ADVERBS AND THE
ADVERBIAL GROUP
SUMMARY
1 AdvGs have certain general characteristics similar to those of AdjGs:
• Potentially three structural forms: a head, a modifier, and a post-head
• element, which may be a post-modifier or a complement.
• They are frequently represented by the head element alone.
• Morphologically, the adverbial head may be simple, derived or compound.
• Semantically, many adverbs express qualities of processes and situations, just as adjectives express qualities of people and things.
• Not all adjectives and adverbs have the potential of heading a group structure: e.g. mere, merely; sole, solely.
2 In other respects, AdvGs are different from AdjGs:
Adverbs are a more heterogeneous word class, and can be roughly grouped into three main semantic sets:
• circumstantial: place, time, manner
• degree or focus
• connective: addition, reinforcement, result, concession, and the like
Many adverbs fulfil several functions, however, and their meanings may change according to the function.
