English Adverbs and Adverb Phrases
The Five Main Functions of Adverbs in the English Language
Mar 29, 2009
Adverbs and adverb phrases perform five main grammatical functions within sentences in the English language. Both native speakers and ESL students must learn and understand the five functions in order to correctly speak and write with adverbs and adverb phrases in English. The five functions of adverbs and adverb phrases are:
- Adjective phrase modifier
- Adverb phrase modifier
- Verb phrase modifier
- Adverbial
- Adjunct
Adverbs are traditionally defined as "words that describe verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs." Adverb phrases are defined as phrases that consist of an adverb plus any modifying adverbs and adverb phrases. For example, the phrases very, incredibly quickly, and however are all adverb phrases.
Adverbs as Adjective Phrase Modifiers
The first grammatical function that adverbs and adverb phrases can perform is the adjective phrase modifier. Adjective phrase modifiers are defined as words and phrases that describe an adjective or adjective phrase. For example, the following italicized adverbs and adverb phrases function as adjective phrase modifiers:
- The boldly brave toddler climbed onto the table.
- Your newborn baby daughter is very tiny.
- Students who are clearly sick may not attend class.
- Habitually absent employees will be fired.
Adverbs as Adverb Phrase Modifiers
The second grammatical function that adverbs and adverb phrases can perform is the adverb phrase modifier. Adverb phrase modifiers are defined as words and phrases that describe an adverb or adverb phrase. For example, the following italicized adverbs and adverb phrases function as adverb phrase modifiers:
- The music from next door is blaring extremely loudly.
- Olympic runners can sprint very quickly.
- Your suspiciously mysteriously strange behavior tipped off the police.
- My use of adverbs is almost always perfect.
Adverbs as Verb Phrase Modifiers
The third grammatical function that adverbs and adverb phrases can perform is the verb phrase modifier. Verb phrase modifiers are defined as words and phrases that can describe a verb or verb phrase. For example, the following italicized verbs and verb phrases function as verb phrase modifiers:
- My pets wake promptly at sunrise.
- She fiercely fought against her attacker.
- Residents must quickly and quietly exit the building during the fire drill.
- Her husband almost always forgets to take out the trash.
- Do not eat in the library.
Adverbs as Adverbials
The fourth grammatical function that adverbs and adverb phrases can perform is the adverbial. Adverbials are defined as words, phrases, and clauses that modify an entire clause by providing information such as time, place, manner, condition, reason, or purpose. For example, the following italicized adverbs and adverb phrases function as adverbials:
- The woman waited in line patiently.
- Eagerly, my baby brother told me what he wanted for Christmas.
- The new mother looked at her new baby adoringly.
- Stubbornly, the little girl refused to eat her vegetables at dinner.
Adverbs as Adjuncts
The fifth grammatical function that adverbs and adverb phrases can perform is the adjunct. Adjuncts are defined as words and phrases that frame an entire clause. For example, the following italicized adverbs and adverb phrases function as adjuncts:
- Surprisingly, the slacker aced all of the final exams.
- Noun phrases and prepositional phrases, however, can also function as adverbials.
- Do you like to write about grammar, too?
- Nevertheless, students must turn in all assignments before the next class.
The five functions of adverbs and adverb phrases in English are adjective phrase modifier, adverb phrase modifier, verb phrase modifier, adverbial, and adjunct. Both English-speaking and ESL students must learn and understand the five functions to fully and properly use adverbs and adverb phrases in spoken and written English.
Sources
Hopper, Paul J. A Short Course in Grammar. W.W. Norton & Company: New York, 1999.
Huddleston, Rodney. Introduction to the Grammar of English. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1984.
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