Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

VIEWPOINT

334

Viewpoint adjuncts express the personal perspective from which the speaker

views an event or a subject or topic. They may occur in all positions, but certain

positions are more frequent than others.

They are very often found in front and mid position:

Quite honestly, I think we need more representation.

In fairness, he did say that he’d tried and spoken to local people.

Quite frankly, I don’t think there are any advantages.

592 | Adjuncts

Cambridge Grammar of English

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I 

personally

feel

that within our department the change was introduced too

quickly.

It’s something I

’ve not

, 

in all honesty,

thought

about.

Viewpoint adjuncts can be used in end position for emphasis. End position is

much more common in spoken language than in written:

I’d rather not have gone to Holland, 

personally.

We were entitled to use the material, 

quite frankly.

Viewpoint adjuncts that specify or restrict the topic in some way most typically

come in front position:

Also, 

culturally, if you can speak the language you tend to be better off. 

(from the perspective/point of view of culture)

Architecturally, it was just fantastic.

A: So from a management point of view, then, it’s your problem.

B: It’s my problem.

Historically, such movements have had little impact on society.

They may also occur in other positions:

The question is: given that this 

must

, 

constitutionally, 

be

his final term as

president – what does he have to campaign for now? 

Religious believers 

have 

historically

been

responsible for many political

reforms.

We were building up a good act, 

musically.

How did it affect you 

in terms of everyday life?