Adverbial Phrase

Adverbial Phrase

An adverbial phrase is a group of words without a finite verb that has an adverb as a headword.

Or

It is a group of related words without a finite verb that is introduced by a preposition and does the work of an adverb.

Structure of an Adverbial Phrase 1

The structure is made up of a pre-modifier which is an adverb of degree, and an adverb as a headword.

(Adv.) + Adv.

Examples

Very well, so majestically, very quickly, extremely well etc.

Function of the Adverb Phrase

An adverb phrase functions by modifying a verb or a verb phrase in a sentence.

Usage Examples

a. The children came very early.
G. Name: adverb phrase
Function: modifies the verb ‘came’

b. The boys should have done the work very nicely.
G. Name; adverb phrase
Function; modifies the verb phrase, ‘should have done’

c. The lady did the work so quickly.
G. Name: adverb phrase
Function: modifies the verb ‘did’

Structure of the Adverbial Phrase 2

As we indicated from the beginning, an adverb phrase can also be made up of a prepositional phrase functioning as an adverb, and as such, an adverb phrase can take the structure of a prepositional phrase.

Structure: preposition + noun phrase

Examples
In the morning, in the class, like a chameleon etc.

Usage Examples

i. The students slept in the morning.
G. Name: adverbial phrase
Function: modifies the verb ‘slept’
Reason: It indicates the time the action occurred. It is only adverbs of time that do this. Even though, it is a prepositional phrase in structure, it is an adverb phrase in function.

ii. The boy walks like a chameleon.
G. Name: adverbial phrase
Function: modifies the verb, ‘walks’
Reason: It indicates HOW the boy walks. It is only adverbs of manner that do this, hence, an adverb phrase of manner.

iii. She lives in the forest.
G. Name: adverbial phrase
Function: modifies the verb ‘lives’
Reason: It tells WHERE she lives, hence an adverb phrase of place.