EfS Grammar X:Adverbs and Sentence Structure

How to set up a sentence structure that guarantees an English sentence.

WiSe 2007/08 © 2007, Lee Traynor, MA (Oxon)

EfS Grammar X: Adverbs and Sentences

Kinds of Adverbs

Manner How? well, happily

Place Where? here, there

Time When? now, today

Frequency How often? always, never

Degree How [adverb]? extremely

Sentence How [sentence]? hopefully

WiSe 2007/08 © 2007, Lee Traynor, MA (Oxon)

EfS Grammar X: Adverbs and Sentences

Adverbs and More…

Adverb single word, often ending in -ly

Adverbial group of words without a preposition,e.g. last night

Adverbial Phrase includes a preposition, e.g. in the morning

WiSe 2007/08 © 2007, Lee Traynor, MA (Oxon)

EfS Grammar X: Adverbs and Sentences

Positions of Adverbs

a) Tom has finished his work.

b) extremely well

PRECEDING the modified word

FRONT MIDDLE END

WiSe 2007/08 © 2007, Lee Traynor, MA (Oxon)

EfS Grammar X: Adverbs and Sentences

Adverbs of Degree, Sentence Adverbs

Adverbs of degree are usually found preceding (in front of) the adverb or adjective they modify:He played extremely well.The car is bright red.

N: Practically limited to two or three adverbs.

Sentence adverbs are usually found in the FRONT position:Fortunately, Dennis Ace played well.Luckily, the storm did not do much damage.

N: 1

WiSe 2007/08 © 2007, Lee Traynor, MA (Oxon)

EfS Grammar X: Adverbs and Sentences

Frequency Adverbs, Middle Position

Frequency adverbs are usually found in the MIDDLE position:

I have never eaten caviar.He always goes cycling at the weekend.

N: 1

MIDDLE position:a) preceding simple verbs;b) following the verb to be;c) following the first verb in compounds.

WiSe 2007/08 © 2007, Lee Traynor, MA (Oxon)

EfS Grammar X: Adverbs and Sentences

Manner, Place and Time

Adverbs of manner, place and time are found in the END position in that order, i.e. M – P – T:

They played cheerfully in the garden all afternoon.M: cheerfullyP: in the gardenT: all afternoon

N: ∞

WiSe 2007/08 © 2007, Lee Traynor, MA (Oxon)

EfS Grammar X: Adverbs and Sentences

Summary

Adverb Position Number

MannerPlace END ∞TimeFrequency MIDDLE 1Degree adv./adj. 2-3Sentence FRONT 1

WiSe 2007/08 © 2007, Lee Traynor, MA (Oxon)

EfS Grammar X: Adverbs and Sentences

Comparison

Ich habe gestern T. flüchtig in der Stadt gesehen. S Vaux T O M P Vmain

I saw T. fleetingly in town yesterday.S V O M P T

Note:1) Vaux, Vmain and O are never separated, except by a frequency adverb between Vaux and Vmain;2) Middle position is novel;3) Save the time until last.