Adverb Phrases

An adverb may be a single word, such as quickly, here or yesterday. However, adverbs
can also be phrases, some made with prepositions, others made with infinitives. This
page will explain the basic types of adverb phrases (sometimes called "adverbial
phrases") and how to recognize them.

Basic types of adverbs

In the section on adverbs, you learned about three basic types of

adverb: manner, place and time adverbs. There are at least two more that are
important. Frequency adverbs answer the question "How often?" about an
action. Purpose adverbs answer the question "Why?". Here are some examples:

Type Adverb Example

Frequency usually Mika usually gets up early.

Purpose for fun I write computer programs for fun.

While the first example, usually, is a single word, the second example (for fun) is a
phrase consisting of a preposition and a noun in other words, it is a prepositional
phrasewhich functions as an adverb phrase.

Adverb phrases made with prepositions

All kinds of adverb phrases can be made with prepositions. Here are some examples:

Type Adverb phrase Example

Manner with a hammer The carpenter hit the nail with a hammer.

The woman who lives next door is a

Place next door
doctor.

before the We must finish our project before the

Time
holidays holidays.

Frequency every month Jodie buys two CDs every month.

Type Adverb phrase Example

Purpose for his mother Jack bought the flowers for his mother.

Adverb phrases made with infinitives

Another kind of adverb phrase can be made with the infinitive form of a verb. Most of
these phrases express purpose, as in these examples:

Type Adverb phrase Example

Purpose to buy a car I'm saving my money to buy a car.

to support the The students all showed up to support the

Purpose
team team.

to show to her Sally brought a painting home from school

Purpose
mother to show to her mother.

When you are sure that you understand the lesson, you can continue with the exercises.
The Predicate
The predicate of every sentence contains a verb; for,. as we have seen,
the verb is the part of speech used in making assertions. The verb of
a sentence is sometimes called the predicate verb.
The predicate of a simple sentence may be:
1. A verb:
Dogs bark. Birds sing. Flowers bloom. Ducks swim.
2. A verb and its complement:
John lives in the city. Robins build nests in trees. Longfellow was called
the children's poet.
We notice that besides the verb in the examples just given other words
are added to the verbs to complete the sense.
The complement of a verb is that which is added to the verb to complete
its meaning.
The verbs that require a complement are verbs of incomplete
predication.
1. The tired camels may reach the spring.
2. The children love her.
Write other sentences using as the complement of intransitive verbs,
a noun, a pronoun, an adjective, a phrase, a clause, and an adverb.
The predicate of a sentence may be enlarged or modified by:-
1. An adverb:
1. The mist rose slowly.
2. The wind blew fiercely.
2. An adverbial phrase:
1. The river empties into the lake.
2. Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation with fearless
independence.
3. The street was filled with a hurrying throng.
4. The farmer plans to make hay in pleasant weather.
5. He worked to win the prize.
6. He studied to master his profession.
7. The physicians did all in their power to prolong the life of their
distinguished patient.
3. A clause:
1. Go where glory waits thee.
2. Wait till the enemy comes near.
3. The good soldier fights that he may win.
It is evident that all the modifiers of the predicate are adverbial in their
nature.
In our treatment of the sentence, it has been our purpose to make clear
the two-fold nature of the sentence, - the subject element, and the
predicate element.
It will be seen that the modifiers of the subject partake of the nature of
the adjective, and are adjective elements, while all additions to the
predicate are adverbial elements.
This simple division of the sentence, if borne in mind, will make the most
complicated sentences easy to understand.
Study the following sentences so that you may be able to give the
predicate verb in each. Name also the kind of modifier of each predicate
verb.
1. The general bowed gracefully.
2. Mr. Smith was the tallest man of the party.
3. The apples this year are small and scarce.
4. Heaven is not gained at a single bound.
5. He tried his best to make everybody happy.
6. The boatman found several people on the island.
7. My spirit vainly tries to find some sure interpreter.
8. They crowned him long ago,
On a throne of rocks, in a robe of clouds, With a diadem of snow.
Write sentences using as modifiers of the predicate, the adverb, the
adverbial phrase, and the adverbial clause.
Adverbial Clauses and Phrases

Quite often, an adverb in a sentence comprises several words. These types of adverbs are called
adverbialphrasesor adverbialclauses. Adverbial phrases and clauses (shown in italics below) can
usually be categorised as one of the following:

Adverbs of Time

A crow attacked your catwhile I was waiting for the bus.

Every time he cracked a joke, the punters roared with laughter.

(Note the comma. This is explained in the hot tip to the right.)

Adverbs of Place

It is colder and wetterin the north of Germany.

Put the signwhere the students can read it.

Adverbs of Manner

That dog is walking aroundlike he owns the place.

She is actingas if she has stolen something.

Adverbs of Degree

You are not as cleveras you think you are.

He is as modestas he is brilliant.

Adverbs of Condition

If I have the time, I will show you the cellar after the shift.

I will come with youprovided my suit is back from the dry cleaners .

Adverbs of Concession

Although only four years old, Oliver can do long multiplication.

I will cover for youalthough I may lose my job.

Adverbs of Reason

We were forced to abandon the matchbecause the skies opened up.

Since it is your birthday, you can sit in the front.

Read more athttp://www.grammar-
monster.com/lessons/adverbial_clauses_phrases.htm#2620Gt9YwOHPkGFh.99