Adverbs of Affirmation

Adverbs of affirmation are essential tools in English grammar that add clarity, confidence, and positivity to communication. They confirm, agree, or assert the truth of a statement, making your speech and writing more impactful.

An adverb of affirmation provides a confirmation or assertion of the truth of a statement. They are used to answer the question “yes.” Examples of adverbs of affirmation include “certainly,” “definitely,” “indeed,” “positively,” “absolutely,” “undoubtedly,” and “surely.”

What Are Adverbs of Affirmation?

Adverbs of affirmation are words that express agreement, confirmation, or certainty. They modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or entire sentences to reinforce a positive assertion. Unlike adverbs of negation (e.g., never, not), they highlight confidence in a statement.

List of Common Adverbs of Affirmation

Certainly
- I will certainly attend the conference.
- She certainly deserves the promotion.
Definitely
- They are definitely moving to Paris.
- This is definitely the best solution.
Surely
- Surely you agree with this plan?
- He will surely win the competition.
Absolutely
- I absolutely love this song!
- That is absolutely correct.
Indeed
- The results were indeed remarkable.
- She is, indeed, a talented artist.
Undoubtedly
- He is undoubtedly the fastest runner.
- This is undoubtedly a historic moment.
Truly
- I truly appreciate your kindness.
- This is truly a masterpiece.
Obviously
- Obviously, we need to act quickly.
- She was obviously thrilled with the gift.
Positively
- The team responded positively to the changes.
- This idea is positively brilliant!
Naturally
- Naturally, we’ll support your decision.
- He naturally excels in mathematics.
Of course (adverbial phrase)
- Of course, you can join us!
- She will of course finish the project on time.

How to Use Adverbs of Affirmation

Modifying Verbs:
- They definitely completed the task.
- She truly believes in equality.
Modifying Adjectives:
- The movie was absolutely thrilling.
- This cake is undoubtedly delicious.
Modifying Entire Sentences:
- Certainly, we can resolve this issue.
- Obviously, teamwork is key here.
Position Flexibility:
- Start: Indeed, the plan worked perfectly.
- Middle: The plan indeed worked perfectly.
- End: The plan worked perfectly, indeed.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

Context Matters: Some adverbs can imply sarcasm or doubt.
- “Surely you didn’t eat all the cookies!” (Expresses disbelief)
Avoid Confusion with Negation:
- ❌ Incorrect: “He hardly agreed.” (Hardly is an adverb of negation.)
- ✅ Correct: “He certainly agreed.”
Double Affirmation:
- Avoid redundancy: “I absolutely definitely agree.” → Simplify to one adverb.

Adverbs of Affirmation vs. Other Adverbs

Category	Examples	Function
Affirmation	certainly, definitely	Confirm or agree with a statement.
Negation	never, not, hardly	Deny or negate a statement.
Degree	very, extremely, quite	Modify intensity (e.g., very happy).

Adverbs Exercises

Adverbs Quiz

Perfect your understanding of time, place, and manner adverbs.

1 / 30

She danced ________ at the party.

graceful

gracefully

2 / 30

The children played ________ in the park.

happy

happily

3 / 30

She ________ forgot her keys at home.

almost

never

4 / 30

The teacher spoke ________ so everyone could hear.

loud

loudly

5 / 30

He worked on the project ________.

hard

hardly

6 / 30

The baby cried ________ during the night.

angry

angrily

7 / 30

The sun was shining ________.

brightly

bright

8 / 30

She finished her work ________ and went home.

quick

quickly

9 / 30

I ________ go to bed early on weekends.

never

always

10 / 30

He ran ________ to catch the bus.

faster

fast

11 / 30

We arrived ________ than expected.

earlier

more early

12 / 30

The man shouted ________ at the taxi driver.

angry

angrily

13 / 30

My mother speaks English ________.

fluent

fluently

14 / 30

He ________ eats vegetables.

seldom

slow

15 / 30

The birds chirped ________ in the morning.

melody

melodiously

16 / 30

The little girl smiled ________ at her mother.

sweet

sweetly

17 / 30

She was driving too ________.

slow

slowly

18 / 30

The dog barked ________ at the stranger.

loudly

loud

19 / 30

He answered the question ________.

correct

correctly

20 / 30

The flowers smell ________.

nicely

nice

21 / 30

I could ________ understand what he was saying.

hardly

hard

22 / 30

He explained the problem very ________.

clear

clearly

23 / 30

The train arrived ________.

lately

late

24 / 30

She completed the task ________.

easy

easily

25 / 30

The baby is sleeping, so please speak ________.

softly

loud

26 / 30

He drives ________ .

carefully

careful

27 / 30

She writes essays very ________.

well

good

28 / 30

She sings ________ .

beautifully

beautiful

29 / 30

He behaves very ________.

politely

polite

30 / 30

They finished the project ________.

quickly

quick

Your score is

Example Sentences of Adverbs Of Affirmation

50+ example sentences using adverbs of affirmation

1. Certainly

I will certainly attend your wedding next month.
The team certainly deserves praise for their hard work.
“Can you finish this report by noon?” “Certainly!”
She certainly made a lasting impression at the meeting.
This is certainly the best coffee I’ve ever tasted.
I certainly remember meeting you before.

2. Definitely

We are definitely going on vacation this summer.
He definitely aced the interview—they offered him the job!
This movie is definitely worth watching.
“Will you support the proposal?” “Definitely.”
The new policy will definitely improve efficiency.
She is definitely coming to the party tonight.

3. Surely

Surely you remember our first day at school?
They will surely win the championship with that strategy.
“This is too expensive.” “Surely we can find a cheaper option.”
She surely knows how to light up a room.
The sun will surely rise tomorrow.

4. Absolutely

I absolutely adore your new haircut!
The results were absolutely astonishing.
“Do you agree with the decision?” “Absolutely!”
This cake is absolutely divine.
He’s absolutely the right person for the role.
Absolutely, I believe in the power of hard work.

5. Indeed

The view from the mountain is indeed breathtaking.
“It’s a challenging project.” “Indeed, but we’ll manage.”
She is, indeed, one of the most talented artists I’ve met.
The rumors were indeed true.
Winter here is indeed harsh.
Indeed, the view from the top of the mountain is breathtaking.

6. Undoubtedly

She is undoubtedly the best candidate for the job.
This discovery is undoubtedly groundbreaking.
Undoubtedly, teamwork leads to better outcomes.
He undoubtedly saved the company from bankruptcy.
The concert was undoubtedly the highlight of the year.

7. Truly

I truly believe we can make a difference.
This is a truly unforgettable experience.
He spoke truly from the heart during his speech.
The artwork is truly mesmerizing.
She is truly a genius at solving problems.

8. Obviously

Obviously, we need to address this issue immediately.
He was obviously nervous during the presentation.
The solution is obviously simple—let’s try it!
“Did you enjoy the trip?” “Obviously!”
The mistake was obviously unintentional.

9. Positively

The audience reacted positively to her speech.
This idea is positively brilliant!
She positively glowed with happiness at the news.
The changes were positively received by the staff.
I am positively certain we’ll succeed.
Positively, the team played their best game of the season.

10. Naturally

Naturally, we’ll help you move to your new house.
He naturally excels in leadership roles.
The flowers bloomed naturally in the spring.
“Will you join us?” “Naturally!”
She’s naturally gifted in mathematics.

Adverbs of affirmation empower your language with confidence and precision. Whether you’re writing an email, giving a speech, or chatting with friends, these words add authority and positivity.

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Adverbs of Affirmation