Lesson 7

The semantics and grammar of adverbials – Introduction

The adverbial element = A has got a wider range of positions, forms, meanings, and grammatical
functions than the other four elements, S, V, O, and C. It is also reflected in our ability to
include several adverbial elements within a single sentence:


Next Tuesday [A1], I shall probably [A2] visit her mother in London [A3] for an hour or so [A4] to
see if she’s feeling better [A5], unless she telephones me before that [A6].


A1 = adverbial of time (position) expressed by a NP

A2 = adverbial of modality (approximation) expressed by an AdvP

A3 = adverbial of space (position) expressed by a PP

A4 = adverbial of time (duration) expressed by a PP

A5 = adverbial of purpose expressed by a NONFINITE CLAUSE

A6 = adverbial of condition expressed by a FINITE CLAUSE


FORMS  = FORMAL REALIZATION

As to formal realization, the A element can be realized by a wide range of linguistic structures:

o   an adverb phrase: just then, carefully, somewhere, …

o   a noun phrase: this week, a very long way (They have travelled a very long way.)

o   a prepositional phrase: at home, across the field, in the house, …

o   a verbless clause: when in doubt, if possible, …

o   a nonfinite clause: lying there, … having done all the homework, …

o   a finite clause: …because you were sad, when I’ve finished my homework, …


POSITIONS

As compared with other sentence elements, the A-element can be placed with relative freedom in
several positions in a sentence:
Normally, we distinguish 3 main positions: I = initial, M = medial, E = end

I and E positions are self-explanatory, but the primary M position may need clarification. It is
the position immediately following the operator or the copula be (also so called not position):

Susan has at last finished her thesis. Susan is at last a doctor of philosophy.

Where no operator is present, M position is simply the position between the S and V:

The play daringly explores a hitherto forbidden subject.

The choice of position for an adverbial is determined by semantic and grammatical factors, but also
by the demands of information processing and the principle of end-weight. If no special factors
determine otherwise, the adverbial position is placed at E, the position in fact taken in the
majority of cases.


MEANINGS = SEMANTIC ROLES

According to their semantic roles, it is possible to distinguish the following classes of
adverbials:
  * space (spatial meaning): on the grass, down the hill, to the station, from the library, much
further (position, direction, goal, source, distance)
  * time (temporal meaning): in 1978, until Sunday, very seldom, still (position, duration,
frequency, relationship between one time and another)
  * process: very clearly, by her insight, with chopsticks, by Shakespeare (manner, means,
instrument, agency)
  * respect
  * contingency: cause, reason, purpose, result, condition, concession
  * modality: certainly, probably, only (emphasis, approximation, restriction)
  * degree: badly, a little (amplification, diminution)

The most common ones: adverbials of space, time, manner, cause, reason, result, purpose, condition,
concession.


GRAMMATICAL FUNCTIONS

In terms of their grammatical functions, adverbials fall into 4 main categories:
adjuncts          subjuncts           disjuncts          conjuncts

... to be continued next lesson


References:

Greenbaum, S. and R. Quirk (1990) A Student’s Grammar of the English Language. Harlow: Longman.
(pp. 158-162)