B2 English Adverbs: The Complete List
This page contains a complete list of all B2 level adverbs, organised into key groups. You will find adverbs for Degree & Intensity like barely and greatly, words for Manner & Approach such as deliberately, adverbs of Time & Sequence like formerly, and a section for Discourse & Logic with words like moreover and thus. The list also includes a section on adverbs that function Spatially.
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Degree & Intensity
| Word | Example Sentence | IPA (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| altogether | The project was altogether too ambitious for available resources.
Word Partners: altogether too
|
/ˌɔːltəˈɡeðə(r)/ |
| barely | The government barely survived the vote of no confidence.
Word Partners: barely survive
|
/ˈbeəli/ |
| considerably | Costs have increased considerably since the initial estimate. | /kənˈsɪdərəbli/ |
| deeply | Stakeholders are concerned about the environmental impact. | /ˈdiːpli/ |
| dramatically | Unemployment has dramatically fallen over the past year. | /drəˈmætɪkli/ |
| entirely | The proposal was entirely different from the original plan.
Word Partners: entirely different
|
/ɪnˈtaɪəli/ |
| essentially | The two approaches are essentially the same.
Word Partners: essentially the same
|
/ɪˈsenʃəli/ |
| even | The situation is even worse than anticipated. | /ˈiːvn/ |
| extensively | The infrastructure was extensively damaged during the conflict. | /ɪkˈstensɪvli/ |
| fully | Investors must be fully aware of the risks involved.
Word Partners: fully aware
|
/ˈfʊli/ |
| fundamentally | The two economic models are fundamentally different.
Word Partners: fundamentally different
|
/ˌfʌndəˈmentəli/ |
| greatly | The reforms would benefit disadvantaged communities. | /ˈɡreɪtli/ |
| increasingly | It is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit qualified staff. | /ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli/ |
| largely | The success was largely due to effective leadership.
Word Partners: largely due to
|
/ˈlɑːdʒli/ |
| partly | The delay was partly caused by technical difficulties. | /ˈpɑːtli/ |
| potentially | The situation is potentially very dangerous. | /pəˈtenʃəli/ |
| purely | The decision was purely financial.
Word Partners: purely financial
|
/ˈpjʊəli/ |
| relatively | The procedure is relatively simple and inexpensive. | /ˈrelətɪvli/ |
| remarkably | The economy recovered quickly from the recession. | /rɪˈmɑːkəbli/ |
| severely | The building was severely damaged by the earthquake.
Word Partners: severely damaged
|
/sɪˈvɪəli/ |
| significantly | Investment has increased significantly this quarter. | /sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəntli/ |
| somewhat | The minister appeared somewhat uncomfortable during questioning. | /ˈsʌmwɒt/ |
| sufficiently | Resources are not sufficiently large to meet demand. | /səˈfɪʃntli/ |
| terribly | The strategy proved terribly ineffective. | /ˈterəbli/ |
| truly | This represents a truly historic moment. | /ˈtruːli/ |
| widely | The policy is widely regarded as successful.
Word Partners: widely regarded
|
/ˈwaɪdli/ |
Manner & Approach
| Word | Example Sentence | IPA (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| accidentally | Officials accidentally released confidential documents. | /ˌæksɪˈdentəli/ |
| accurately | Economists struggle to accurately predict market behaviour. | /ˈækjərətli/ |
| adequately | Staff were not adequately prepared for the crisis. | /ˈædɪkwətli/ |
| appropriately | Resources must be appropriately allocated to priority areas. | /əˈprəʊpriətli/ |
| basically | The proposal is basically the same but requires refinement.
Word Partners: basically the same
|
/ˈbeɪsɪkli/ |
| briefly | The minister addressed concerns before moving on. | /ˈbriːfli/ |
| broadly | Broadly speaking, the strategy has been successful.
Word Partners: broadly speaking
|
/ˈbrɔːdli/ |
| closely | The two incidents are closely linked to economic factors.
Word Partners: closely linked
|
/ˈkləʊsli/ |
| commonly | This approach is commonly used in clinical practice.
Word Partners: commonly used
|
/ˈkɒmənli/ |
| consistently | The party has consistently opposed the legislation. | /kənˈsɪstəntli/ |
| critically | The patient remains critically ill in intensive care.
Word Partners: critically ill
|
/ˈkrɪtɪkli/ |
| deliberately | The company deliberately misled investors about profits. | /dɪˈlɪbərətli/ |
| desperately | The region is desperately in need of humanitarian aid.
Word Partners: desperately in need of
|
/ˈdespərətli/ |
| efficiently | The system operates efficiently under normal conditions. | /ɪˈfɪʃntli/ |
| emotionally | The decision was emotionally difficult for all involved. | /ɪˈməʊʃənəli/ |
| firmly | The government remains firmly committed to the agreement.
Word Partners: firmly committed
|
/ˈfɜːmli/ |
| freely | Information should be freely accessible to all citizens. | /ˈfriːli/ |
| genuinely | Authorities are genuinely concerned about public safety. | /ˈdʒenjuɪnli/ |
| literally | The programme has helped literally thousands of families.
