The semantics and grammar of adverbials
Pick out the adverbials in the following passage - there are twenty-two altogether - and group them as shown.
There were piles of papers on the stairs and piles everywhere in the room. He kicked a tidy heap with his toe. 'That pile,' he said, 'has been there for ten years. The trouble is I work all the time. There isn't time to sort things. I would get around to buying cupboards if I could be bothered. Somehow life is full of objects that suddenly take over. One week the place is tidy; and the next week it is too late. Now I can't throw things out.'
Hearing his explanation, I just smiled. I have always thought that it is best,whenever possible, not to criticize other people. And there was something very impressive about all that chaos.
4 This..................................................................................... for some years/in London/may be the last time an IAAF competition is staged
5 According............................................................................... in a minor road race/to her coach/Rosa Mota's most impressive performance was/last summer
6 She....................................................................................... only two days after a 10 km mini-marathon in New York/10 km/at Boulder, Colorado/ran
7 Hull saw Wolves skipper ............................................................ from near the line/in the closing seconds of the game/Ron Hindmarch clear the ball
8 Nottingham Forest ..................................................................... at City Ground/beat Chelsea 7-0/yesterday
9 Golfer Fred Couples of the USA ................................................... in Paris/at la Boulie/led the field in the Tournois Perrier de Paris/today
Adverbs that do not affect the meaning of the verb or the whole predicate, but that have some sort of subordinate or marginal function are sometimes called subjuncts. There are various kinds, with various meanings, including:
Emphasizing and intensifying: It was just lreally / simply wonderful!
we fully /totally/ utterly agree.
Focusing:
I only/merely/simply asked.
Many words can be used both as subjuncts and as other adverbs, so the position in the sentence is important. Compare:
She was wearing a dark blue jumper exactly like Laura's. [subjunct - how like?]
It was an odd experience, though it is hard to describe exactly. [manner adverb - describe in what way?]
Add the adverbs below in the best places in the sentences to produce the meanings that are indicated in the brackets.
Example:
amazingly: He manages to dance well with his metal leg.
(a) (It is a surprising fact that he can dance.)
Answrer: Amazingly, he manages to dance well with his metal leg.
(b) (very well indeed).
Answer: He manages to dance amazingly well with his metal leg.
1 badly:
(a) l need your help. (very much) ......................................................
(b) They organi~ed the meeting. (not at all well) ....................................
2 even: I don't try to understand the rules.
(a) (There's no point in trying.)
(b) (You may be surprised that I of all people don't.) .................................
3 just: I sat and waited for ten minutes.
(a) (That's all I did.) .....................................................
(b) (for ten minutes exactly) ............................................
4 kindly:
(a) Explain what on earth you had in mind. (I am cross.)........................
(b) I'll tell you if you speak to me. (be kind) ..........................................
5 only: I have come because I think you can help.
(a) (I have no other reason for coming.) . . .
(b) (Nobody except you can help.) .........
6 possibly. The guide told us we could not get to Aseila next day.
(a) (I am not sure what the guide told us.) ....
(b) (He said there was no possibility of our getting there.).....................
7 really. I enjoyed it.
(a) (very much) ...................
(b) (in fact, I admit) ................
8 simply: Please try to explain what it is you want.
(a) (Don't try to do anything else.) ....................................................
(b) (Don't use such long words! ) .......................................................
9 still: I don't have permission to use the library
(a) (Iam still waiting for permission.) ..
(b) (My library ticket is out of date.) .....
10 very much:
(a) He looked l ike his father except that he was fat..........
(b) To tell you the truth I haven't thought about it at all these last few months.
Exercise: Disjuncts - and other adverbs
Disjuncts are a special type of adverb that have a sort of superior role to the rest of the sentence. There are two main kinds: either they indicate how the speaker is speaking -frankly, personally - or they comment on the content - perhaps, certainly,foolishly, quite rightly. Again, many of these words can also function as other sorts of adverbs, so position is important to indicate meaning.
Add the adverbs shown, in the best places to give the meanings indicated.
1 understandably: She was very upset. (I can understand that).
SHE WAS UNDERSTANDABLY VERY UPSET or
UNDERSTANDABLY, SHE WAS VERY UPSET.
2 frankly: It isn't easy for some people to talk to their friends and families about their problems. (They find it difficult to discuss their feelings.)
3 frankly: I don't know why I sit here drinking with you. (If I say what I think, that's how I feel.)
4 truthfully: He had tried to write a letter that described what it was like here. (He wanted the description to be fair and accurate.)
5 truthfully: It was fairly obvious that he didn't want me any more: and I didn't want him any more either. (I am telling the truth when I say I didn't want him.)
6 honestly: I'll go if you like. I don't mind. (It is really true that I don't mind.)
7 honestly: Dealing with feelings, on the other hand, can help bring the family closer together. (The discussions need to be honest.)
8 generally: Scarcely three centuries have elapsed since it has been accepted that, indeed, the Earth does move. (Before that only a few people took this view.)
9 generally: The poor have been in favour of greater equality. (Well, they usually have!)
10 generally: They felt they had to watch the film before it was shown. (Before it was shown to the public.)
11 generally speaking: A simple answer to the question would be that we do dream in colour. (On the whole we do!)
12 literally: All I had to do was take it out of the box. (I am speaking literally when I say this.)
Complete the following, putting the words indicated in a suitable place.
Exrample:
Many people state that a prehistoric monster could not exist today. possibly
Answer: Many people state that a prehistoric monster could not possibly exist today.