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1. University of Aden
Faculty of Languages and Translation
Master Programme in Translation Studies
Syntax (Lecture No. 6)
Adverbials, Complements
and Modifiers
Full Prof. Gamal M A Abdullah
(M A. & Ph. D. in Linguistics)
Nov. 2019
1

2. Introduction
The last chapter (Five) focuses on a
verb, particularly it discusses more
elaborately the lexical verb and its
types.
Chapter Four identifies the different
categories which contribute in
constructing the structure of a
sentence, further it explains the types of
each category, fore instance the types
and subtypes of nouns, adjectives,
adverbs, adpositions as major content
lexical categories and types and
subtypes of prepositions, pronouns,
auxiliaries and conjunctions as minor
function lexical categories.
2

3. 3
The present chapter (Six) will shed
the light brightly on adverbials, it
will distribute the different types
of adverbs among adverbial
categories, in turn those
categories can be functioned to
modify a verb/VP and a sentence
as a whole.

4. 4
Adverbial
An adverbial is an individual word
(that is, an adverb), a phrase (an
adverbial phrase), or a clause (an
adverbial clause) that can modify a
verb/ VP (known as VP adverbials)
or a complete sentence (known as
sentence adverbials). Consider the
following examples:

5. 5
- He speaks loudly. (Adverb modifies a
verb)
- Fortunately, we got there in time.
(Adverb modify a sentence)
- Old Sam sunbathed beside a stream.
( An adverbial phrase modifies a verb)
- After having my wisdom teeth out, I
had a milkshake for dinner because I
couldn’t chew anything. (This adverb
clause describes why I had a
milkshake for dinner i.e. adverb clause
modify another clause).

6. 6
Adverb and Adverbial
An adverb is a type of word or
syntactic category/ part of speech.
Most of the adverbs are situated under
the umbrella of lexical category, it
usually covers familiar single words
like quickly, happily, frankly, etc.
On the other hand, an adverbial is a
sentence element or functional
category.

7. 7
Most adverbials are situated under the
umbrella of phrasal category, they include
adverbs plus other linguistic elements such
as phrases ( e.g. on the table, at the
bookstore, next week, last year, etc.) and
clauses (e.g. after he saw the game).
It can be deduced that an adverb may serve
as an adverbial, but an adverbial is not
necessarily served as an adverb. (Endley,
2010)
To put it in other simple words, any adverb
can be called an adverbial but not any
adverbial can be called an adverb.

8. 8
Categories of Adverbials
Adverbials can be grouped into the following
categories:
a) Adverbial Complements: Are
obligatory adverbials that render a sentence
ungrammatical and meaningless if removed,
consider the following:
He put the flowers on the table.
*He put the flowers.

9. 9
b) Adjunct: Also known as Adjunctival,
Adverbial Adjunct, Adjunct Adverbial or Optional
Adverbial. Terminologically, adjunct consists of
two parts: Ad- = stands for ‘add’ and –junct =
stands for ‘link/ parts/ information’. Adjuncts are
used to complete the function of sentences, they
provide additional optional information and yet
can be omitted without making the sentence
ungrammatically.
The old patient slept well last night in VIP room.
The old patient slept well.

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What is the difference between
adverbial complement and adjunct?
In short, complements of the verb are
sisters of the verb in the structure of
sentences, while adjunct adverbials are
sisters of verb phrase.
(The distinction will be explained more
clearly in a next section)

11. 11
Adjuncts tend to answer questions like:
- Where (place and direction) e.g. in the park,
at a 90° angle, towards the sea.
- When (time, duration, frequency) e.g.
at midnight, on Tuesday, for 3 minutes, until
you reach the station, often, never, daily,
rarely, occasionally.
- How (manner, means and instrument)
e.g. in silence, angrily, interestingly, with a
smile, as carefully as you can, with great skill,
cautiously, by train, with a pencil.

12. 12
- Why (reason, purpose) e.g.
because of the rain, since he left, due to her
carelessness, for ease.
Further, they convey information about:
- Intensify e.g. definitely, certainly,
indeed, really, surely, of course, completely,
entirely, fully.
- Focusing e.g. just, only, purely, simply.
- Contrast e.g. however careful,
though unsure.