Word Partners: literally thousands
|
/ˈlɪtərəli/ |
| openly | The minister spoke openly about the challenges ahead. | /ˈəʊpənli/ |
| precisely | That is precisely why reform is necessary. | /prɪˈsaɪsli/ |
| primarily | The policy is primarily aimed at reducing inequality. | /praɪˈmerəli/ |
| reasonably | The project is progressing reasonably well. | /ˈriːznəbli/ |
| roughly | The programme costs roughly £10 million annually. | /ˈrʌfli/ |
| somehow | The committee somehow managed to reach consensus. | /ˈsʌmhaʊ/ |
| steadily | Unemployment has steadily declined over five years. | /ˈstedəli/ |
| strictly | The regulations are strictly enforced across all sectors.
Word Partners: strictly enforced
|
/ˈstrɪktli/ |
| thoroughly | All proposals were examined by experts. | /ˈθʌrəli/ |
| voluntarily | The CEO chose to step down voluntarily after the scandal.
Word Partners: leave voluntarily, step down voluntarily
|
/ˈvɒləntrəli/ |
Time & Sequence
| Word | Example Sentence | IPA (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| afterwards | The committee met to review findings; afterwards, they issued a statement. | /ˈɑːftəwədz/ |
| annually | The organisation publishes performance data annually.
Word Partners: publishes annually
|
/ˈænjuəli/ |
| constantly | Markets are constantly evolving in response to technology.
Word Partners: constantly evolving
|
/ˈkɒnstəntli/ |
| formerly | The region was under colonial administration. | /ˈfɔːməli/ |
| gradually | The economy is recovering from the downturn. | /ˈɡrædʒuəli/ |
| hopefully | Hopefully, the reforms will improve efficiency. | /ˈhəʊpfəli/ |
| inevitably | Higher costs will inevitably lead to price increases. | /ɪnˈevɪtəbli/ |
| initially | The proposal was rejected but later reconsidered. | /ɪˈnɪʃəli/ |
| instantly | The scandal damaged the party's reputation. | /ˈɪnstəntli/ |
| lately | Economic indicators have improved lately. | /ˈleɪtli/ |
| newly | The newly elected government faces significant challenges.
Word Partners: newly elected
|
/ˈnjuːli/ |
| nowadays | Nowadays, most transactions are conducted electronically. | /ˈnaʊədeɪz/ |
| occasionally | The committee meets occasionally to review progress.
Word Partners: meets occasionally
|
/əˈkeɪʒnəli/ |
| permanently | The facility has been permanently closed.
Word Partners: permanently closed
|
/ˈpɜːmənəntli/ |
| rapidly | The technology sector is rapidly expanding. | /ˈræpɪdli/ |
| shortly | The report will be published shortly. | /ˈʃɔːtli/ |
| sometime | The reforms will be implemented sometime next year. | /ˈsʌmtaɪm/ |
| temporarily | The service has been temporarily suspended.
Word Partners: temporarily suspended
|
/ˌtemprəˈrerəli/ |
| ultimately | The decision will ultimately rest with parliament.
Word Partners: ultimately rest
|
/ˈʌltɪmətli/ |
Discourse & Logic
| Word | Example Sentence | IPA (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| additionally | The policy will reduce costs. Additionally, it will improve efficiency. | /əˈdɪʃənəli/ |
| apparently | Apparently, the minister was unaware of the situation. | /əˈpærəntli/ |
| consequently | Investment fell; consequently, unemployment rose. | /ˈkɒnsɪkwəntli/ |
| furthermore | The costs are high. Furthermore, timelines are unrealistic. | /ˌfɜːðəˈmɔː(r)/ |
| likewise | The policy benefits workers; likewise, it supports employers. | /ˈlaɪkwaɪz/ |
| moreover | The proposal is expensive. Moreover, it lacks public support. | /mɔːrˈəʊvə(r)/ |
| nevertheless | The risks are significant; nevertheless, the project must proceed. | /ˌnevəðəˈles/ |
| otherwise | Regulations must be enforced; otherwise, standards will decline. | /ˈʌðəwaɪz/ |
| therefore | Costs have risen; therefore, prices must increase. | /ˈðeəfɔː(r)/ |
| thus | Resources are limited; thus, priorities must be established. | /ðʌs/ |
Spatially
| Word | Example Sentence | IPA (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| downwards | Inflation has trended downwards throughout the year.
Word Partners: trended downwards
|
/ˈdaʊnwədz/ |
| elsewhere | If conditions don't improve, investment will go elsewhere.
Word Partners: go elsewhere
|
/ˌelsˈweə(r)/ |
| onwards | From 2020 onwards, digital transformation accelerated rapidly.
Word Partners: from...onwards
|
/ˈɒnwədz/ |
| upwards | House prices have moved upwards for six consecutive months. | /ˈʌpwədz/ |
