我们愿意在这里和你们谈谈有关句子副词的一些问题，因为国内不少语法书或未涉及句子副词，或虽涉及，但语焉不详。
什么是句子副词呢？ 简言之，句子副词 (sentence adverb)就是修饰整个句子的副词，而不是只修饰某一动词、形容词或另一副词等的副词。试比较下面两句中的副词 frankly:
(1)Frankly , are you tired?
(2)Tell me frankly , are you tired?
很显然，例（1）中的副词frankly并不修饰句中任何一个词，而是针对整个句子而言的，实际上等于另一句话: Tell me frankly。例 （2）中的副词 frankly 则只修饰动词 tell, 而不是修饰整个句子。像例 （1）中frankly这种表示说话人（或请对方）对其所言带有评论性质的句子副词，在英语中是比较常见的。下面我们就这种句子副词作一分类说明。
第一类是表示说话人从情态与方式上进行评说的，例（1）中的frankly即是一例。再如：
(3)She fairly screamed. （fairly在此意谓“不夸大地说”）
(4)Truly , what is your opinion? （truly在此意谓“说实在的”）
(5)I think he will get the job, confidentially .（confidentially 在此意谓“我告诉你个秘密”）
(6)Briefly , your work must improve. （briefly在此意谓“简单地说”）
(7)Seriously , do you believe in God?（seriously 在此意谓“说正经的”）
(8)I honestly don't believe that he will be able to do that job. （honestly 在此意谓“老实说”）
除上述句中的句子副词外，这一类句子副词还有candidly, flatly, truthfully, privately, bluntly, broadly, crudely, roughly, simply等。
第二类是表示说话人评说其所言的“方面”的，如：
(9)Personally , I think he is a good man, but you may not agree.
（personally意谓“从我个人方面讲”）
(10)He generally gets good marks for English. （generally 意谓“从总的方面讲”）
(11)She was strictly out of order in adjourning that meeting at that point. （strictly 在此意谓“严格地说”）
这一类句子副词往往可与现在分词speaking连用，如：
(12)Generally speaking , women live longer than men.
(13)Strictly speaking , the cyclist was responsible for the accident.
这一类句子副词除上述外还有figuratively, literally, metaphorically 等。
第三类是表示说话人评说所言的真实程度的，如：
(14)Evidently he disagrees.
(15)You don't believe what she said, surely ?
(16)He is indeed a man of great talent.
上述三例中的句子副词皆表示说话人的毫不怀疑的态度，这种句子副词还有admittedly, certainly, decidedly, definitely, undeniably, undoubtedly, unquestionably, clearly, manifestly, obviously, plainly等。
下面一些例句中的句子副词则是表示说话人抱有某种程度的怀疑：
(17)That lady could perhaps be Sophie's mother.
(18)Apparently , they intend to discuss it.
(19)He could, possibly , have taken it by mistake.
这种句子副词还有allegedly, arguably, conceivably, doubtless, likely, maybe, presumably, reportedly, reputedly, probably, seemingly, supposedly等。
还有一些句子副词可表真实性和非真实性。表真实性的如：
(20)Really , that was a terrible mistake.
(21)Actually , he is an expert mechanic.
表非真实性的如：
(22)Ideally , we should look at this more carefully, but we haven't enough time.
(23)He is nominally in charge of the firm but actually he has no power at all.
这种表非真实性的句子副词还有formally, hypothetically, officially, ostensibly, outwardly, superficially, technically, theoretically 等。
有些句子副词则只表示原则上是真实的，如basically,essentially, fundamentally等。
第四类是表示说话人对其所言做出的判断，如：
(24)Rightly or wrongly she refused to speak to him.
(25)They wisely took their friend's advice.
(26)Foolishly , he made an attempt to sing.
上述三例中的句子副词不仅修饰全句，而且也意指句中的主语，如例（25）中的wisely即亦意味着they were wise。这种句子副词还有correctly, incorrectly, justly, unjustly, artfully, cleverly, cunningly, prudently, reasonably, sensibly, shrewdly, unreasonably, unwisely等。
但有一些句子副词与句中的主语并无上述的意指关系，如：
(27)Naturally , they expect hotel guests to lock their doors.
(28)Strangely , no one noticed her.
(29)Unfortunately , it rained all the time we were there.
(30)Hopefully , these strategies will facilitate his learning.
这种句子副词为数不少，还有remarkably, amazingly, curiously, funnily, incredibly, ironically, oddly, unexpectedly, inevitably, understandably, annoyingly, regrettably, fortunately, happily, luckily, sadly, tragically, amusingly, preferably, conveniently, significantly, thankfully等。
除上述四大类句子副词外，有的语法家认为表不确定的或经常重复的时间的副词并不属于句中任何一个成分，所以也是句子副词，如：
(31)Ordinarily we eat breakfast at seven.
(32)Misfortunes never come single.
(33)Bessie arrived punctually always .
这种表时间的句子副词还有 generally, usually, often, repeatedly, sometimes, seldom, rarely等。有些表不确定的时间与时段的副词也应属于这一类，如again, already, still, then, soon, gradually, just等。
有的语法家也将so, thus, yet, besides, furthermore, likewise, moreover, however, nevertheless, notwithstanding, accordingly, therefore等副词看作句子副词，但在一般语法中，这些副词，由于接近连词，皆被称作连接副词，所以这里就不细说了。
最后，关于句子副词，还应指出下列几点：
1. 句子副词在句中一般并没有固定的位置，它可以位于句首，也可以位于句中，也可以位于句末。应位于何处，须视具体情况而定。
2. 句子副词之前之后是否应有逗号，一般似乎没有一定之规。但位于句首的句子副词之后，似多用逗号；而在位于句末的句子副词之前用逗号的情况就更多了。
3. 应注意句子副词与非句子副词 （尤其是修饰谓语动词的非句子副词）的区别。上述例（1）与例（2）中已进行过一点比较，现再试比较几对句子如下：
(34)I simply can't bear this noise. （simply 是句子副词）
(35)He spoke simply and to the point. （simply 是修饰谓语动词 spoke的非句子副词）
(36)He naturally replied at once. （naturally 是句子副词）
(37)He replied naturally .（naturally 是修饰谓语动词的非句子副词）
(38)Clearly he saw what she meant. （clearly 是句子副词）
(39)He saw it clearly .（clearly 是非句子副词，修饰谓语动词）
关于句子副词就谈这些吧。
