Adverb of Affirmation: Definition, Usage, and Examples 

Adverb of Affirmation: Adverbs of affirmation mean agreement with statements or ideas. They help to state that the statement is true and reliable, and this boosts the understanding of the listener or reader. These adverbs also promote strong relationships and positive communication. Correct use of these adverbs can enhance your communication skills. Let us explore the world of adverbs of affirmation to understand their meaning and usage with the help of examples.

What are Adverbs of Affirmation?

The adverb of affirmation defines the agreement, confirmation, or approval. The adverbs of affirmation are used to confirm or affirm a statement that is true and reliable. These adverbs are also called positive adverbs. Some of the common adverbs of affirmation are certainly, definitely, absolutely, etc. 

List of Adverbs of Affirmation

The words that are used to confirm or affirm a statement are mentioned below. However, read the listed adverbs of affirmation carefully.

• Certainly
• Indeed
• Absolutely
• Definitely
• Surely
• Truly
• Undoubtedly
• Positively
• Affirmatively
• Absolutely

Adverbs of Affirmation Rules 

It is time to understand the rules of inserting the adverbs of affirmation within the sentence. Here, we have mentioned some of the rules of adverbs of affirmation.

Rules	Examples
When the main verb takes the form of to be, we add an adverb of affirmation before the main verb.	I clearly cried after reading the note.
In case there are both main and auxiliary verbs in the sentence, then adverbs of affirmation are placed between both of them.	She has certainly forgotten my birthday.
Adverbs of affirmation can be placed at the beginning of the sentence, too.	Probably, she has lost her way.
When the adverbs of affirmation like surely are placed in the beginning of the sentence, it assures that the statement is true and reliable.	Surely, she will be moving to Canada next month.

Also Read: Deciphering the Difference: Adjective vs. Adverb in English Grammar

Adverbs of Negation

Similarly, there are adverbs of negation corresponding to the adverb of affirmation. These adverbs are used to negate or deny the statement. These adverbs are also called negative adverbs. However, it is important to learn adverbs of affirmation and Negation together. Some of the common examples of adverbs of negation are not, no, never, nowhere, etc.

List of Adverbs of Negation

Adverbs of Negation are the words that are used to describe a negative situation. Some of the Adverbs of Negation are mentioned below. Let us read the list of adverbs of negation carefully.

• Little

• Not
• No
• Never
• Nowhere
• None
• Neither

• Nor
• Nowise
• Noway
• Hardly
• Barely
• Scarcely
• Seldom
• Rarely

Also Read: Conjunctive Adverbs Meaning, Examples & Exercises

Examples of Adverbs of Affirmation and Negation

Let us understand the usage of adverbs of affirmation and the adverbs of negation with the help of examples as given in the table below.

Adverbs of Affirmation	Adverbs of Negation
Certainly, the project will be completed on time.	Not everyone was able to attend the meeting due to scheduling conflicts.
Indeed, the performance was outstanding.	No, I haven’t seen that movie yet.
Absolutely, I agree with your proposal.	I have never been to Europe, but I hope to visit someday.
Definitely, she is the best candidate for the job.	Nowhere in the contract does it mention additional fees.
Surely, you can rely on my support	None of the students passed the exam with a perfect score.

Exercise on Adverbs of Affirmation and Negation

Here, we have given some of the exercises on adverbs of Affirmation and Negation, which will help you to understand these adverbs and their usages.

Fill in the blanks with the adverbs of affirmation and negation

1. She completed the task _______________.
2. The team worked _______________ to meet the deadline.
3. _______________ did I doubt his sincerity.
4. We can _______________ trust him with important responsibilities.
5. The results were _______________ in our favor.
6. I will _______________ support your decision.
7. _______________ will we compromise on quality.
8. The plan was executed _______________ and efficiently.
9. I _______________ believe in your abilities.
10. The feedback was _______________ positive.
11. They _______________ accepted the challenge.
12. The solution was found _______________ and effectively.
13. _______________ will I forget your kindness.
14. The performance was _______________ outstanding.
15. I _______________ agree with your assessment of the situation.

Answers:

1. She completed the task effortlessly.
2. The team worked diligently to meet the deadline.
3. Never did I doubt his sincerity.
4. We can confidently trust him with important responsibilities.
5. The results were positive in our favour.
6. I will fully support your decision.
7. Nowhere will we compromise on quality.
8. The plan was executed swiftly and efficiently.
9. I wholeheartedly believe in your abilities.
10. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
11. They readily accepted the challenge.
12. The solution was found quickly and effectively.
13. Never will I forget your kindness.
14. The performance was truly outstanding.
15. I absolutely agree with your assessment of the situation.

Answer these multiple-choice questions (MCQs) on Adverbs of Affirmation

1. Which of the following is an adverb of affirmation?

a) Never
b) Surely
c) Hardly
d) Seldom

2. Identify the adverb of affirmation in the sentence: “He will definitely complete the task by tomorrow.”

a) He
b) Will
c) Definitely
d) Tomorrow

3. Which sentence correctly uses an adverb of affirmation?

a) She will probably fail the test.
b) He hardly speaks in class.
c) They will certainly enjoy the trip.
d) I barely remember his name.

4. Which of the following is NOT an adverb of affirmation?

a) Indeed
b) Absolutely
c) Rarely
d) Yes

5. Choose the correct adverb of affirmation for the sentence: “She is _______ going to the party tonight.”

a) Never
b) Truly
c) Rarely
d) Barely

6. Identify the adverb of affirmation in the following sentence: “The news is undoubtedly true.”

a) The
b) News
c) Undoubtedly
d) True

7. What is the function of adverbs of affirmation?

a) To indicate time
b) To show manner
c) To confirm or assert something
d) To negate a statement

8. Select the adverb of affirmation in the following sentence: “She has indeed worked very hard for this project.”

a) She
b) Indeed
c) Worked
d) Hard

9. Which of the following sentences contains an adverb of affirmation?

a) He seldom visits his hometown.
b) They completely forgot about the meeting.
c) She will certainly win the competition.
d) I barely ate anything in the morning.

10. Which adverb of affirmation can replace “definitely” in the sentence: “He will definitely succeed in life.”

a) Possibly
b) Absolutely
c) Rarely
d) Barely

Answers:

Answer 1: b) Surely

Answer 2: c) Definitely

Answer 3: c) They will certainly enjoy the trip.

Answer 4: c) Rarely

Answer 5: b) Truly

Answer 6: c) Undoubtedly

Answer 7: c) To confirm or assert something

Answer 8: b) Indeed

Answer 9: c) She will certainly win the competition.

Answer 10: b) Absolutely

FAQs

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