The semantics and grammar of adverbials

Adverbials: formal realization


An adverbial is one of the five major elements of sentence structure, along with subject,verb, object and complement. An adverbial is often a simple adverb: everywhere, always, very, just. But adverbials can also take other forms:

Noun phrase: (We go) every day.
Prepositional phrase: (Come) into the garden.
Verbless clause: If possible, ...
Nonfinite clause: Thinking about it, ......
Finite clause: When I realized, ......

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.


single adverbs (12) everywhere ...............

............... ...............

noun phrases (3) one week

prepositional phrases (4) on the stairs ...............

verbless clause (1) possible

nonfinite clause (1)

finite clause (1)

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Adverbials

Integrated: Adjuncts cannot appear initially in a negative declarative clause *Quickly they didn‘t leave for home. can be the focus of a question or of clause negation: Does he write to his parents because he wants to (or because he wants money)? We didn‘t go to Chicago on Monday (butwe did go there on Tuesday)

Peripheral: Disjuncts, Conjuncts are not affected by negation or interrogation. To my regret, they didn‘t leave for home. *Does he write to his parents, to my regret (or to my relief)? *We didn‘t go to Chicago, to my regret (but we did go there, to my relief)

Some adverbial items may belong to one or the other class: Naturally, they are walking. They aren‘t walking naturally.


Adjuncts

Subclasses of Adjuncts

viewpoint
focusing (additive, limiter)
intensifier (emphasizer, amplifier, downtoner)
process (manner, means, instrument)
subject (general, volitional, formulaic)
place (position, direction)
time (when, duration, frequency, relationship)
purpose
cause/reason
source/origin
....

Classification of adjuncts/Die Klassifikation satzinterner Adverbialkonstruktionen

Suchen Sie in den folgenden Sätzen die adjuncts heraus und geben Sie an, zu welcher semantischen Unterklasse sie jeweils gehören.
a Ausdruck des Standpunkts (viewpoint)
b Ausdruck des Informationsschwerpunktes (focusing)
c Ausdruck der Verstarkung oder Abschwachung (intensifiers)
d Ausdruck der Art und Weise (process)
e Ausdruck einer Spezifikation des Subjekts (subject)
f Orts oder Richtungsangabe (place) bzw. g Zeitbestimmung (time)

1 Prince Albert foresaw great changes in the framework of society.
2 The masses now hold strong views.
3 I heard a machine which haltingly reproduced the human voice.
4 We even thought it was going to explode.
5 No one can really be informed about all these questions.
6 I simply did not have the technical knowledge required.
7 Somethinh happens to make the answer completely wrong
9 Suddenly, the door swung open.
10 The train stopped suddenly.
11 A man's real influence is only exerted after his death.
12 Butler was conceited and rather selfconscious.
13 An unstable community is especially liable to suspect its neighbours.
14 Artistically, the work had little merit
15 Lytton Strachey ranked much of Hugo's poetry highly.
16 He was highly critical of one particular play of Hugo's.
17 Hugo's revolutionary aims were purely literary
18 Conservatives heard the call with alarm.
19 A queue of longhaired, strangely dressed youths formed outside the theatre.
20 You see threequarters of his figure, to just above the knees.
21 He is standing almost square.
22 When you start looking especially at his body, you move naturally from the top.
23 The eyes are a little sad if you look at them alone.
24 His right hand, entirely shadowed, is on his hip.
25 This style of conversation is quite different from that of rhetoric.
26 That is one of those fruitful ideas that can carry society forward.
27 These ideas are already improving society.
28 We shall find that the Greeks and Romans, too, overran the world in their day.
29 They deliberately spread their culture.
30 As far as culture is concerned, their influence remains today.


Viewpoint adjunct of disjunct?

Both, if adverbs,often have -ly ending. Both, if adverbs, mostly are in initial position.

Frankly (speaking), he hasn‘t a chance. Economically speaking, many of these people have suffered because of their political affiliation.

Difference apparent in paraphrase:

Style disjunct implies a verb of speaking in which the subject is the I of the speaker: If I may be frank, if I can speak frankly, .... but not: If I can speak economically, ....

Viewpoint adjunct: what is said is considered from a certain point of view: From an economic point of view, .... But not: From frank point of view, he hasn‘t a chance.


Position of Adv

The positions of adverbials/Die Stellung von Adverbien im Satz

Klassifizieren Sie die Stellung der Adverbien in den folgenden Satzen als A (Anfangsstellung) oder M 1 (Mittelstellung 1) oder M 2 (Mittelstellung 2) oder E (Endstellung).

deeply definitely entirely exceedingly extremely

far fully greatly heartily highly

keenly totally utterly violently well

I Honestly, I don't believe a word of it. 2 I honestly don't know what to say. 3 He was never a man to answer one honestly. 4 I still haven't had any reply. 5 I am still waiting for a reply. 6 I quite understand your predicament. 7 He can speak English very well if he wants to.

Geben Sie mit Hilfe der Symbole A, M 1, M 2 und E an, welche Positionen die eingeklammerten Adverbien in den Beispielsatzen jeweils einnehmen können. Verzeichnen Sie auch gegebenenfalls mehrere Möglichkeiten.

I The terrain was explored (scientifically). 2 The argument was absurd (scientifically). 3 I do not understand you (simply). 4 Perhaps you will understand if I speak (simply) 5 He made me angry (thoroughly). 6 You have studied this chapter (thoroughly). 7 I appreciate your kindness (much). 8 I appreciate it (very much). 9 I mean what I say (honestly). 10 John always writes to me (honestly). 11 If you do not know the details, you may answer the question (generally). 12 These questions are not difficult and we can answer most of them (generally). 13 Your theory may be right. However, you will find it very difficult to apply (practically). 14 Such enormous distances are impossible to imagine (practically). 15 This is my business (hardly). 16 I can hear you (hardly). 17 I can hear you (just). 18 This is for your ears (only). 19 This is for your ears (alone). 20 Will you come this way? (kindly). 21 I thought I spoke to her (kindly). 22 I spoke to her mother (also). 23 I spoke to her mother (as well). 24 The house needs repainting (badly). 25 They have painted it (badly). 26 It has been painted (badly). 27 We have to live (economically). 28 We have to manage (somehow). 29 We feel disheartened (sometimes). 30 We shall surrender (never).


Intensifying Adverbs

Intensifying and focusing adverbs

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 justlreallylsimply wonderful!
Focusing:
Wefullyltotallylutterly agree. 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 desc r ibe exact/y.
[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.)
Answer: 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) I need your help. (very much) ......................................................
(b) They organized 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 surprisedthat 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 tellyou 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 forpermission.) (b) (My library ticket is out of date. ) .... Intensifiers/Adverbiale : Ausdrücke der Verstärkung oder Abschwächung Ergänzen Sie die Beispielsätze mit Hilfe der folgenden Adverbien; benutzen Sie jeden Ausdruck nur einmal. absolutely actually badly bitterly completely I It was really kind of you to help us. 2 I am grateful to you. 3 We all feel more certain of our position now. 4 The clerk's story was exaggerated. 5 Did you hear him threaten the girl? 6 I am sure she must have been shaken. 7 I am amazed to hear you say that. 8 You will regret this one day. 9 We were all moved by his story. 10 The result of the elections is now confirmed. 11 The situation has changed. 12 We are not satisfied with the result. 13 Mr Chairman, I support the last speaker's remarks.
14 We agree with your proposal.
15 Stevens is interested in his work.
16 We need technicians who are trained.
17 All the guests were ill that night.
18 I can imagine how the poor hostess felt.
19 We reject your accusations against us.
20 I can see what you mean. I am not blind.