The Adverbial Group

(Tema 4)

Structure
Very similar to that of the AdjG. 3 potential
elements:
modifier (m) + head (h) + post-head element
(either post-modifier (m) or complement (c))
Adverb as a head
Their combination produces different structures:
h
early
hm
early in the morning
mh
very early
mhc far away from civilization

Forming adverbs (I)

3 main forms:
Simple: one or two-syllable words (usually of native
origin): now, then, there, far, near, soon, pretty,
quite
Some = corresponding adjective
(A HARD worker he works HARD/ A FAST car she
drives FAST)
Derived:
Formed from adjectives by adding ly (happily,
badly)
Formed from nouns by adding wise, -ways, -wards
(clockwise, sideways, backwards)
Adverbs beginning with a- or be- indicate
position/direction (above, ahead, before, beyond)

Forming adverbs (II)

Compound:
Shortened forms of original Prepositional
Phrases (indoors, inside, outside,
downstairs)
Combination with other classes of word
(somewhere, anywhere, however,
moreover, anyway)
Phrasal adverbs are not compounds but
consist of more than one word (of
course, at all, kind of, sort of, in fact,
as well)

Meanings of AdvGs (I)

Meaning must be observed in context. 5 types (=
semantic categories) are observed (Downing & Locke, 2006: 505-507):
Circumstantial (where, when and how)
SPACE: Put the chairs HERE (position); Push it
INWARDS (direction); Dont go too FAR
(distance)
TIME: They will be coming TOMORROW (moment); The
doctor came DAILY (frequency); We spoke
BRIEFLY (duration); It hasnt arrived YET
(relation); FIRST he came and THEN we left
(sequence)
MANNER: Hold it CAREFULLY
DOMAIN: The concert was a success ARTISTICALLY
but not FINANCIALLY

Meanings of AdvGs (II)

Stance (personal point of view)
CERTAINTY/DOUBT: PERHAPS Im wrong
EVIDENTIAL: APPARENTLY, they emigrated to
Australia
VIEWPOINT: We are in good shape
FINANCIALLY
EMPHASIS: He is plainly just a creep. INDEED
he is!
JUDGEMENT: The Minister has WISELY
resigned
ATTITUDE: THANKFULLY, it didnt rain

Meanings of AdvGs (III)

Degree (comparing, intensifying)
COMPARISON: This is the MOST EFFICIENT
scanner ever
INTENSIFICATION: He lives alone but seems
PRETTY happy
ATTENUATION: It was KIND OF strange to see
her again
APPROXIMATION: There were ABOUT 20
people there
SUFFICIENCY: Is the water hot ENOUGH?
EXCESS: ACTUALLY, its too hot

Meanings of AdvGs (IV)

Focusing (restricting the scope)
RESTRICTION: That is MERELY a detail
REINFORCEMENT: The hotel had EVEN a fitness
center
Connective (logical connection)
SEQUENCE: FIRST, I have no money, and SECOND, I
have no time
CONCLUSION: It was a tiring trip, but ALTOGETHER
very nice
RESTATING: Weve got two pets, NAMELY a rabbit
and a canary
REASON: I couldnt find you, SO I left
CONDITION: Take an umbrella; OTHERWISE youll
get wet
CLARIFICATION: He wants to live abroad, or
RATHER anywhere away from home

Syntactic functions of Adverbs

& Adverbial Groups (I)
In

groups / phrases (Downing & Locke, 2006: 509):

Modifier in AdjGs: QUITE nice
Modifier in AdvGs: NEARLY there
Modifier in NGs: a NEARBY hotel
Modifier of determiners: ALMOST all
Modifier in PrepPhs: RIGHT out of sight
Post-modifier & complement in AdjGs: very
beautiful INDEED (m), quick ENOUGH (c)
Post-modifier & complement in AdvGs: never
AGAIN, quickly ENOUGH
Complement in PrepPhs: over HERE

Syntactic functions of Adverbs

& Adverbial Groups (II)
In clauses (Downing and Locke, 2006: 509):
Adjunct: I knew her PRETTY WELL
Stance Adjunct (expressing evaluation of
whats being said): FORTUNATELY, it didnt rain
Inferential connective (expressing the
speakers assessment of the relation between
two linguistic units): So you dont want to
come, THEN
Direct Object: I dont know WHEN
Subject (marginally): TODAY is the last Friday in the
month

Positions of adverbs
Modifiers: fixed position
When part of a clause (as adjuncts) they are more
mobile: initial, middle , end positions (REALLY, I
dont like driving/ I REALLY dont like driving/I dont
REALLY like driving/I dont like driving, REALLY)
In initial position, the adverbs scope extends to the
whole clause (Hopefully, the new plan will solve the
problem)
Place, time and manner adverbs are placed more
naturally in final position (immediately after the verb
unless there is a direct object when there is a direct
object, the adverb follows it)

Comparison of adverbs
Adverbs are graded with the same words as
adjectives: more often, most often, less often,
least often, as often, often enough, too often
Only some adverbs can take inflectional forms
(mainly adverbs sharing the form with
adjectives): good/well better, best; bad/badly
worse, worst; far further, furthest
Adjectives ending in ly dont take
inflectional forms, but create comparisons in
the analytical way: quickly more quickly, most
quickly BUT NOT quicklier, quickliest