Gramática Inglesa II

Asignatura obligatoria (2º cuatrimestre )

Grado en Estudios Ingleses

Unit 3 ADVERBIALS Set readings

3.1. Introduction Greenbaum & Quirk (1990) sections 8.1-11
3.2. Adjuncts Greenbaum & Quirk (1990) sections 8.12-31
3.3. Subjuncts Greenbaum & Quirk (1990) sections 8.32-39
3.4. Disjuncts Greenbaum & Quirk (1990) sections 8.40-42
3.5. Conjuncts Greenbaum & Quirk (1990) sections 8.43-45

3.1. Adverbials: introduction [Cf. Greenbaum & Quirk (1990: 8.1-11]

• ADVERBIAL / ADVERB PHRASE / ADVERB

Adverbial: a functional constituent at clause level (like S, O, Cs); can be formally realized by
PP, AdvP, Fin.Cl., etc.
e.g. Quite frankly, we really moved here because I could not stand the bad weather
In spite of great efforts by their authors, these books very frequently contain errors that
are in due course passed on
Adverb Phrase: a formal class of phrase (like NP, VP, PP: a type of phrase headed by an
adverb).
e.g. quite frankly, very frequently
Adverb: a formal class of word (like N, Adj or V).
e.g. quite, frankly, really, here, very, frequently

• ADVERBIAL AS AN ILL-DEFINED CONCEPT

I. The term covers elements with very different logico-semantic functions within the clause:

A. Elements expressing circumstantial information about the main predication:

e.g. Last year you used to walk to the shore, now you ride
I wouldn’t like to go for a week in silence

B. Elements expressing speaker’s evaluation or comments on the clause:

e.g. From my perspective, it was a clear case of abuse
Fortunately, this is far from the truth

C. Elements linking the clause (or part of it) to other clauses (or parts of it):
e.g. The students are on strike; nevertheless, the examinations will not be cancelled
Lord Shaftesbury was a persuasive speaker and furthermore a great pioneer of social reform

II. The term covers elements with very different syntactic properties:

A. Elements fairly well integrated in clause structure, functioning at same level as other clause
constituents (S, P, O):

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 Gramática Inglesa II
Asignatura obligatoria (2º cuatrimestre )
Grado en Estudios Ingleses

e.g. Last year you used to walk to the shore, now you ride
I wouldn’t like to go for a week in silence
B. Elements rather detached from the rest of the clause (peripherial)
e.g. From my perspective, it was a clear case of abuse
The students are on strike; nevertheless, the examinations will not be cancelled

C. Elements syntactically subordinated to some other clause constituent:

e.g. I was only joking
She was literally on the floor

• ‘FUZZY’ BOUNDARIES WITH OTHER CONSTITUENTS:

A. Adverbial vs. Adverbial Complement

The distinction very frequently depends on subjective judgments of obligatoriness:
e.g. They have planned the meeting for Thursday
I like you in that dress
He treated her kindly
B. Adverbial vs. Objects and other Complements:
e.g. She doesn’t talk to me
Let’s talk about it

B. Adverbial vs. In-Phrase Modifier:

Non problematic: Problematic:

e.g. She is really an intelligent child e.g. She is really intelligent
She really is intelligent. I could hear the man in the next house
She is a really intelligent child The pace of life today is proving too fast
Only one of my friends has a car
Adverbial vs. ‘Phrasal Modifier’ (?)
e.g. John could only see his wife from the doorway
John could see only his wife from the doorway
John could see his wife only from the doorway

Conclusion: Negative Definition:

“ADVERBIAL: Any element in the clause that cannot be analyzed as a Subject, a Predicator or Predication
Complement”

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Asignatura obligatoria (2º cuatrimestre )
Grado en Estudios Ingleses

Distinguishing features (POSITIVE DEFINITION):

A. ‘PERIPHERAL’ CHARACTER: varying degree of integration in clause structure;

optional character: gradient

B. RECURSIVE CHARACTER:

e.g.[Actually], [if it doesn’t rain], I will [probably] drive [to Marks & Spencer] [tomorrow
morning] [to buy some chocolates], [unless you want me to stay here with you

C. REALIZATION VARIETY:

e.g. She fainted (very) recently [AdvP]

She fainted last week [NP]
She fainted in the bathroom [PP]
She fainted though apparently healthy [Verbless Cl]
She fainted while having a shower [N-f Cl]
She fainted after she had received the news [F. Cl]

D. (RELATIVE) POSITIONAL MOBILITY:

e.g. Legally, the man couldn't have been sent to prison.
The man legally couldn't have been sent to prison
The man couldn't legally have been sent to prison
The man couldn't have legally been sent to prison
The man couldn't have been legally sent to prison
The man couldn't have been sent legally to prison
The man couldn't have been sent to prison legally

E. TYPE AND RANGE OF SEMANTIC ROLES.

e.g. [However], [if it doesn’t rain], I will [probably] drive [to Marks &
Spencer] [tomorrow morning] [to buy some chocolates], [although I
might also stay home].

