English Learning

Word of the Week: apparently

Written by Ioannes Oculus

Definitions

/əˈpær.ənt.li/

Oxford: As far as one knows or can see.

Cambridge:

  • used to say you have read or been told something although you are not certain it is true;
  • used when the real situation is different from what you thought it was;
  • used to say that something seems to be true, although it is not certain.

Translations

Polish: podobno, najwyraźniej, pozornie.

Spanish: al parecer, por lo visto, según parece

German: offensichtlich, anscheinend

Examples

Our bus was late, apparently due to heavy snowfalls.

***

‘You look troubled, young Potter,’ said Nick, folding a transparent letter as he spoke and tucking it inside his doublet.
‘So do you,’ said Harry.
‘Ah,’ Nearly Headless Nick waved an elegant hand, ‘a matter of no importance … it’s not as though I really wanted to join … thought I’d apply, but apparently I “don’t fulfil requirements”.’
In spite of his airy tone, there was a look of great bitterness on his face.

J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

I have often wondered about my father’s and my grandfather’s escape. I see now they must have had a private Side-door which only they knew about. But apparently they made a map, and I should like to know how Gandalf got hold of it, and why it did not come down to me, the rightful heir.

J.R.R Tolkien, Hobbit, words said by Thorin

Exercises

Please answer in the comments:

1. Finish the sentences

a. I thought that she was just a normal woman selling vegetables on the street, but apparently…

b. Mike moved to what he thought was a nice and quiet village. It turned out, that apparently…

2. Transform the sentences, so the second one means has the same meaning as the first. Use the word apparently.

a. The plane is late. People say it’s because of the strike.

The plane is late…

b. The recent crimes committed in the town do not seem to be connected.

The series of…

Bonus 😉

Watch this apparently wonderful kid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz5TGN7eUcM. Try to count how many times he uses the word apparently. You’d better use it as it can lead you to Ellen Talk Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON8zlaiI-Po

About the author

Ioannes Oculus

I am addicted to languages, both modern and ancient. No language is dead as long as we can read and understand it. I want to share my linguistic passion with like minded people. I am also interested in history, astronomy, genealogy, books and probably many others. My goals now are to write a novel in Latin, a textbook for Latin learners, Uzbek-Polish, Polish-Uzbek dictionary, modern Uzbek grammar and textbook for learners. My dream is to have a big house in UK or USA where I could keep all my books and have enough time and money to achieve my goals.

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