Frequency Adverbs
 She is always here
 The bus is rarely on
time
 They are often tired
Other Adverbs
 We were all happy
 August was even
hotter than July
 I am already late

This is to put more emphasis on
this element. The punctuation
and the voice will change too.

If you put any of the nagative
adverbs at the beginning of a
sentence, you will require an
inversion (auxiliary-subject
switch).

Negative Adverbs at the start of a sentence:
They will never do it again
Never will they do it again
She can rarely have a rest
Rarely can she have a rest

Adverb phrase structure rule:
AdvP(deg)Adv
AdvP AdvP
DEG ADV Adv
Very,
Suspiciously,
Extremely…
Quietly, Softly,
Carefully…
Well,hard,Fast,
Badly…

• Example:
She sings very quietly.
S
NP VP
N
She sings
V AdvP
Deg Adv
very quitely

FUNCTION
adverb phrases perform five main
grammatical functions within
sentences in the English
language.
correctly speak and write
with adverbs and adverb
phrases in English.

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 : very, incredibly , quickly,
and however are all adverb phrases.

The five functions of adverb phrases are:
1. Adjective phrase modifier
2. Adverb phrase modifier
3. Verb phrase modifier
4. Adverbial
5. Adjunct

The first grammatical function that adverb
phrases can perform is the adjective phrase
modifier
- For example, the following italicized
adverbs and adverb phrases function as
adjective phrase modifiers:
Your newborn baby daughter is very tiny.
Students who are clearly sick may not
attend class.

• The second grammatical function that
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
EX :My use of adverbs is almost always
perfect
The music from next door is
blaring extremely loudly.

• 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
• EX :
Residents must quickly and quietly exit the
building during the fire drill.
Her husband almost always forgets to take out
the trash.

The fourth grammatical function that
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.
EX:
The woman waited in line patiently
The new mother looked at her new
baby adoringly.

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
EX:
Do you like to write about grammar, too?
Nevertheless, students must turn in all
assignments before the next class.

Syntax of the Adverb Phrase
Like Adjective, Adverbs can be introduced by
Degree words
• Comparison:more/most, less/least
• Intensity: too, very, so, quite…
_Franz walks more quickly than Hans.
_Sora ate her lunch too fast.
_Nika speaks so quietly.

Can Adverb introduce other Adverb?
• Franz walks amazingly quickly.
• Sora ate her lunch incredibly fast.
• Nika speaks extremely quietly.
These are also Degree words
EX:
_She sings terribly.(= in a terrible manner)
ADV

Evidence that a DEGREE WORD “goes with” an
ADVERB to form a phrase:
WH-Movement
Pronominalization
Coordination

WH-movement
_Charlie drives very carefully.
_Charlie drives how carefully?
_How carefully does Charlie drive?
_How does Charlie drive carefully?
how carefully is a constituent = ADVP

Pronominalization
Wh-proforms can also pronominalize for entire
ADVP in a way that it often can’t for AP:
Ricky drives [ADVvery fast].
How does Ricky drive? (very fast)
Charlotte is [APreally nice].
What is Charlotte? (≠ really nice)

Coordination
The singer sang softly.
The singer sang very beautifully.
The soprano sang softly and very
beautifully.
[softly] and [very beautifully] are
both ADVPs

“softly and very beautifully”
ADVP
ADVP ADVPconj
ADV
and
very beautifully
soft

Type Adverb phrase Example
Manner With a hammer
The carpenter hit the nail with
a hammer.
Place Next door
The woman who lives next
door is a doctor.
Time Before the holidays
We must finish our
project before the holidays.
Frequency Every month
Sally buys two CDs every
month.
Purpose For his mother
John bought the flowers for
his mother.