Position of the Adverbial Modifiers in the Sentence
An adverbial modifier hardly ever separates the direct object from the predicate. It stands either before the predicate or after the direct object. Helen heard me patiently to the end. (Ch. Bronte) We could also very well say: “Helen patiently heard me to the end,” but no other position of the adverbial modifier is possible here, unless it is meant to be emphatic; in this case it is placed at the beginning of the sentence. However, an adverbial modifier separates the direct object from its verb when the object has an attribute. He knew instinctively the principles of “pyramiding” [...]
Differentiating between Adverbial Modifier and other Parts of Sentence
It is not always easy to discriminate between different parts of the sentence expressed by prepositional phrases. The following parts of the sentence are apt to be confusing: a prepositional indirect object and an adverbial modifier; an attribute and an adverbial modifier. #1. A prepositional indirect object and an adverbial modifier of place and manner. Kate removed her eyes from the window and gazed directly at Papa. (Cronin) Decimus had been born in Rome. (Douglas) In the first example, the prepositional phrase at Papa is a pre; positional indirect object as the noun denotes a living being. In the second [...]
Ways of expressing the Adverbial Modifier
It can be expressed by: #1. An adverb. Rachel turned instinctively to prevent a possible intruder from entering. (Bennett) #2. A noun with or without accompanying words. Next day the morning hours seemed to pass very slowly at Mr. Pellet’s. (E. Bronte) They walked miles without finding any habitation. #3. A prepositional phrase. The red dust spread up and out and over everything. (Wells) I walked straight up the lane. (Bennett) #4. A noun, pronoun, adjective, infinitive, participle, or prepositional phrase with a subordinating conjunction. Mary swims better than her sister. My sister plays tennis better than I. If [...]
Adverbial Modifier
The adverbial modifier is a secondary part of the sentence that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. According to their meaning, we distinguish the following kinds of adverbial modifiers. #1. The adverbial modifier of time. We shall try it tomorrow. (Heym) While dancing, Cowperwood had occasion to look at Aileen often... (Dreiser) These preparations happily completed, I bought a house in Covent Garden Market. (Dickens) After receiving the cheque back, there seemed to him to be something wrong somewhere. (Galsworthy) #2. The adverbial modifier of frequency. Though they had often bothered him he had never bothered them. [...]