VERBS 10: Adverbs and Adverbials

Materials by Liz Siler

Adverbials• Adverbials are structures that modify

verb phrases (and sometimes other structures). An adverbial can be:– An adverb phrase– A prepositional phrase– A noun phrase– A clause

• We will discuss the first three in this lesson.

Adverbials 1: Adverb Phrases

• An adverb phrase (one type of adverbial) is centered around an adverb.

Adverbs

• Typical adverbs are single words that end in -ly and answer questions loosely formed with “how” and “when.”– Usually: When does this happen? This

usually happens.– Thoroughly: How did he do it? He did it

thoroughly.

Some adverbs with -ly

• accidentally; angrily; annually; anxiously; awkwardly; badly; blindly; boastfully; boldly; bravely; briefly; brightly; busily; calmly; carefully; carelessly; cautiously; cheerfully; clearly; correctly; courageously; crossly; cruelly; daily; defiantly; deliberately; doubtfully; easily; elegantly; enormously; enthusiastically; equally; eventually; exactly; faithfully; fatally; fiercely; fondly; foolishly; fortunately; frantically; gently; gladly; gracefully; greedily; happily; hastily; honestly; hourly; hungrily; innocently; inquisitively; irritably; joyously; justly; kindly; lazily; loosely; loudly; madly; merrily; monthly; mortally; mysteriously; nearly; neatly; nervously; noisily; obediently; obnoxiously; painfully; perfectly; politely; poorly; powerfully; promptly; punctually; quickly; quietly; rapidly; rarely; really; recently; recklessly regularly; reluctantly; repeatedly; rightfully; roughly; rudely; sadly; safely; selfishly; seriously; shakily; sharply; shrilly; shyly; silently; sleepily; slowly; smoothly; softly; solemnly; speedily; stealthily; sternly; successfully; suddenly; suspiciously; swiftly; tenderly; tensely; thoughtfully; tightly; truthfully; unexpectedly; victoriously; violently; vivaciously; warmly; weakly; wearily; wildly; yearly

Other adverbs

• Other adverbs don’t end in -ly but do answer the “how” and “when” questions.

• Examples: soon, now, often, then, still, yet, always, never , well.

Examples: Sentences with Adverb Phrases

• The students angrily planned a walkout.

• Administrative salaries can not be easily explained.

• Tuition always increases.

• Administrative salaries often increase!

Adverbs with Tenses and Aspects

• Note that sometimes an adverb works well with one tense/aspect but not with another.

Recently

Frequently, usually, often

Adverbials 2: Prepositional Phrase Adverbials

• Prepositional phrase adverbials are formed with prepositional phrases (preposition + noun phrase)

Examples

• Some prepositional phrase adverbials are often used with perfect/perfect progressive aspects. – I have spoken Spanish since 1968.– I have spoken Spanish for 42 years.– By next year, I will have spoken Spanish

for 42 years.

•

Adverbials 3: Noun Phrase Adverbials

• Noun phrase adverbials are adverbials formed from a noun phrase.

• These often answer the “when” question.

Examples

• Last week, tonight, today:– I went to a meeting last week.– We will meet today.– The meeting will happen tonight.

Modals and the Future

• Since we only have two tenses in English (past and present), modals are commonly used to help us talk about the future.

• But modals are tricky (ask any ESL learner). They aren’t “clean.”

• A person can use some present tense and past tense modals to talk about the future.

• So in clauses with modals in the verb phrases, adverbials take on special importance. Adverbials help clarify the time frame.

Examples

• He should go tomorrow. (Past tense modal “should” but the time frame is clearly the future because of the adverbial “tomorrow.”)

• He would often go there. (Past tense modal “would” and the time frame is clearly the past because of the adverbial “often.”)