Adverb phrase modifiers are words and phrases that that modify or describe an adverb or adverb phrase. Only one grammatical form can function as the adverb phrase modifier in English grammar: adverb phrases.
Adverb Phrases as Adverb Phrase Modifiers
The only grammatical form that can perform the grammatical function of adverb phrase modifier is the adverb phrase. An adverb phrase consists of an adverb plus any other adverbs functioning as adverb phrase modifiers. For example, the following italicized adverb phrases function as adverb phrase modifiers:
- My daughter very nearly fell down.
- He ran so not quickly to get a towel.
- The boys acted most zanily
- That man danced abnormally awkwardly at the reception.
- I must speak brutally honestly.
- The soup is much too incredibly hot to eat.
The only grammatical form that can function as the adverb phrase modifier in the English language is the adverb phrase.
Summary
Adverb phrase modifiers in English grammar are words and phrases that that modify or describe an adverb or adverb phrase.
Adverb phrase modifier is a grammatical function.
The grammatical form that can function as the adverb phrase modifier in English grammar is the adverb phrase.
Adverb phrase modifiers are constituents of the adverb phrase.
References
Brinton, Laurel J. & Donna M. Brinton. 2010. The linguistic structure of Modern English, 2nd edn. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Hopper, Paul J. 1999. A short course in grammar. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
Huddleston, Rodney. 1984. Introduction to the grammar of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
