ADVERBS OF AFFIRMATION AND NEGATION

Simple definition with Examples

Adverb of Affirmation or Negation is a word which declares that something is true or some equivalent expression or negative statement, judgment or a logical proposition. Some examples of affirmation and negation are - certainly, definitely, never, no etc. The first two words are the Adverbs of Affirmation while the latter are the Adverbs of Negation.

What is the Difference between Adverbs of Affirmation and Adverbs of Negation?

Consider the sentence - ‘I will definitely do that’. Word ‘definitely’ affirms the listener that the speaker is going to do the task which is being talked about. ‘Definitely’ is therefore an Adverb of Affirmation. Consider another sentence - ‘I will never do that’. In the sentence ‘never’ negates the sentence by telling that the speaker is not going to do the particular task. ‘Never’ is therefore an Adverb of Negation.

Read the sentences given below and try to identify the Adverbs of Negation or Affirmation in them and verify your progress with the answers provided below.

She is certainly going through hard time.

There was no visibility during the rains.

Teachers should never agree to the illogical demands of the students.

Eager to know his son’s progress, he will definitely attend the parent’s teacher meeting. 

The moon is very clearly visible from the terrace of my house.

Things turned out to be exactly the same as expected.

On all my visits to the forests, I rarely spotted a tiger.

I had hardly gone for few miles, when the car broke down.

The generator I have is scarcely ever used.

With the kind of dedication he has, he will surely be rewarded at work.

After the Principal’s resignation the students can hardly be controlled.

Answers-: certainly (Adverb of Affirmation), no (negation), never (negation), definitely (affirmation), clearly (affirmation), exactly (affirmation), rarely (negation), hardly (negation), scarcely (negation), surely (affirmation) and hardly (negation).

List/Words/Examples

List of Affirmative Words

 Absolutely, affirmatively, assertedly, avowedly, clearly, truly, definitely, doubtlessly, exactly, alright, obviously, positively, really, sure, surely, undoubtedly, yes, certainly, by all means, verily etc.

List of Negation Words

 Nothing, nowhere, not at all, contradictorily, almost, invalidly, never, no, not or words ending n’t such as haven't, rarely, scarcely etc.