| especially | primarily |
| exclusively | principally |
| just | purely |
| mainly | simply |
| mostly | solely |
| notably | specially |
| only | specifically |
To show frequency(Speaking, Writing)
| always | occasionally |
| constantly | often |
| continually | periodically |
| continuously | rarely |
| ever | regularly |
| frequently | repeatedly |
| from time to time | seldom |
| hardly ever | sometimes |
| infrequently | sporadically |
| never | usually |
| normally |
To show level of Certainty(Speaking, Writing)
| certainly |
| definitely |
| surely |
| probably |
| possibly |
It is suggested to use at least two to three adverbs in your answer of each task/ part of your writing and speaking exam.