Difference between revisions of "Adverbial"
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The '''Adverbial''', as its name suggests, does the job of an [[adverb]]. In form it may be an adverb (one word), an adverb phrase (most often in the form of a [[Prepositional Phrase]], therefore with more than one word), or an Adverbial Clause - a group of words centred on a verb. | The '''Adverbial''', as its name suggests, does the job of an [[adverb]]. In form it may be an adverb (one word), an adverb phrase (most often in the form of a [[Prepositional Phrase]], therefore with more than one word), or an Adverbial Clause - a group of words centred on a verb. | ||
| − | Examples: "he spoke '''quickly'''" (adverb in an intransitive Clause); "he thought '''in a very personal way'''" (Adverbial Phrase, intransitive sentence); "he sang '''while they were waiting'''" (Adverbial Clause, intransitive sentence); "John cooked the dinner '''in the oven'''" (Adverbial Phrase, transitive sentence); "Peter sang the song '''badly'''" ( | + | Examples: "he spoke '''quickly'''" (adverb in an intransitive Clause); "he thought '''in a very personal way'''" (Adverbial Phrase, intransitive sentence); "he sang '''while they were waiting'''" (Adverbial Clause, intransitive sentence); "John cooked the dinner '''in the oven'''" (Adverbial Phrase, transitive sentence); "Peter sang the song '''badly'''" (Adverb, transitive sentence); "we are making hay '''while the sun shines'''" (Adverbial Clause, transitive Sentence); etc. |
This is the most optional of all the [[elements of a clause]]. A writer can include it or not, with great freedom of choice. It is also more 'mobile' than the others - that is, it can appear in any part of the sentence: "While they were waiting, he sang." | This is the most optional of all the [[elements of a clause]]. A writer can include it or not, with great freedom of choice. It is also more 'mobile' than the others - that is, it can appear in any part of the sentence: "While they were waiting, he sang." | ||
One warning for beginners in grammar: sometimes Adverbials can look like Objects. Indeed, one type of [[Complement]] is the Adverbial Complement, e.g. "it is '''in the book'''"; "it was '''on Tuesday'''"; "it is growing '''out of all proportion'''". Here the Adverbial completes the meaning of a [[copula]]r verb. | One warning for beginners in grammar: sometimes Adverbials can look like Objects. Indeed, one type of [[Complement]] is the Adverbial Complement, e.g. "it is '''in the book'''"; "it was '''on Tuesday'''"; "it is growing '''out of all proportion'''". Here the Adverbial completes the meaning of a [[copula]]r verb. | ||
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| + | [[Category:Grammar]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Clause structure]] | ||
| + | [[Category:stylistic free choices]] | ||
Latest revision as of 19:56, 17 March 2021
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The Adverbial, as its name suggests, does the job of an adverb. In form it may be an adverb (one word), an adverb phrase (most often in the form of a Prepositional Phrase, therefore with more than one word), or an Adverbial Clause - a group of words centred on a verb.
Examples: "he spoke quickly" (adverb in an intransitive Clause); "he thought in a very personal way" (Adverbial Phrase, intransitive sentence); "he sang while they were waiting" (Adverbial Clause, intransitive sentence); "John cooked the dinner in the oven" (Adverbial Phrase, transitive sentence); "Peter sang the song badly" (Adverb, transitive sentence); "we are making hay while the sun shines" (Adverbial Clause, transitive Sentence); etc.
This is the most optional of all the elements of a clause. A writer can include it or not, with great freedom of choice. It is also more 'mobile' than the others - that is, it can appear in any part of the sentence: "While they were waiting, he sang."
One warning for beginners in grammar: sometimes Adverbials can look like Objects. Indeed, one type of Complement is the Adverbial Complement, e.g. "it is in the book"; "it was on Tuesday"; "it is growing out of all proportion". Here the Adverbial completes the meaning of a copular verb.
