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REFERENCE

tragically

adv. sent.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈtɹædʒɪkɫi// UK //tɹˈædʒɪkli// trag·i·cal·ly

adv. in a way that is very sad and usually involves death or serious loss. You use it to show that something is a terrible shame.

adv. in a manner that causes or involves great sadness, suffering, or death. Often functions as a disjunct to express the speaker's attitude toward the event being described.


SIMPLE

Tragically, the young artist died before her first exhibition.

CONTEXTUAL

The historic library was tragically destroyed in a fire just weeks before its grand reopening.

COMPLEX

The peace treaty was tragically ignored by both sides, leading to a decade of unnecessary conflict that devastated the region's economy and displaced thousands of families.

Usage

Sentence adverb — typically placed at the beginning of a sentence to set the tone for the entire statement.

Pitfall

The accident happened tragic.The accident happened tragically.Learners often use the adjective 'tragic' when the adverb 'tragically' is required to modify the verb or the entire sentence.

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