3.2. ADJUNCTS [Cf. Greenbaum & Quirk 1990: 8.12-31]

3.2.1. Adjuncthood criteria:

A. The most fully integrated kind of Adverbial

- Comparable to other clause constituents (S, O) but typically more optiona

- Semantically, it identifies circumstances surrounding action.

B. Distinguishing syntactic properties shared with other clause constituents:

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 Gramática Inglesa II
Asignatura obligatoria (2º cuatrimestre )
Grado en Estudios Ingleses

e.g. Mr. Putin sent his troops [to Ukraine] [last year]
i) They can be the subject-matter of a question:
Where did Mr Putin send his troops? When did Mr P. send...?
(cf. Who sent his troops to Ukraine? What did Mr P. send to Ukraine?)

ii) Consequently: several adjuncts can be contrasted by means of alternative interrogation:

Did he send his troops to Ukraine or to Chechnya?

iii) They can be within the scope of negation:

Mr. P. didn’t send his troops to Chechnya, but to Ukraine

iv) They can be within the scope of predication ellipsis or pro-forms:

I washed my hands carefully and so did Mary
Jane is going to Italy and Peter is [ ] too. [ ]  [going to Italy]

v) They can be the focus a cleft sentence:

Mr P. sent his troops to Ukraine last year 
It was to Ukraine that Mr. P. sent his troops
It was last year that/when...
(cf. It was Mr Putin who... It was his troops that…).

vi) They can be focus of focusing subjuncts (only, even, especially, particularly):
…only to Ukraine …just last year

C. Syntactic classification:

i) Predication Adjuncts:
More central
They tend to have a fixed position (normally, end position)
They are related only to the predication (P, O or both):
e.g. She was knocking loudly [S P (A)]
She kissed him on the cheek [S P O (A)]

With some verbs this kind of ‘circumstantial’ information is essential, Predication

Adjuncts then becoming obligatory Adverbial/Circumstantial Complements:
e.g. I studied in Harvard
You must put all the toys upstairs
ii) Sentence Adjuncts:
Less central
They relate to sentence as a whole
They can be moved between final and initial positions
e.g. Brad Pitt kissed his lover in the kitchen (SA) 

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 Gramática Inglesa II
Asignatura obligatoria (2º cuatrimestre )
Grado en Estudios Ingleses

In the kitchen, BP kissed his lover

[cf. Brad Pitt kissed his lover on the cheek (PA) 
?*On the cheek, BP kissed her lover]

Since PA are more central than SA, the former tend to precede the latter:
e.g. She slapped him in the face in the restaurant
/ * She slapped him in the restaurant in the face
In the restaurant, she slapped him in the face
/ *In the face, she slapped him in the restaurant

D. Semantic classification:

i) Space:
Formal realization: PP, clause (where she told me), Adv. (upstairs, here, there); NP (a long
way).
Position: final but can be moved to initial.
Semantic Subclasses:
a. position e.g. in the fridge
b. direction e.g. to the seaside (goal)
from the hills (source)
c. distance: e.g. a long way (general)
5km (specific)
ii) Time:
Formal realization: NP, AdvP., clause.
Position: final. Relative order: Duration / Frequency / Position:
e.g. He played tennis [for two hours] [every Tuesday]
We’ll talk about it [during lunch] [tomorrow morning]
I was there [for a short while] [every day] [in January]

Semantic subclasses:
a. position .on 4th July
b. duration: (for) three days
c. frequency: seldom
d. relationship: by that time

iii) Process:
Formal realization: PP, NP, Adv.P, Clause.
Position: final (if fronted, they tend to be associated with the subject becoming (Subject)
Subjuncts) e.g. He offered me a ride kindly
(i.e. in a kind way: Manner A)
→ Kindly, he offered me a ride
(i.e. he was kind enough to offer me a ride: Subjunct)

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 Gramática Inglesa II
Asignatura obligatoria (2º cuatrimestre )
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Semantic subclasses:
manner e.g. She glanced furtively
means He used to travel by bus
instrument He wrote the letter with a fountain pen
agent: The royal wedding was seen by millions on television
iv) Respect : PP: with respect to, with reference to

She’s advising them legally.

on legal issues.

Position: Final (if fronted they tend to become Viewpoint Subjuncts:

legally, the shareholders are the owners of the company.

v) Contingency:
Realized by: Clauses, PP.
Subclasses:

a. cause He left the battlefield out of cowardice

b. reason He deserted because he was a pacifist
c. purpose He attended the lecture to learn about wombats
d. Condition: You can have a copy if you like

[‘Result’ and ‘Concession’ are contigencies syntactically realized as “Disjuncts” rather than as
“Adjuncts”:

e. Result: The royal heir married a commoner, so he was discredited

f. Concession: No matter how hard they try, they won’t beat our team

E. Position: Relative position of all Adjuncts:

General principle: Shorter Adjuncts tend to precede longer ones: adverbs precede NPs, which
precede PP, which precede non-finite clauses, which precede finite clauses.

Specific principle for Adjuncts in final position: Process - Space - Time - Contingency.
(The relative order can be changed to emphasize a particular A).

