Adverbials: Adverbs, Adverb Phrases, Adverbial Clauses, and Prepositional Phrases 

Adverbials refer to words, phrases and clauses that function as adverbs in expressions or structures. Adverbs, being a word or words that modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs, are not limited to lexical items that fall under the lexical categorization of adverbs—for example;

1. Happily

2. Absolutely

3. Just

4. Very

5. A little bit, etc.,.

But they can also be represented by phrases and clauses. Adverbials are grouped into: Adverbs, Adverb Phrases, Adverbial Clauses, and Prepositional Phrases also known as Adverbial Prepositional Phrases.

Adverbs

These are basically words that are adverbs by their compositional structure. That is, the forms assumed by these words let us know that they are adverbs. They are adverbs by virtue of their structures. For example; Quickly, Repeatedly, Never, etc.,. lets us know that they are adverbs just by looking at them even without placing them with other words, we can tell that these words are adverbs of manner and frequency respectively.

Adverb Phrases

Adverb phrases are phrases that have adverbs as their headword, may or may not have modifier or qualifier elements, and function as adverbs in structures and expressions. Since adverb phrases function as adverbs, they can modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. For example;

1. He ran so quickly. ("so quickly" is an adverb phrase modifying the verb "ran".)

2. He made her laugh quite easily. ("quite easily" is an adverb phrase that modifies the verb "laugh".)

3. She seems secretive a little bit. ("a little bit" is an adverb phrase that modifies the adjective "secretive".)

4. He acts shy quite frankly. ("quite frankly" is an adverb phrase that modifies the adjective "shy".)

5. It worked out well quite surprisingly. ("quite surprisingly" is an adverb phrase that modifies the adverb "well".)

Adverbial Clause

Adverbial clauses are groups of words with a finite verb that function as adverbs in sentences. Adverbial clauses are usually introduced in sentences by subordinate adverbs or subordinate conjunctions or even relative adverbs, and they function just like adverbs, modifying verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and even sentences. For example;

1. She laughed when he fell down. ("when he fell down" is an adverbial clause modifying the verb "laughed".)

2. John was relieved when he saw shade. ("when he saw shade" is an adverbial clause modifying the adjective "relieved".)

3. Martha acted well because she practiced a lot. ("because she practiced a lot" is an adverbial clause that modifies the adverb "well".)

4. Although they own a mansion, they find it difficult to feed. ("Although they own a mansion" is an adverbial clause that modifies the clause "they find it difficult to feed".)

Prepositional Phrase

Prepositional phrases are phrases that have prepositions as their headwords. They are formed by a combination of prepositions and nouns or nominal elements where the preposition precedes the nominal elements. Prepositional phrases do not have a function of their own rather they can function either as adjectives or adverbs depending on their placements in sentences. For instance, when a prepositional phrase comes directly after a noun or nominal element, it most likely functions as an adjective, while it can function as adverb when it appears right after verbs. It is also known as Adverbial Prepositional Phrase when it functions as an adverb and such it can modify verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and even sentences. For example;

1. On the roof, he positioned the antenna. ("On the roof" is a prepositional phrase that modifies the clause "he positioned the antenna".)

2. Everything went well at the party. ("at the party" is a prepositional phrase that modifies the adverb "well".)

3. Esther sounded funny on the microphone. ("on the microphone" is a prepositional phrase that modifies the adjective "funny".)

4. It happened on the parade ground. ("on the parade ground" is a prepositional phrase that modifies the verb "happened".)

And finally, the mystery Adverbial that I had not mentioned all these while. Guess what it is? Noun phrases!

Noun phrases

Noun phrases are words or groups of words that have a noun as their headword and functions just as nouns in sentences. Noun phrases can function as adverbs only for the purpose of modifying verbs, and adverbs and this happens when they are placed at the end of sentences. Take for example;

1. We arrived this morning. ("this morning" is a noun phrase that modifies the verb "arrived".)

2. Martin came back last week. ("last week" is a noun phrase that modifies the verb phrase "came back".)

3. She did not eat well last night. ("last night" is a noun phrase that modifies the adverb "well".)

4. You will cook quickly today. ("today" is a noun phrase that modifies the adverb "quickly".)

So adverbials are basically words that act as adverbs in sentences such as adverbs, adverb phrases, adverbial clauses, Prepositional Phrases, and Noun phrases.

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