13. Adjuncts and Predicates
Adjuncts are words and phrases, like adverbs
and adverb phrases, which are not completely
central to the meaning of the clause;
predicate contrasts with adjunct, although
with some unfortunate inconsistency. For
some grammarians, adjuncts are not a part of
the predicate, so that for them a clause
consists of subject, predicate, and adjuncts.
13

14. For others, perhaps the majority, adjuncts
are a part of the predicate, so that the clause
consists of just two parts, subject, and
predicate, with the predicate in turn
containing, amongst other things, any
adjuncts. ( Hurford, 1994)
14

15. 15
c) Conjuncts: Also known as
Conjoins or Conjunctive Adverbials. The term
conjunct consists of two parts: Con- and –junct, the
former means connect/ join together and the later
means information. Conjuncts are adverbial words,
phrases and clauses which have a cohesive
function, connecting different sections of a text.
We use them at or near the beginning of a clause or
sentence, so that they provide a link to the previous
clause, sentence or paragraph. They help the text
to flow smoothly by giving continuity to earlier
information for the reader.

16. 16
As with adjuncts, there are other ways of
using conjuncts:
- Addition e.g. also, furthermore, moreover, in
addition, what is more.
- Opposition e.g. however, nevertheless,
on the other hand.
- Reinforcing e.g. besides, anyway, after
all.
- Explaining e.g. for example, in other
words, that is to say.

17. 17
- listing e.g. first(ly), first of all,
next, finally
- Indicating result e.g. therefore,
consequently, as a result, it can be
deduced/ concluded.
- Indicating time e.g. just then,
meanwhile, later, in the meantime.
(http://grammarpuss13.blogspot.com)

18. 18
d) Disjuncts: Also called a Sentence
Adverb or a Sentence Modifier.
Terminologically, disjunct comprises two
parts: dis- means opposite or other views and
–junct means information or views. A disjunct
is a type of sentence adverb that comments on
the content or manner of what is being said or
written. Put another way, a disjunct is a word
or phrase that explicitly expresses the stance
or attitude of a speaker or writer.

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For example obviously, unfortunately,
personally, of course, in my opinion, although
this is clearly incorrect.
Adjunct vs Disjunct
Unlike adjuncts, which are integrated into the
structure of a sentence or clause, disjuncts
stand outside the syntactic structure of the
text they are commenting on.
(https://www.thoughtco.com)

20. Mobility and Position of Adverbials
Mobility also known as Transposition or
Movement, some adverbials can be moved
freely from one position to another i.e.
transposed to the beginning, mid or ending
without affecting the semantic function
(meaning), consider the following:
She put charity beside the door very secretly.
She put charity very secretly beside the door.
She put very secretly charity beside the door.
Very secretly she put charity beside the door. 20

21. In some positions, shifting adverbials can
change the whole meaning, consider the
following:
1a) Only Mona wants ice cream.
1b) Mona wants ice cream only.
2a) I call only my mother when I’m sick.
2b) I only call my mother when I’m sick.
3a) The doctor had to cancel the appointment, but
the patient came anyway because he was sick.
3b) The doctor had to cancel the appointment
because he was sick, but the patient came anyway.
21

22. Sentence (1a) means Mona is the only person who
wants ice cream, all the other people order other
things (coffee, tea, lemon juice, etc.) no one orders
ice cream except Mona.
Sentence (1b) means Mona wants ice cream only no
other things (coffee, tea, lemon juice, etc.).
Sentence (2a) means I call only my mother no other
person (I don’t call my father, brother, friend, etc.)
when I’m sick.
Sentence (2b) means I only call my mother when
I’m sick, When I’m well/ healthy I don’t call her.
22

23. In sentences (3 a & b), does the adverbial clause
“because he was sick” refer to the doctor or patient
and which one is grammatically and logically
correct?
The adverbial clause “because he was sick” refers
to the doctor,…… why? The patient is so called a
patient because s/he is sick and we don’t need to
say that s/he is sick.
Therefore, The adverbial clause “because he was
sick” refers to the doctor. Which one is correct (a or
b)? Sentence (b) is the correct one, because the
position of the clause should be closed to the
person/ thing that is described by such clause. 23

