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Adverb Phrases Modify I Adv Words Verbs Examples

Topic Adverb phrases
Source https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/adverb-phrases
Section Adjectives and adverbs
SubSection adjective and adverb phrases
Content
 

Adverb phrases: forms

An adverb phrase consists of one or more words. The adverb is the head of the phrase and can appear alone or it can be modified by other words. Adverbs are one of the four major word classes, along with nouns, verbs and adjectives.

In the examples the adverb phrases are in bold. The other words that modify the adverb are underlined:

We usually go on holiday in August.

Time goes very quickly.

The day passed quickly enough.

This works really well for its size.

Luckily for us, the cost was not so high.

We kept the new money quite separately from what we’d already collected.

In general, these patterns are similar to adjective phrases.

 

Adverb phrases: types and meanings

An adverb phrase can consist of one adverb or an adverb plus other words before it (premodification) or after it (postmodification). Adverb phrases have many different meanings.

In the examples the adverb phrases are in bold. The other words that modify the adverb are underlined.

example

type

used to give information about

We walked very carefully across the floor.

manner

how something happens

Here is where I was born.

That’s it. Right there.

place

where something happens

Dad got home very late.

time

when something happens

This pill will take away the pain temporarily.

duration

how long something happens

They almost never invite people to their house these days.

frequency

how often something happens

A:

Want some sugar in your coffee?

B:

Only half a spoon, please.

focusing

something specific

That dog behaves incredibly stupidly!

degree

how much or to what degree something happens

The train will probably be late.

It doesn’t necessarily mean that.

certainty or necessity

how certain or necessary something is

Unfortunately for me, I can’t speak Italian.

evaluative

the speaker’s opinion of something

Personally, I don’t see why the party has to start so early.

viewpoint

the speaker’s perspective or reaction

It rained very heavily this summer. Therefore, many of the vegetables were very small.

linking

relationships between clauses and sentences

 

Adverb phrases: functions

Adverb phrases + verbs

We use adverb phrases most commonly to modify verbs. In the examples the adverb phrases are in bold. The verbs that they modify are underlined:

Children grow up really quickly.

I exercise very regularly and I eat quite healthily.

Adverb phrases + be

We use adverb phrases with be. This is especially typical of adverbs of place:

I’m upstairs. I’ll only be a minute.

A:

Have you seen my gloves?

B:

They’re right there, on the table.

Adverb phrases + adjectives/adverbs

We use adverb phrases (adv) to modify adjectives and other adverbs:

I found it [ADV]extremely [adjective]difficult to talk to her.

He drives [ADV]really [ADV]carefully.

Adverb phrases + other phrases

We use adverb phrases (adv) to modify noun phrases (np) and prepositional phrases:

That’s [ADV]quite [NP]a tree. (it’s a tree that is special in some way, e.g. it’s very big)

There was [ADV]hardly [pronoun] anyone at the concert.

We climbed [ADV]right [prepositional phrase] over the top of the hill and down again.

Adverb phrases + determiners

We use adverb phrases to modify determiners, especially words like all, some, half, many (quantifiers):

Only half of my friends could come to my party.

Very few people have heard of my city. It’s very small.

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