GRAMMAR I

ADVERBS: ROLES AND MEANINGS

Adverbs have different syntactic roles in sentences:

Adverbs modifying adjectives: one of the primary functions of adverbs is modifying

adjectives. Usually they come before the adjective they modify but the adverbs enough and ago are
postposed, they come after the adjective. Other adverbs can also be postposed. (adjectives
underlined)

He was rather overawed when the old man appeared.

The cat was utterly, hopelessly entangled in the wire.
This is slightly larger than the one I showed you before.
It was so long ago.
He was old enough and intelligent enough to know better.
It is rich nutritionally with a high calcium content.

There are some adverb + adjective combinations that are used much more frequently. The
most frequent combinations include a degree adverb: really, too, pretty, quite, very in combination
with adjectives like bad, good, nice, quick.

It was really good of him to come to my help.

That looks very nice.
He was quite quick doing the job. It was too good to be true.

Adverbs modifying other adverbs: when one adverb modifies another, they form an
adverb phrase. They are less common as modifiers of other adverbs than as adjective modifiers.
However there are some that are more or less fixed and are very common specially in conversation.
Adverb + adverb combinations are used primarily for describing amounts / intensities, or for
qualifying a comparison being made. In conversation specially they can be used to describe time
and place specially the adverb right (this structure is common in American English).

pretty/so/very/too much pretty/really/very well right now

much better/more right here/there pretty soon

Thank you very much for your attention.

You are doing much better.
This machine is much more powerful than the other one.
I told you to come right now.
I’ll meet you right here in an hour’s time.
I told you to sit right there and wait.

Adverbs modifying other elements: adverbs can also modify noun phrases, prepositional
phrases, particles, numerals or measurements.

Modifier of noun phrase:

1
 ‘It came as quite a surprise,’ she said.

Modifier of a pronoun:

Almost nobody, it seemed, took any notice of what was happening.

Modifier of pre determiner:

I’ve done about half a side.

Modifier of prepositional phrase:

He was well into his nineties when he died.

Modifier of particle of phrasal verb:

He turned the volume right up.

Modifier of numeral:

The government says that approximately 200 people’s homes were damaged

Modifier of other measurement expressions:

Roughly one-third of the land was covered with water.

Adverbs as complements of prepositions: adverbs can also be complements of

prepositions, usually denoting time. (preposition underlined)

Before long he had become a very rich man

He has never seen his brother since then.
It must be under there somewhere although I can’t see it.

Adverbs as adverbials: an adverb or an adverb phrase can function as adverbials (clause

elements), the 3 major types are: circumstance, stance and linking adverbials.

Circumstance: add information about the action or state that is described in the clause, they give
details about time, manner and place.

He took it in slowly but comprehendingly.

Stance: convey the speaker / writer’s assessment of the proposition of the clause.

His attitude undoubtedly conveyed annoyance.

Linking: these connect different stretches of the text.

He missed the bus; therefore, he arrived late.

Adverbs standing alone: these are found generally in conversation, they stand alone and
involve ellipsis.

2
A: He didn’t know what to do. A: You can do it tomorrow.
B: Seriously? B: Really?

A: Do you still want to go? B: Definitely!

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