1.4C Adverbials |
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1.4C Adverbials |
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What are adverbials? An adverbial is a word group that is used as an adverb, or a word that isn't an adverb but is used as one. Nouns often become adverbials.
Example:
I went home.
The noun "home" is used as an adverb to modify the verb "went". Thus, it is an adverbial.
Phrases and clauses can also be used as adverbials. (For information on phrases, see 2.5a. For clauses, see 2.4a.)
Examples:
phrase - I went to my house.
clause - I went when I was done.
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More on adverbials... An adverbial complement is a sentence element which conveys the same information as an adverb but which is necessary to the sentence.
Example:
The old man was eating in the restaurant.
"In the restaurant" acts as an adverb since it describes where the old man was
eating, but the sentence would be a complete sentence even without it.
The old man was in the restaurant.
"In the restaurant" acts as an adverb here and it is an adverbial complement because
without it the sentence would not be complete.
An adverbial conjunction, also known as a conjunctive adverb, is a word which functions both as an adverb and a conjunction. Words such as however and besides are adverbials that connect independent clauses (or sentences). As an adverb, an adverbial conjunction modifies the second clause, and as a conjunction, it joins the two clauses, showing a relationship between them. Conjunctive adverbs can be placed in different positions within a clause without changing the meaning.
Examples:
We wanted to go on a picnic; however, the weather turned
bad and we weren't able to go.
We wanted to go on a picnic; the weather turned bad, however,
and we weren't able to go.
We wanted to go on a picnic. The weather turned bad and we
weren't able to go, however.
Note in the above examples that independent clauses connected by a conjunctive adverb must be separated by a semicolon or a period,
not a comma.Some common conjunctive adverbs are:
accordingly however nonetheless
also incidentally now
anyway indeed otherwise
besides instead similarly
certainly likewise still
consequently meanwhile then
finally moreover thereafter
further namely therefore
furthermore nevertheless thus
hence next undoubtedly
Some conjunctive adverbs with more than one word are:
as a result on the contrary
at the same time on the other hand
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Last updated: July 26 1999
English Department
University of Calgary