3.3. SUBJUNCTS [Cf. Greenbaum & Quirk 1990: 8.32-39]

Adverbial with dependent role. They have none of the syntactic properties listed for adjuncts.

They can depend on:

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Asignatura obligatoria (2º cuatrimestre )
Grado en Estudios Ingleses

a. the whole sentence (wide orientation subjuncts, WOS), or

b. a specific clause element (narrow orientation, NOS).

WOS: Viewpoint: They refer to the perspective or viewpoint from which what is said in the
sentence must be considered: psychologically (speaking) ~ from a psychological point of
view, morally, technically, scientifically
Formulaic/Courtesy: realized by a few formulaic expressions of politeness: kindly, cordially,
please. Especially frequent in questions indicating requests and also in imperative
sentences: e.g. Will you kindly extinguish your cigarettes?
Close the door, please
NOS:

i. ITEM: Subject They characterize the referent of the subject with respect to the process
orstate denoted by the verb.
Formal realization: adverbs o prepositional phrases.
Position: Initial or medial position (between subject and predicator).
Semantic subtypes:
General: proudly, bitterly, sadly, resentfully, frankly
Volitional: Express the subject's intention or willingness to do something:
intentionally, reluctantly, willfully, willingly, on purpose

ii. EMPHASIZERS: They imply a general intensification or emphasis: reinforcing effect on the
clause or part of the clause to which they apply.
Position: They normally precede the item they emphasize.
The most typical is really (I don't really know what to do with my life)
other emphasizers: actually, certainly, clearly, definitely, indeed, surely, for certain, for sure,
frankly, honestly, literally, simply, just
[Most of these words can also be disjuncts reflecting the speaker's opinion: in that case they are usually
placed in initial position and separated by a comma from the rest of the sentence; if they are emphasizers
they normally precede the item they emphasize.]

iii. INTENSIFIERS: They express degree (gradable actions): points in a scale

Amplifiers: Positive intensification:

Maximizers: Upper extreme of the scale: completely, absolutely, entirely, extremely, fully,
quite, totally
Boosters: High point in the scale: very, much, deeply, greatly, terribly, a good deal, a lot.
Downtoners: Negative intensification: lowering effect:

Approximators: Approximation to the expected degree; negation of truth value of

verb. Almost, approximately, roughly, practically, nearly
Compromisers: Slightly lowering effect; question appropriateness of verb; colloquial
registers: sort of, kind of, more or less, rather
Diminishers: Lowering effect: to some extent, partly, slightly, somewhat

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Minimizers: Lowest or very low point in the scale: scarcely, hardly, rarely,
barely, in the least, at all

iv. FOCUSERS OR FOCUSING SUBJUNCTS: They establish a focus of attention upon a certain
clause element by implying addition (additive subjuncts) or restriction (restrictive subjuncts):
Additive: also, too, again, either, similarly, as well, even.
Restrictive:
Exclusivizers: alone, only, simply, exactly, exclusively
Particularizers: particularly, specially, mostly, mainly, chiefly

3.4. DISJUNCTS [Cf. Greenbaum & Quirk 1990: 8.40-42]

Semantically/pragmatically: They express the speaker's comments, judgments, evaluations, attitudes

toward the propositional content of a clause:
e.g. Unfortunately, he didn't get the job.
Syntactically: Not fully integrated in the clause structure: detached, scope over the whole clause
e.g. Honestly, this is risky business (I tell you honestly...)
(cf. The manager honestly admitted his fault: Subject Subjunct: The
manager was honest…)
Like Subjuncts, They have none of the syntactic properties listed for adjuncts.
i) They can’t be questioned, can't be the focus the alternative questions
ii) They can’t be focus of negation
iii) They can’t be the focus of a cleft sentence
iv) They can't be included in predication ellipsis
v) They can't be focus of focusing subjuncts.

Semantic types:
Style: conveys speaker’s comments as to style & form.
Formal realization: Adv.P,PP,cl).
Subtypes: modality and manner: strictly, roughly, in brief
respect: personally, literally

Content: Attitudinal: observation as to:

degree of / conditions for truth of content: certainly, arguably
value judgement of content (evaluation): wisely, remarkably, curiously

3.5. CONJUNCTS Cf. Greenbaum & Quirk 1990: 8.43-45]

i. They are detached and superordinate;

ii. Formal realization: adverbs, conjunctions, PP.

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 Gramática Inglesa II
Asignatura obligatoria (2º cuatrimestre )
Grado en Estudios Ingleses

Conjuncts (realized by adverbs or PPs) frequently co-occur with

conjunctions (and so, or else, but instead): the conjunct reinforces and makes more explicit the kind
of connection that the speaker wants to establish between the linked units.

iii. Function: Connective speaker’s assessment of the connection between two clauses, sentences
or other linguistic units.

Sometimes, a conjunction may function as Conjunct: She decided to read the complete works of Shakespeare and watch
The Simpsons at the same time. And she did.

Conjuncts can also correlate with subordinators (if... then, although... still, because... therefore).
Semantic classification: see Greenbaum & Quirk, section 8.44.

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