Adverbial
In English grammar, an adverbial (abbreviated adv) is a word (an adverb) or a group of words (an adverbial clause or adverbial phrase) that modifies or more closely defines the sentence or the verb.[1] (The word adverbial itself is also used as an adjective, meaning "having the same function as an adverb".) Look at the examples below:
- Danny speaks fluently. (telling more about the verb)
- Lorna ate breakfast yesterday morning. (telling when the verb's action occurred)
The form of adverbials[edit]
Adverbials most commonly take the form of adverbs, adverb phrases, temporal noun phrases or prepositional phrases. Many types of adverbials (for instance: reason and condition) are often expressed by clauses.
- James answered immediately. (adverb)
- James answered in English. (prepositional phrase)
- James answered this morning. (noun phrase)
- James answered in English because he had a foreign visitor. (adverbial clause)
An adverbial is a construction which modifies or describes verbs. When an adverbial modifies a verb, it changes the meaning of that verb. This may be performed by an adverb or a word group, either considered an adverbial: for example, a prepositional phrase, a noun phrase, a finite clause or a non-finite clause.[2]
Types of adverbials that form sentence elements[edit]
Adverbials are typically divided into four classes:
Adverbial complements (i.e. obligatory adverbial) are adverbials that render a sentence ungrammatical and meaningless if removed.
- John put the flowers in the water.
Adjuncts: These are part of the core meaning of the sentence, but if omitted still leave a meaningful sentence.
- John and Sophia helped me with my homework.
Conjuncts: These link two sentences together.
- John helped; therefore, I was able to do my homework.
Disjuncts: These make comments on the meaning of the rest of the sentence.
- Surprisingly, he passed all of his exams.
Distinguishing an adverbial from an adjunct[edit]
All verb- or sentence-modifying adjuncts are adverbials, but some adverbials are not adjuncts.
- If the removal of an adverbial does not leave a well-formed sentence, then it is not an adjunct
- If the adverbial modifies within a sentence element, and is not a sentence element in its own right, it is not an adjunct.
- If the adverbial is not grammatically tied to the sentence it is not an adjunct, e.g.
- Mr Reninson, however, voted against the proposal. (adverbial conjunct not adjunct)
Other types of adverbials[edit]
Directional and locative particles[edit]
Prepositions (in, out, etc.) may be used adverbially to indicate direction or location.
- Superman flew in. (directional)
- Are you in? (locative)
- The car drove out. (directional)
- The ball is out. (locative)
Negators[edit]
In some grammar models, negators such as "not" and "never" are considered adverbs with the function of negating adverbial clauses.[example needed]
Expletives[edit]
Often ignored, expletives may take up many adverbial syntactic functions. Pragmatically and semantically, they often serve as intensifiers, boosting the content of the clause they appear in.
- What the hell are you talking about?
- You're freaking lying!
- You bloody well know that smoking's not allowed here!
- He got sodding killed.
References[edit]
- ^ Nordquist, Richard (1 July 2019). "Adverbial Definition and Examples". Archived from the original on 14 October 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
- ^ Biber et al. 2002 Student grammar of spoken and written English. ISBN 0-582-23727-0
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