Modifying the Whole Sentence
Most adverbs modify a verb or an adjective. However, viewpoint and commenting adverbs are unique because they modify the entire sentence.
They express the speaker's attitude, opinion, or point of view about the information in the sentence.
Where Do They Go?
Because they comment on the whole sentence, they are usually placed at the very beginning of the sentence, followed immediately by a comma.
- Fortunately, we caught the train just in time. (The speaker's comment: It was lucky).
- Personally, I don't like spicy food. (The speaker's viewpoint: This is my own opinion).
- Surprisingly, the movie was actually very good.
Common Commenting Adverbs
| Adverb | Meaning / Function |
|---|---|
| Luckily / Fortunately | Expresses that a good or positive thing happened. |
| Sadly / Unfortunately | Expresses regret or sadness about the situation. |
| Honestly / Frankly | Shows that the speaker is telling the absolute truth. |
| Obviously / Clearly | Shows that the fact should be easy for anyone to understand. |
- Frankly, I am tired of this argument.
- Obviously, he didn't study for the test.