ADVERBS AND
ADVERB PHRASES
‘I adore adverbs. They are the only qualifications
I really much respect.’ (Henry James)
‘The road to hell is paved with adverbs.’ (Stephen
King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, 2000.)
Key points:
• Terminological issues
• Overlaps with other word-classes
• Structure of the AdvP
• Classification: two perspectives
• Position of Advs
ADVERBS & ADVERBIALS:
terminological issues
cf.
It was here
late
noisy
on the table
in the room
where I had left it
cf.
John ran quickly.
John ran quickly downstairs.
John ran quickly downstairs, however.
cf. Huddleston & Pullum (2006)
• situational adjuncts vs speech act related adjuncts:
e.g. (1) Ed spoke frankly about his feelings.
(2) Frankly, this was a waste of time.
cf. Dixon (2005:)
(1) Happily, John has been studying for the examination.
(2) John has been happily studying for the examination.
Overlaps with other lexical classes
Adjectives
cf.
a hard worker vs. he works hard
an early breakfast we got up early
a light traveller I travel light
cf. speak louder and clearer
easier said than done
Overlaps with other lexical classes
Syncretic forms (cont.)
adverbs in adjectival function:
to move forward / a forward child
Overlaps with other lexical classes
Prepositions
cf.
They went in the house.
They went in.
The STRUCTURE of the AdvP
H
modifier complementizer
e.g. very slowly
too late
quite independently of me
Morphology of adverbs
simple: very, just, so, yet, soon, well, early...
compound: hereby, moreover, outside, nevertheless,
furthermore, whatever, therein...
complex: actually, frankly eventually, certainly, shortly,
clockwise, westward, money-wise, aboard, ashore,
aside...
Classification of adverbs
the syntactic criterion:
adverb as modifier
adverb as complement
the semantic criterion:
time/space/process/respect/contingency/modality/d
egree
cf. Quirk et al. (1985, 2005)
Classification of adverbs:
the syntactic criterion
1. Adverbs as modifiers...
... of adverbs: very slowly, quite nicely
... of adjectives: a little silly, rather hot
... of prepositions: well within time,
right through the window
... of nouns: the man outside,
the nextdoor neighbours
... of NPs: quite a party, rather a mess,
nearly the last words
... of pronouns: nearly everybody
... of determiners: virtually all the boys,
more than/over/approximately 50 men
Classification of adverbs:
the syntactic criterion
II. Adverbs as complements...
... of prepositions: near here
over here
down there
Classification of adverbs:
the semantic criterion
1. TIME
position/location: time ‘when’ adverbials
duration: time span (for/from...to/
till, until, up to/since)
frequency (definite/indefinite)
II. SPACE
• position/location: here, at home,
on the bed
• direction: westwards, to school, down the hill
• source: from school
• distance: far, a long way, (for) two miles
III. PROCESS
• manner: politely, like me, just as you do
• means: on foot, by plane, through
comparison
• instrument: with a key, using a knife, by
means of a dictionary
• agentive: by John, by rain
IIII. RESPECT
= a more abstract class of advebials, which
basically identify a relevant point of reference
from which the sentence they occur in derives its
truth value
cf.
John helped me with my work
His solution is technically impossible
They talked competently about modern art
V. CONTINGENCY
• cause/reason : because of the rain, out of pity
• purpose: in order to buy a new car, so as to finish
sooner
• result: John hated his job, so he quit
• condition: unless you apologize
• concession: although poor,... with all his faults...
VI. MODALITY
= adverbials which enhance/diminish/
approximate/restrict the truth value or force of a
sentence
cf.
John was definitely/positively happy with his job
John wasn’t happy at all with his job
John was not exactly/probably happy with his job
John was happy only with his job
John alone was happy with his job
VII. DEGREE
= adverbials concerned with the assessement of
gradable constituents in relation to an imaginary
scale (amplification/diminution).
cf.
I like music more than you/more than you do
John helped me a little/a lot with my work
I badly need a coffee
+ -ly adverbs: extremely, sufficiently, increasingly
+ simple adverbs: much, too, quite, very, so
cf. Huddleston & Pullum (2006)
• He sang badly. [MANNER] vs. They wounded him
badly. [DEGREE]
• He will behave typically. [MANNER] vs. This typically
happens after a long draught. [FREQUENCY]
• I cannot think politically. [MANNER] vs. Politically, it was a
disaster. [DOMAIN]
cf. Huddleston & Pullum (2006)
• She explained it clearly. [MANNER] vs. She is clearly a
great asset. [MODAL]
• She smiled happily. [MANNER] vs. Happily, I was able to
get my money back.
• Speech-act related
e.g.: They discussed it frankly. [MANNER] vs. Frankly, it is
a disgrace! [SPEECH-ACT RELATED]
POSITION OF ADVERBIALS
positionally,
FPA MPA EPA
FPA:
• immediately before the subject:
Suddenly, the car pulled off
However, they left the next day
I pressed the button when, all at once,
the screen went black
• immediately before the operator:
Honestly, can we trust John?
Topicalization of adverbials for emphasis/contrast
MPA:
pre-finite position:
He often goes there
We still want to come
John seldom watches TV
post-finite position:
He’s often been there
John is always busy
I have sometimes been asked to
help
EPA:
• post-verb position or, if the verb is transitive, after
its object:
She sings well
They went there
John speaks French fluently
I play tennis badly
Sequence of two or more adverbials
time + time:
We met at 2 p.m. yesterday
I saw the film on Tuesday, last week
place + place:
John lives in a small village in France
We stayed in a cottage in the mountains
cf.
We stayed in the mountains, in a cottage we rented
from a friend
place + time:
Can you get here by evening?
I went for a walk in the park before dinner
place (direction) + time (frequency)+ time (when):
I went to Brussels two times this year
John walked round the park many times before dinner
cf. Quirk et. al. (1985:583)
He really may have injured the man
He may have really injured the man
emphasizer vs. intensifier
cf. Dixon(2005:)
• (1) Happily, John has been studying for the
examination.
• (2) John has been happily studying for the
examination.
cf. Huddleston & Pullum (2006)
• He sang badly. [MANNER] vs. They wounded him
badly. [DEGREE]
• He will behave typically. [MANNER] vs. This typically
happens after a long draught. [FREQUENCY]
• I cannot think politically. [MANNER] vs. Politically, it was a
disaster. [DOMAIN]
cf. Huddleston & Pullum (2006)
• She explained it clearly. [MANNER] vs. She is clearly a
great asset. [MODAL]
• She smiled happily. [MANNER] vs. Happily, I was able to
get my money back.
• Speech-act related
e.g.: They discussed it frankly. [MANNER] vs. Frankly, it is
a disgrace! [SPEECH-ACT RELATED]
cf. Huddleston & Pullum (2006)
cf: (1) Ed spoke frankly about his feelings.
(2) Frankly, this was a waste of time.