fronted adverbials that you might actually find in good writing

[FloppyHoldsNoTruckWithFrontedA]

I've found two!

"Fortunately......"
"Unfortunately...."

I'm trying to be positive rather than critical as our teachers have no choice but to teach these Gove-created monstrosities. So we might as well find a way to make them tools for good writing (as opposed to what we see in classrooms/the less good impact on our children's writing,etc).

I know there will be others.....

If I see “happily” in Jane Austen I infer an ironic tone.
Generally, I dislike any form of fronted adverbial. But sometimes they’re appropriate.

In the local primary I volunteer in the children are taught fronted adverbials and to think of how, when, where, how much and how often.

How - quietly, cautiously quickly
When - yesterday, before lunch, later
Where - behind, above, outside
How much - almost, entirely, extremely
How often - sometimes, always, occasionally

Not just stuff ending in ly.

Those are the ones I can remember from the display in the classroom, they get the children to write under each heading and keep adding to it so that others can "magpie" those words when they work.

Teaching it doesn’t necessarily mean that every sentence has to start with one. It just gives children another tool to vary some of their sentences. Not all children will pick this up just from reading

It does seem to rather encourage their over-use as a sentence starter, though - almost like the opposite of giving them variety, they become ubiquitous. If you read a classroom set of creative writing, the absolute ramming in of adjectives, adverbs, fronted adverbials, becomes completely oppressive. I remain unconvinced.

SpindleWhorl

Horrifyingly, Mr Gove was allowed to interfere in education policy.

Tragically, Mr Cameron let him.

Unforgiveably, this situation was never adequately corrected.

this one is the example that should be taught

When my DC had "creative writing" to do during home schooling, the amount of rules and formulas was insane. It seemed the most uncreative thing ever!

It's like saying you're going to be creative in art and then giving everyone a painting by numbers kit.

@Octopuscake

The first line of L'Etranger.... Yesterday, mother died.

Aujourd’hui,

I'm imaginging the next generation being taught that Camus is about fucking fronted adverbials now......

@ButtercupSquash oh crap! I totally remembered it as hier. When the aujord'hui is completely the point!! It's still a fronted advb tho?

@FloppyHoldsNoTruckWithFrontedA Camus and his wow words!!

"Camus and his wow words!!"

:) in a wincing way.