18 · Phrases
Adverbs and adverb phrases
An adverb phrase has an adverb as its head. It may be one word, such as late, or it may contain a degree word, as in very quietly. The complete phrase can modify an event; an adverb inside another phrase can modify something closer instead.
Surprisingly modifies the adjective narrow: one adjective phrase.
Remarkably modifies the adverb loudly: one adverb phrase.
Both first words are adverbs, but their attachments differ. Surprisingly modifies the adjective narrow, so the complete phrase is an adjective phrase. Remarkably modifies the adverb loudly, so the complete phrase is an adverb phrase. Word class does not settle the phrase around it or the job that phrase does.
Test a proposed phrase boundary
- Find the adverb head and ask what the nearby adverb changes.
- Move the whole natural phrase: Very quietly, she waited.
- Check whether the moved phrase modifies the event or remains inside another phrase.
Fronting very quietly supports its boundary in this sentence, but fronting is not equally natural for every adverb phrase. Removing the whole phrase here also shows that this adverbial is optional in this verb frame; it does not define an adverb phrase.
Spelling is only a clue.
Late, early, yesterday, and twice can be adverbs without ending in -ly, while friendly can be an adjective despite that ending. Find the head and its attachment before trusting the spelling.
Ten sentences from this lesson, one decision at a time.