UNIT 5: THE ADVERBIAL GROUP.
Structure of the Adverbial Group.
• An adverb is always the head of the Adverbial group.
• The structure of the AdvG is very similar to that of the AdjG. 3 potential elements:
modifier (m) + head (h) + qualifier (either post-modifier (m) or complement (c))
•hearly
•hq early in the morning
•mh very early
•mhq far away from civilization
♦Remember! Qualifiers in Adverbial groups (as well as in AdjG) can be classified into
complements (if they give a more necessary meaning) and modifiers (if it’s not
controlled by the adjective).
Forming adverbs.
Three main forms:
• Simple: one or two-syllable words (usually of native origin): now, then, there, far, near,
soon, pretty and quite.
• The meaning of some adjectives can be paraphrased into a verb + their corresponding
adverb: (hard working – 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)
• Compound:
• Shortened forms of original Prepositional Phrases (indoors, inside, outside,
downstairs)
• Combination with other classes of word (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)
Semantic classes of Adverbs.
• Circumstantial (where, when and how)
•Space: Put the chairs here (position); Push it inwards (direction); Don’t go too far
(distance)
•Time: They will be coming tomorrow (moment); The doctor came daily (frequency);
We spoke briefly (duration); It hasn’t arrived yet (relation); First he came and then we
left (sequence)
