[Grammar] Can we use an adverb to modify the verb "will"

[btg760]

Hi, Can we use an adverb to modify the verb "will" ?

For example,

The use of gravity waves, which do not interact with matter in the way electromagnetic waves do, hopefully will enable astronomers to study the actual formation of black holes and neutron stars.

Please explain.

Thanks,
BTG760

[susiedqq]

Sure! - as I will gladly tell you!

[btg760]

Well, the source that I am using in that it is stated that it is wrong. I am preparing for GMAT and as I searched on GMAT related forum for this question, I found that "hopefully is always wrong in GMAT" as an explanation to the following question. The source is 1000 SC. Here is the complete question.

844. The use of gravity waves, which do not interact with matter in the way electromagnetic waves do, hopefully will enable astronomers to study the actual formation of black holes and neutron stars.
(A) in the way electromagnetic waves do, hopefully will enable
(B) in the way electromagnetic waves do, will, it is hoped, enable
(C) like electromagnetic waves, hopefully will enable
(D) like electromagnetic waves, would enable, hopefully
(E) such as electromagnetic waves do, will, it is hoped, enable

Correct answer according to the source and other GMAT forum is "B"

Can you explain the reason why "A" is incorrect and "B" is correct?

Thanks

[David L.]

Here's what my sources say on that matter:

The traditional sense of hopefully, ‘in a hopeful manner’ ( : he stared hopefully at the trophy), has been used since 1593. The first recorded use of hopefully as a sentence adverb, meaning ‘it is to be hoped that’ ( : hopefully, we'll see you tomorrow), appears in 1702 in the : Magnalia Christi Americana, written by Massachusetts theologian and writer Cotton Mather. This use of hopefully is now the most common one. Sentence adverbs in general ( : frankly,: honestly,: regrettably,: seriously) are found in English since at least the 1600s, and their use has become common in recent decades. However, most traditionalists take the view that all sentence adverbs are inherently suspect. Although they concede that the battle over hopefully is lost on the popular front, they continue to withhold approval of its use as a sentence adverb. Attentive ears are particularly bothered when the sentence that follows does not match the promise of the introductory adverb, as when frankly is followed not by an expression of honesty but by a self-serving proclamation ( : frankly, I don't care if you go or not).

Most native speakers taking the test would have erred in the eyes of GMAT!

[BobK]

Nice summary. The pedants who write the GMAT syllabus must have a miserable life, wincing whenever users break their 'rules'. Unfortunately, they pass their pain on to the poor students!

b

[Raymott]

Originally Posted by btg760

Well, the source that I am using in that it is stated that it is wrong.

I think it's worth pointing out that it is the use of "hopefully" that is judged to be wrong here, not whether "will" can be modified by an adverb in general.
It can be.