Using Adverbs and Expressions of Opinion in Your Speech

THE TEACHER’S NOTICE

My long-standing teaching experience has revealed that the school learners of English are often doubtful of the meaning of adverbs and expressions of opinion and that is why they fail to use them correctly in their speech. The purpose of this paper is to help English learners correctly define the meaning of adverbs and expressions of opinion and to acquire skill in using them in conversation.
One of the latest exam requirements is to demonstrate the ability to build a dialogue on the required topic. Adverbs and expressions of opinion are helpful in fulfilling this task. They make dialogues more natural and personal.

PART I

Read adverbs and expressions of opinion.

The meaning is evident and coincides with the meaning in Russian.

1. personally – it is my belief
2. obviously – it is common knowledge
3. naturally – it is to be expected
4. one way or another – by some means
5. quite honestly – no false information is given
6. ideally – it would be a perfect situation
7. after all – in the end
8. on the contrary – vice versa
9. in any case – is close to “by all means”
10. however – nevertheless

The meaning doesn’t rest on the surface, it can be best understood from context.

1. admittedly – you have to concede a point of view
2. basically – you put it forward as a main argument
3. actually – you try to be objective
4. apparently – you are almost sure
5. presumably – you are not absolutely certain it is true
6. after all – you present an argument or information to strengthen your point of view
7. by the way – you introduce a new subject or you want to change the subject of conversation
8. anyway – your previous arguments are not very important, you want to emphasize another point
9. just the same – you stick to your point of view
10. generally speaking – this is an opinion which is true in most situations

PART II

Read the dialogue, try to give suitable Russian equivalents for the adverbs and expressions in bold type.

Education and Success

ANDY: Well, the question of getting an education is one of the most difficult nowadays, isn’t it?
BILL: I believe so. One way or another, it concerns everybody.
ANDY: Do you think one can be successful without a proper education?
BILL: Personally, I can’t imagine a successful person without it.
ANDY: I quite agree that ideally most people achieve success owing to a good education.
BILL: Of course, they feel more confident, and obviously, they get more challenging jobs…
ANDY: …and naturally, they are hired more eagerly. However, there are a lot of talented self-made people who achieve heights themselves, without any educational background.
BILL: Actually, you are talking about exceptions and they are very few. Basically, such people are prodigies and are gifted from birth, but they constitute a small number.
ANDY: Generally speaking, such people are to be found in creative spheres.
BILL: Anyway, in case they don’t circulate among their peers, it takes them long to win recognition.
ANDY: By the way, you must have heard of our common acquaintance Freddie. He is leaving school without a graduation certificate.
BILL: Apparently, he has been invited to some dance group. He is great at dancing!
ANDY: I have seen him once or twice in our school concert. Admittedly, he is marvelous on the stage. Quite honestly, I was impressed! After all, most talented people break through obstacles and some become famous.

Answer the questions:

1. Are Andy and Bill of the same opinion concerning the problem of education?
2. Who changes the course of conversation and how does he do it?
3. How does Andy strengthen his point of view?
4. Who do you side with? Can you give an example of a person who has achieved fame and success in life without any formal education?
5. In what area of human activity are you going to be educated?

REQUEST: When talking about your educational prospects try to use suitable adverbs and expressions of opinion.

PART III

1. Read the story, underline the adverbs and expressions of opinion, then read the text again and fill in the second column of the table with the Russian equivalents from the text.

