2020-01-14
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Adverbs may perform different functions, modifying different types of words, phrases, sentences. Some adverbs are restricted in their combinability whereas others may modify different words, for instance enough, which may be used in to work enough, not quickly enough, quick enough. The most typical function of the adverb is that of adverbial modifier [8].
Adverbs may function as adverbial modifiers of manner, place, time, degree to a finite or non-finite form of the verb:
He started his career in St Petersburg - or Leningrad as it then was [41].
(time)
The south should remain dry, but everywhere else will have heavy rain.
[41]. (place)
Adam obviously adored his wife [40]. (manner)
I rather suspect we’re making a mistake [38]. (degree)
Some adverbs of time though synonymous, are used in different syntactic patterns. Thus, already is used in affirmative sentences, and yet - in interrogative and negative sentences:
Tim has already come back from his trip [40].
I haven’t finished my report yet [38].
Have you finished yet [38]?
However, already may occur in interrogative and negative sentences when there is an element of surprise or the question is suggestive, that is the speaker expects an affirmative answer:
Have they finished already [35]?
Adverbs may function as adverbial modifiers to an adjective or another adverb [19]. Usually the modifying adverb is an intensifier (very, rather, awfully, so, terribly, extremely, most, utterly, unusually, delightfully, unbelievably, amazingly, strikingly, highly, that, etc.) The same applies to composite adverbs, such as (kind of, sort of, a good bit of, a lot of, a hell of, a great deal of, etc.):
It is terribly important for parents to be consistent [38].
This new program is unbelievably good [41].
It made me feel kind of awkward [41].
Some adverbs - still, yet, far, much, any combine with comparative adjectives (much worse, not any better, still greater, etc.)
Adverbs of degree can modify certain kinds of prepositional phrases:
They lived nearly on the top of the hill [40].
His remarks were not quite to the point [40].
Comparative adverbs are used in clauses of proportional agreement, that is, parallel clauses in which qualities or actions denoted in them increase or decrease at an equal rate [25, 177]:
The longer I think about it the less I understand your reasons [41].
To express the idea that a quality or action decreases or increases at an even rate the comparative may be repeated, the two identical forms being connected by and:
He cried louder and louder [25, 177].
There are some adverbs which may modify nouns or words of nominal character, functioning as attribute, as in: the way ahead, the trip abroad, the journey home, his return home, the sentence above (below), the day before. A few adverbs can premodify nouns without losing their adverbial character: the then president, in after years, the above sentence, the now generation.
As adverbs modify words of different classes, they accordingly occupy different positions in the sentence. In comparison with other words, adverbs may be considered as the most movable words. However, adverbs are not identical in their ability to be moved to another position in the structure. There are generally four possible positions for adverbs in the sentence [18, 397]:
1) at the head of the sentence;
2) between the subject and predicate or, if the predicate is a complicated form, the adverb appears after the first auxiliary verb, link-verb or a modal verb;
3) before the word the adverb modifies;
4) at the end of the sentence.
Different semantic groups of adverbs tend to appear in different positions. Thus, many adverbs of time and frequency prefer Position 2:
A good strong cup of coffee is just what I need right now [41].
He is always in time for meals [38].
They sometimes stay up all night [41].
However, some of time adverbs appear in Position 4:
He came eventually [40].
The telephone rang, and he answered it immediately [40].
She hasn’t finished her breakfast yet [38].
Ifany adverbs of time and frequency are found in positions other than those characteristic of them, it means that these adverbs are intended for special emphasis [21, 399]:
They usually are very punctual. (common)
Usually they are very punctual. (emphatic)
Adverbs of place and direction usually occur in Position 4:
I looked for it everywhere [38].
The young people were enjoying themselves outside [38].
Adverbs of manner commonly appear in Position 4, after the predicate verb:
He gave her the money reluctantly [41].
She looked at me suspiciously [41].
Some adverbs of manner may occasionally be found in Position 2:
She carefully picked up all the bits of broken glass [40].
They secretly decided to leave the town [40].
Occasionally adverbs of manner may be found in Position 1. In that case the adverb does not only modify the predicative verb, but also the subject:
Angrily he denied that he had stolen the documents [41]. (= he was angry when he denied that he had stolen the documents)
Adverbs of degree (or intensifiers) are usually placed in Position 3, before the word they modify:
It’s absolutely the best museum in the country [38].
I definitely saw him crossing the street [38].
The adverb enough, when it modifies an adjective or an adverb, is placed in post-position to them:
You can go to school when you're old enough [40].
He didn’t work quickly enough [40].
However, adverbs of degree (intensifiers), if they modify verbs, may also be found in Position 4, at the end of the sentence:
The only way Glass could overcome this irreconcilable difference was by doing away with the bar lines completely [ 41 ].
But if the plea can be supported by a finding of guilt alone, a defendant might escape punishment altogether [40].
When occupying the initial position in the sentence, altogether is used parenthetically as a conjunctive adverb (= on the whole):
Latin America is a world where primitive ways of life exist near ultra-modern cities. Altogether, it is a continent full of vitality [40].
Chapter 2. Paradigmatics of adverbs