24. Further, not only changing the position of the adverbial
can change the semantic function of the structure, also
adding a simple punctuation like (,) can change the
analyses and the whole semantic function of a sentence,
consider the following:
a) Ali admitted the results interestingly.
b) Ali admitted the results, interestingly.
The adverbial ‘interestingly’ in (a) describes the condition
of Ali, therefore in an analytical process it will be a part of
the VP and labelled as a sister of the lexical verb i.e. it is a
word adverbial that modifies the verb..
In (b), it describes the attitude, feeling or view of the
speaker/ writer, therefore it is a separated constituent and
can be labelled in a tree-diagram as a sister of both NP
(subject) and VP (predicate) i.e. it is a sentence adverbial24

25. Complement
Some linguists count complement as a
covered term that indicates either
obligatory or optional. While some
syntacticians consider complement as an
essential element of a sentence. Such
scholars define a complement as a word,
phrase or clause that is necessary to
complete the meaning of a given
sentence. They can complete the meaning
of a subject, object or verb.
(http://pediaa.com)yoes)
25

26. Types of Complements
a) Subject Complement: Is usually a
noun, prepositional phrase or an adjective
that renames or defines the subject in some
way, it is known as subject-predicative.
Subject complement always follows a linking
verb, it occurs in the form of an NP, Adj.P or
a PP.
My brother is an MA Scholar.
He is in the library.
You look happy.
26

27. b) Object complement: Modifies or
refers to the direct object. It always
follows the object of a sentence as in
the case of the complex transitive verb.
An object complement can be an Adj.P,
NP or PP.
New technology made children lazy.
(Adj.P)
We elected Ahmed our spokesman. (NP)
The police found the escaped prisoner
in the cave. (PP)
27

28. c) Verb Complement: Is a noun or a
noun phrase that occurs after the verb
case as in the conditions of transitive,
prepositional and phrasal verbs. Direct
and indirect objects can also act as a
verb complement. The meaning of the
verb and the sentence will be
incomplete without such complement,
consider the following:
The nurse gave the patient a sleeping pill.
*The nurse gave the patient.
He wanted a new car.
*He wanted. 28

29. NB: According to the claim of some
linguists who count complement as a
syntactic structure used to indicate
only obligatory complements. The
complements in the previous examples
are underlined. If you try to remove the
underlined words and phrases from the
previous examples, you’ll notice that
none of these sentences have any
sense without their complements.
29

30. Adjunct vs Complement
Adjuncts and complements are two main
elements in a sentence. However, there is
a major difference between these two
elements. Complements are words or
phrases that are used to complete the
meaning of a given sentence. Adjuncts
are parts of sentences that contain extra
information; they are not necessary to
complete the meaning of a sentence. 30

31. The main difference between adjunct
and complement is that adjunct is
optional to a sentence whereas
complements are a necessary part of a
sentence. (http://pediaa.com)
It can be concluded that complements of
the verb are sisters of verb within a verb
phrase and adjunct adverbials are sisters
of Verb Phrase. (Burten-Roberts,
2011) 31

32. Modifier
The term 'modifier' is derived from the verb
'modify', it is so called because it is said to modify
change, alter, clarify or limit in order to add more
emphasis, explanation or detail about the meaning
of another element in the structure, on which it is
dependent. A modifier is optional, it can be
removed without affecting the grammar of the
sentence, e.g. This is a red ball, the adjective red is a
modifier, modifying the noun ball. Removal of the
modifier would leave: This is a ball, which is
grammatically correct and equivalent in structure
to the original sentence. (https://en.wikipedia.org)32

33. Other terms used with a similar meaning as
adjunct, that is why adjunct is known as a modifier
(see and compare with Adjunct definition),
(https://www.thoughtco.com).
This concept is often distinguished from
complement, which may also be considered
dependent on another element, but it is considered
as an obligatory part of the structure, e.g. His face
became red, the word red might be called a
complement of became, rather than a modifier or
adjunct, since it cannot be omitted from the
sentence.
33