My Bosom Friend

This is a story of my splitting up with my bosom friend Teddy. There used to be much common ground between us. We enjoyed walking together, were fond of the same music, the same style in clothes and shared similar views of life. I will go so far as to say that we were like twins in our lifestyle.
However, things changed after we graduated from university. I started my own business and admittedly (this cannot be doubted) got ahead. From the first I felt that Teddy was envious as he couldn’t cope with anything like that (I mean my business). By the way, his family was well-off, but Teddy wished he were independent of his father and he envied me my success. Teddy was actually green with envy.
Apparently, his father couldn’t put up with the situation and he hired figure-heads (dummies) who succeeded in buying a great number of my shares and then he handed them over to Teddy. Generally speaking, his father is a real go-getter and he instructed Teddy to tell me that he had nothing to do with that double-dealing.
What is more, Teddy didn’t hesitate to follow his father’s advice, strictly speaking, he didn’t resist his mean schemes.
Anyway, soon Teddy informed me that he owned a great number of shares in my business. Moreover, not only did he have the right to be on the Board of Directors, but he claimed his right to become the chairperson. Naturally, this hoggish behaviour drove me mad and now we are not on speaking terms. Frankly speaking, this business of mine helped me to break up the false friendship. Quite honestly, I feel sort of relieved – no more false friends in my life.

2. Read the same story in Russian, pay attention to the translation of adverbs and expressions of opinion, try to say it (or write it) looking at the Russian version of the text.

Мой закадычный друг

Это рассказ о моем разрыве с моим закадычным другом Теди. В прошлом у нас было много общего. Нам нравилось вместе гулять, слушать музыку, у нас был одинаковый стиль в одежде, мы разделяли одинаковые взгляды на жизнь. Я даже могу сказать, что мы были как близнецы по нашему образу жизни.
Однако, после института все изменилось. Я основал свой бизнес и явно преуспел. С самого начала я чувствовал, что Теди завидует мне, так как он не мог справиться ни с чем, подобным этому, я имею ввиду свой бизнес. Между прочим, у него была состоятельная семья, но ему не хотелось зависеть от отца, и он завидовал моему успеху. Он буквально позеленел от зависти.
Очевидно, отец не мог смириться с таким положением и нанял подставных лиц, которые скупили мои акции, и отец передал их Теди.
Строго говоря, его отец настоящий проныра, он научил Теди сказать мне, что он не имеет никакого отношения к этому надувательству. Более того, Теди последовал совету своего отца. Во всяком случае, скоро Теди сообщил мне, что у него большая часть акций в моем бизнесе.
Более того, он не только имел право быть в Совете директоров, но заявил о своем праве стать председателем.
Естественно, такое свинское поведение взбесило меня, и сейчас мы не разговариваем. Откровенно говоря, мой бизнес помог мне положить конец этой ненастоящей дружбе. Честное слово, я чувствую своего рода облегчение: больше никаких ложных друзей в моей жизни.

1. Do you think personal interests in business can spoil or break up friendship?
2. Do profit and honesty coexist in modern business? Is “honesty the best policy”?

PART IV

Match the Russian and the English expressions in the table. Use them in a short monologue filling in the gaps with suitable expressions from the table.

Business Partners

(1)_______________, I don’t like my business partners – they are too pressing. But, (2)____________, I have to deal with them.
(3)___________________, we solve problems referring to business.
(4)____________, they are good businessmen. (5)______________, I never reveal my disapproval of some of their claims. (6)_______________, I try to be extremely polite and considerate. (7)_______________, we are engaged in common business and both parties are interested in its proper running.

Key: (any other logical version is accepted) 1. Frankly speaking; 2. one way or another; 3. Basically; 4. Admittedly; 5. Naturally; 6. On the contrary; 7. After all

Combine two utterances to make a logical unity.

CREATIVE TASKS are to be chosen by students themselves. The topics of their short monologues or dialogues can be: 1. A TV programme; 2. A sports event; 3. Traveling plans or traveling experience; 4. The latest style in fashion; 5. Sharing impressions after a school party. The requirement is to use adverbs and expressions of opinion to make a talk more emphatic.

Reference Literature:

1. Oxford Russian Dictionary. Russian-English/English-Russian. (Third Edition). Oxford University Press
2. Concise Oxford Dictionary. Tenth Edition Completely Revised. Oxford University Press
3. Longman Dictionary of English Idioms. Longman
4. New Headway English Course. Liz and John Soars
5. Headway Advanced. John and Liz Soars. Oxford English