1. A phrase that comments on the whole sentence
An ordinary adverbial answers “when?”, “where?” or “why?”. An evaluative phrase does something different: rather than describe the event, it shows the writer’s attitude to it. Single-word comments (Regrettably, Predictably) belong to a neighbouring rule; here we study multiword phrases with their own grammar: What is more worrying, Strange as it may seem, As one might expect, To put it mildly, To my surprise.
At C1, such a phrase acts as a discourse signal: it prepares the reader to see the next fact as worrying, surprising, predictable or frankly stated. The standard position practised here is at the beginning, before the main clause, followed by a comma.
multiword evaluative phrase + comma + complete clause
- clause —
- A construction with a verb, often with its own subject: when I arrived. A non-finite clause may leave the subject unspoken: to get home.
Needless to say, the first week of the festival was exhausting for the volunteers.
Needless to say, the first week of the festival was exhausting for the volunteers.
The phrase says that the consequence is obvious and needs no explanation.
To be fair, the committee had very little time to read the proposals.
To be fair, the committee had very little time to read the proposals.
The writer acknowledges a mitigating circumstance.
Odd as it may seem, the quietest café in town stands next to the railway station.
Odd as it may seem, the quietest café in town stands next to the railway station.
The fronted adjective construction expresses surprise: the fact conflicts with the usual expectation.
2. Four families of phrases
Evaluative phrases: What is more + evaluative adjective (concerning, worrying, reassuring, striking, alarming, remarkable), or What is worse. The phrase escalates the evaluation: the new fact is more important or worrying than the preceding one. If an adjective has an -ing/-ed pair, choose -ing because it describes the circumstance, not a person’s feelings. Without an adjective, What is more, is an ordinary additive linker meaning “in addition”, not an evaluation.
Concessive phrases: adjective + as or though + it may seem, sound or appear. They express surprise or unexpectedness: “however strange this may seem”. Related fixed expressions include Believe it or not, Contrary to expectation and Against all odds.
Expectation and obviousness: As one might expect, As you would expect, As was to be expected, Needless to say. The writer presents the fact as predictable.
Reaction and manner: to + possessive + emotion noun (To my surprise, To everyone’s relief, Much to our regret), and phrases about the way of speaking (To put it mildly, To be frank, To be fair, To tell the truth).
What is more reassuring, the inspectors found no structural damage.
What is more reassuring, the inspectors found no structural damage.
The evaluative phrase intensifies the positive aspect.
Hard as it may be to admit, the old design was better.
Hard as it may be to admit, the old design was better.
Concessive fronting with the adjective hard.
As anyone would have predicted, ticket prices rose before the final.
As anyone would have predicted, ticket prices rose before the final.
The expectation phrase presents the consequence as natural.
To her annoyance, the printer jammed again.
To her annoyance, the printer jammed again.
To + possessive + emotion noun: the named person’s reaction.
To put it mildly, the response from the public was lukewarm.
To put it mildly, the response from the public was lukewarm.
The speaker presents lukewarm as a restrained evaluation: they could have expressed it more strongly. In other contexts, to put it mildly can understate a positive reaction too.
3. The comma and the phrase boundaries
In the target written format, separate the whole introductory phrase with a comma. This helps mark the boundary between the comment and the main clause. Punctuation also depends on sentence structure: not every missing comma changes the grammar.
Not every opening with What is more worrying needs a comma. In What is more reassuring is that the repairs are finished, the phrase is the subject, and a subject is not separated from its predicate by a comma. In the first construction, the phrase is a comment; in the second, it is part of the sentence structure.
Another boundary: Needless to say is followed by a comma and then the clause, without that. The conjunction belongs to the similar but different construction It goes without saying that, which is a main clause rather than an introductory phrase.
What is more reassuring, the repairs were finished a week early.
What is more reassuring, the repairs were finished a week early.
A comment separated by a comma.
What is more reassuring is that the repairs were finished a week early.
What is more reassuring is that the repairs were finished a week early.
Here, the phrase is the subject, so there is no comma.