34. Types of Modifiers
a) Pre-modifiers: Are the modifiers which modify the
words that follow them in the sentence.
Articles, determiners, demonstratives, attributive
adjectives, compound adjectives, participles, appositives,
etc. are the adjectives which come before the nouns and
modify them.
Conjunctive adverbials, sentence adverbials, and some
other adverbs/ adverbials can work being placed before
the verbs/adjectives/other adverbs, consider the following
selective example:
Give me that (demonstrative) black (descriptive/ attributive
adjective) covered (past participle) shining(present participle) box.
(In the above sentence the noun ‘box’ has four pre-modifiers
[adjectives]). 34

35. b)Post-modifiers: Are the modifiers which come after
the words they modify.
Most of the adverbs of time, adverbs of manner, adverbs
of place/direction usually come after the verbs they modify.
Appositives, prepositional phrases (adjectives/adverbs),
infinitives (adverbs/adjectives), dependent clause, etc.
usually come after the nouns they modify.
Appositive: Means noun or noun with pre-modifiers/ post-
modifiers. The function of appositive is to give the extra
information about the noun, see the example of appositive
using as modifiers marked in underlined:
Mr. Ali, a doctor, is working in Bangladesh. He, expert of
ENT, was also very active, sincere and strict person.
(https://www.englishgrammarblog.com)
35

36. Distinction between Modifiers,
Complements and Adjuncts
Modifiers are described as optional, while
complements are obligatory. Regarding the
distinction between modifiers and adjuncts,
in many situations, they are the same, in very
limited situations there is a slight difference
particularly when considering past -ed &
present –ing participles, they are regarded as
modifiers not adjuncts.
36

37. Ellipsis
Also known as Omission, Deletion or Removement,
it is the process of removing a constituent from a
sentence and the remaining part(s) can be
understood (commonly by the help of context). It
occurs more in speech, but it can be found in some
pieces of writing (semantically accepted but
grammatically ill-formed). The best example of
Ellipsis can be seen clearly in its definition: Also
known as Omission …. The subject (Ellipsis or the
pronoun “IT” and intensive verb are omitted).
37

38. She is in/out.
In the above example, the NP (the college/
library/ hospital) is removed, despite it is
obligatory but it can be understood from the
context in which it is used.
The ellipsis can be applied with the different
parts of a sentence like subject, predicate,
objects (direct and indirect). The elliptic
constituent can be represented by ‘E’ in the
analytical procedures of tree-diagrams.
38

39. Conclusion
Several results can be emanated from the rest of
Chapter six, those can be summarized in the
following:
a) Adverb and Adverbial: An adverb is a type of
word or syntactic category/ part of speech. On the
other hand, an adverbial is a sentence element or
functional category.
It can be concluded that an adverb may serve as an
adverbial, but an adverbial is not necessarily
serving as an adverb.
39

40. b) Adjunct and Disjunct: Unlike adjuncts,
which are integrated into the structure of a
sentence or clause, disjuncts stand outside the
syntactic structure of the text they are
commenting on.
c) Complements and Adjuncts: Complements
are words or phrases that are used to
complete the meaning of a given sentence.
Adjuncts are parts of sentences that contain
extra information; they are not necessary to
complete the meaning of a sentence.
40

41. The main difference between adjunct and
complement is that adjunct is optional to a sentence
whereas complements are a necessary part of a
sentence.
It can be concluded that complements of the verb
are sisters of verb within a verb phrase and adjunct
adverbials are sisters of Verb Phrase.
d) Modifiers and Complements: Modifiers are
described as optional, while complements are
obligatory.
41

42. e) Modifiers and Adjuncts: In many situations,
modifiers and adjuncts are the same, in very
limited situations there is a slight difference
particularly when considering past -ed and present
–ing participles, they are regarded as modifiers not
adjuncts.
42

43. References
Burten-Roberts, N. (2011). Analysing Sentence: An Introduction to English Syntax.
UK: Pearson Education Limited.
Endley, M. J. (2010). Linguistic Perspectives on English Grammar. Information Age
Publishing.
Hurford, J. R. (1994). Grammar: A Student's Guide. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press.
https://www.englishgrammarblog.com
http://grammarpuss13.blogspot.com
http://pediaa.com
https://www.thoughtco.com
https://en.wikipedia.org
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Ended

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May Allah Lead All Of You
To Success