THE ADVERBIAL MODIFIER

The Adverbial modifies the verb of a sentence so as to specify the time, place, manner,

purpose, reason, etc. of the action. From a semantic point of view English adverbials may be

classified as follows:

1. The Adverbial of Time

There are two types of adverbial of time: definite and duration and indefinite &

frequency. The adverbial of definite time is usually placed at the end of the sentence; it may

be placed in sentence initial position for emphasis, e.g.:

I went home in the evening. vs. In the evening I went home.

The adverbial of indefinite time and frequency (often, seldom, sometimes, some time,

ever, never, always, etc) is placed between the subject and the predicate in the case of simple

tenses; between the first auxiliary and the rest of the predicate in the case of compound

tenses; after the verb BE, e.g.:

I often go there. I have never heard of him. She is often late.

The adverbial of time may be expressed by:

1.1. An Adv P of time, e.g.:

I go there now and then. She is always picking on other people.

1.2. A NP/ PNP, e.g.:

He’ll arrive next month/in the evening.

A substantivized numeral governed by a preposition, e.g.:

I was born in 1995.

1.3. A gerundial construction, e.g.:

On seeing her I had a nervous breakdown.

1.4. A participial construction, which is actually the result of a reduced clause; sometimes

the predicate is deleted, e.g.:

While reading, I was listening to the radio.

I read it while at home.

1.5. An absolute participial construction, e.g.:

The lecture being over, we went home.

The preparations completed, we started the conference.

2. The Adverbial of Place (including Direction and Destination) is expressed by;

2.1. An Adv P of place, e.g.:

She had friends everywhere.

2.2. A NP or a PNP, e.g.:

I am going that way.

Two students are sitting in the last row.

2.3. A NP in the Genitive, e.g.:

I buy rolls at the baker’s.

I went to my aunt’s.

3. The Adverbial of Manner

3.A. Proper is expressed by;

Adverbs usually derived with the suffix –ly, e.g.:

She smiled happily.

PNP’s, e.g.:

I did this by mistake/ with care.

3.B. of Comparison expressing equality or inequality.

3.B.1. of equality, expressed by:

A NP, sometimes governed by the preposition like , e.g.:

It fits you like a glove.

A past participle or an adverb introduced by the conjunction as, e.g.:

I called her as agreed.

Do it as before.

Reduced comparison clauses introduced by as if/ as though, e.g.:

He behaved as if mad.

She made a face as if in pain.

She raised her hand as if to stop me.

The second part of a simile, i.e. a NP/ AdjP introduced by the particle as ; the first

part of the simile usually functions as a predicative or as another adverbial, e.g.:

The building is as old as hills.

She works as much as possible/ him.

3.B.2. of inequality, expressed by:

The second part of a simile, i.e. a NP/ AdjP introduced by the particles as, than ; the

particle as is correlated with not so/ not as which introduces the first part of the

simile,; the particle than requires a comparative of superiority / inferiority in the first

part of the comparison, e.g.:

She is not as/so bright as your sister/ you.

She sings better than me.

3.C. of Result, expressed by:

Infinitival or participial constructions, e.g.:

I am too tired to leave now.

He lived to be very old.

He came in leaving the door open.

Gerundial constructions, e.g.:

Not a day passed without my reading a few pages.

3.D. of Attending Circumstances, expressed by;

PNP, e.g.:

With these words he got up and left.

AdjP that takes a NP modifier, e.g.:

She was walking up and down tense with expectation.

Participial constructions, e.g.:

We spent our morning taking notes.

We visited the town with John acting as our guide.

Gerundial constructions, e.g.:

We’ll go without her knowing it.

4. The Adverbial of Cause/ Reason may be expressed by:

4.1. The relative/ interrogative adverb why, e.g.:

Why did he leave?

4.2. PNP’s, (frequent prepositions: for, out of, because of, with, from lack of, for need of,

due to) e.g.:

She was shivering with cold.

He did it because of his ambition.

4.3. Adjectives or nouns in reduced clauses, e.g.:

A kind-hearted person, she immediately helped them.

Angry at her, I decided not to answer.

4.4. Participial constructions, e.g.:

Not being familiar with the surroundings, she lost her way.

It being cloudy, I took my umbrella.

4.5. Gerundial constructions, e.g.:

She was furious for having been asked to leave.

5. The Adverbial of Purpose is expressed by infinitival and gerundial constructions, e.g.:

He came with me (in order/ so as) to show me the new shop.

I opened the door for her to come in.

This room is used for teaching.

They did it with a view to increasing their popularity.

6. The Adverbial of Condition may be expressed by:

6.1. PNP’s (without, but for), e.g.:

You’ll be lost without me.

But for him, you wouldn’t have managed.

6.2. Reduced clauses (introduced by if, unless), e.g.:

If interesting, I might go there.

6.3. Participial constructions, e.g.:

Admitting it to be true, we could take some steps.

Taken in small amounts, it isn’t harmful.

Weather permitting, we’ll go on a trip.

7. The Adverbial of Concession/ Contrast may be expressed by:

7.1. PNP’s, e.g.:

In spite of/ Despite his success he was not happy.

With/ For all his practical skills he’s not a good engineer.

7.2. Two NP’s connected by the conjunction or, e.g.:

Rain or shine, I’ll go there tomorrow.

7.3. Two AdjP’s connected by the conjunction or and introduced by whether, e.g.:

I need an answer whether affirmative or negative.

7.4. AdjP or NP’s introduced by the conjunction (al)though, in reduced clauses, e.g.:

Although not a genius, he was of great help to us.

Though tired, she started washing.

8. The Adverbial of Exception is expressed by a NP introduced by a preposition(al phrase)

such as except (for), bar(ring), but, etc.

Everyone was there except Paul.

The play was good, barring one scene.

Nobody was there, but James.

9. The Adverbial of Relation is expressed by a NP or gerund introduced by the prepositional

phrases as to, as for:

As for the meals, we had to cook them ourselves.

As for dusting the furniture, we had some help.

10. The Adverbial of Quantity, Measure, Degree, and Approximation is expressed by

NP’s:

I walked four miles.

It weighs a ton.