Emphasizing adverbs

Aydyn Türk from Turkey writes:

I have been learning English for eight months but some adjectives and adverbs are still a problem for me, especially adverbs such as absolutely,definitely, certainly, exactly, etc. These mean almost the same thing in Turkish and I don’t know when to use them in English or which one to use. If you gave me some examples that would help me.

Thanks a lot.

Absolutely/ definitely/ certainly/ exactly

There is not very much difference in meaning or in use when these emphasizing adjectives are used to express strong agreement with a statement, question or suggestion.

Absolutely is perhaps the strongest. If you use exactly, you are emphasizing that what someone has said is 100% correct.

Compare the following:

• Doesn’t Sandra look stunning in that hat?
  Oh, absolutely! I couldn’t agree more.
• Geoffrey is a complete and utter fool.
  Absolutely! / Definitely! / Exactly!
• Will you come shopping with me on Saturday?
  Definitely! / Certainly!
• If we can’t find those tickets, we shan’t be able to get into the show.
  Exactly!
• Are you going to Turkey again this summer?
  Definitely! Without a doubt!

Absolutely/ simply/ utterly/ totally/ completely/ perfectly

These emphasizing adverbs are normally used with adjectives that are in themselves already quite absolute. They give even greater emphasis to what is said.

Compare the following:

• Your advice was invaluable – absolutely invaluable!
• I was simply amazed when she said that she was going to marry Henry.
• It was perfectly clear that she was serious and I was totally powerless to stop her.
• I felt that she was completely wrong to even think about it and I am utterly exhausted by it all.