It goes without saying that safety comes first on the site.
It goes without saying that safety comes first on the site.
A different structure: a main clause with the conjunction that, without a comma.
4. Concessive fronting
In a concessive phrase, the adjective is placed first: instead of It may seem strange, but..., we say Strange as it may seem... After the adjective, use as or though, then it may seem, sound or appear. The form with two instances of as (as strange as it may seem) is also possible, but the second as cannot be omitted: as strange it may seem is incorrect.
The initial word is an adjective: Surprising as it may seem, not the adverb Surprisingly as it may seem. The verb is usually seem, sound or appear; with adjectives such as hard, it is / it may be + to-infinitive is also possible (Hard as it is to believe). A comma follows the phrase.
adjective + as/though + it may seem/sound/appear, + clause
- adjective —
- A word describing what someone or something is like: happy, tired, interesting.
- clause —
- A construction with a verb, often with its own subject: when I arrived. A non-finite clause may leave the subject unspoken: to get home.
Curious as it may sound, the loudest neighbour is also the most helpful.
Curious as it may sound, the loudest neighbour is also the most helpful.
The adjective curious, as and the verb sound.
Hard though it is to believe, the bridge was built in six weeks.
Hard though it is to believe, the bridge was built in six weeks.
A version with though and it is.
As strange as it may seem, the cheapest option lasted longest.
As strange as it may seem, the cheapest option lasted longest.
An acceptable order with two instances of as.
5. The writer’s attitude must fit the content
Strange as it may seem presents a fact as unexpected; As one might expect presents it as expected. What is more concerning increases the sense of concern. To put it mildly marks restrained wording; it can refer to negative or positive content: I was delighted, to put it mildly.
Check the phrase against the intention and context. A marker can seriously express an attitude or be ironic; an unusual combination alone does not prove an error. For a clear teaching example, choose an obvious link between the comment and the message.
There is no separate C1 rule specifying an exact number of phrases per paragraph. Use them where they help express attitude; mechanical repetition can make a text formulaic.
Contrary to expectation, the cheapest route was also the fastest.
Contrary to expectation, the cheapest route was also the fastest.
A mismatch phrase before a fact that contradicts an assumption.
As one might expect, the cheapest route was crowded.
As one might expect, the cheapest route was crowded.
The same subject matter, but an expected result.
6. Scope: what we do not study here
Single-word comments at the start of a sentence (Regrettably, Understandably) and comments within a sentence (The plan, predictably, failed) belong to neighbouring rules in this topic. Here we assess multiword phrases at the beginning of a sentence.
Certainty and hedging phrases (It is undeniable that, may well) express a degree of certainty rather than an attitude; we do not practise them here.
Regrettably, the lift is out of service.
Regrettably, the lift is out of service.
A single-word phrase: a separate neighbouring rule.
The lift, to put it mildly, has seen better days.
The lift, to put it mildly, has seen better days.
A phrase within the sentence: a separate neighbouring rule.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:Believe it or not, the lift have been out of order for a week.
Correct:Believe it or not, the lift has been out of order for a week.
The introductory phrase does not change agreement in the main clause: the lift is singular, so use has been, not have been.
Incorrect:Surprisingly as it may sound, the clinic opened early.
Correct:Surprising as it may sound, the clinic opened early.
In concessive fronting, an adjective comes first, not an adverb.
Incorrect:To mine surprise, the door was open.
Correct:To my surprise, the door was open.
The noun surprise requires the possessive determiner my. Mine stands alone in place of a noun phrase and does not fit here.
Incorrect:Needless to say that the keynote ran over time.
Correct:Needless to say, the keynote ran over time.
Needless to say needs a comma after it; that is unnecessary here.
Incorrect:As one might expected, the prices rose.
Correct:As one might expect, the prices rose.
After might, use the base form of the verb.
Incorrect:As strange it may seem, the second model sold better.
Correct:Strange as it may seem, the second model sold better.
Put the adjective first followed by as, or put as before the adjective and a second as after it.