Adverbial phrases in English

Adverbial phrases help us add detail to our language and make it more interesting. In this reference, we’ll look at examples of adverbial phrases, learn about their various types, and find out how to use them in sentences. You’ll also find e a list of simple adverbial phrases to help use them on your own.

What is an adverbial phrase

Adverbial phrase definition: "a phrase which modifies the meaning of a verb, or adds more detail or description to a sentence." It is a type of adverb that can be used to modify verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and even other adverbial phrases.

Adverbial phrases are typically formed by combining two or more words, such as prepositional phrases and adverbial particles. They can also include dependent clauses and conjunctions. For example, in the sentence "He walked slowly down the street," the adverbial phrase "slowly down the street" modifies the verb “walked.”

Adverbial phrases often follow the verb, but they can also come before the verb. For example, “She quickly ran” has the adverbial phrase “quickly” after the verb “ran”, while “She  ran quickly and silently” has the adverbial phrase “quickly and silently” before the verb “ran.”

Adverbial phrases are used to add more detail and nuance to a sentence, and they can help to create a vivid picture in the reader’s mind. For example, the sentence “She ran” is quite plain, but if you add an adverbial phrase such as “She ran quickly”, it adds more detail and makes the sentence much more interesting.

Types of adverbial phrase

Adverbial phrases can be divided into three main types: phrases of time, place, and manner.

Adverbs of time refer to when something happened, and they often come at the beginning of a sentence. So an adverbial phrase of time would be something like “yesterday afternoon” or “this morning.”

Adverbs of place refer to where something happened, and they usually come after the verb. Examples of adverbs of place include “here”, “there”, “somewhere”, “anywhere”, and “everywhere”. So an adverbial phrase of place would be something like  “in the park” or “on the beach.”

Adverbs of manner refer to how something happened, and they usually come after the verb. Examples of adverbs of manner include “quickly”, “slowly”, “carefully”, “happily”, and “boldly”. So an adverbial phrase of manner would be something like “with enthusiasm” or “in a hurry”.

Adverbial phrase examples

Now that we understand different types of adverbial phrases, let’s look at some more examples in sentences.

Here are 5 sentences with adverbial phrases:

1. Last night at the cinema, we watched the film silently.
2. Earlier this morning, I went for a jog around the lake.
3. She quickly finished her homework in the library.
4. Everywhere we looked, there were signs of spring.
5. He drove carefully to his destination in the dark.

It’s important to note that adverbial phrases can also modify other adverbial phrases. For example, in a sentence like  “I went to the store yesterday afternoon”, the adverbial phrase “yesterday afternoon” is modifying the adverbial phrase “to the store”.

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List of simple adverbial phrases

Here is a list of some simple adverbial phrases that you can use in your writing:

• In the morning
• At night
• On Sunday
• Upstairs
• Downstairs
• Inside
• Outside
• Nearby
• Far away
• Very quickly
• Quite slowly
• Very carefully
• Quite boldly
• Very happily

Common mistakes

When using adverbial phrases, it’s important to avoid some common mistakes. The most common mistake is using two adverbs together. For example, you should say “She ran quickly” instead of “She ran quick”.

Another mistake to avoid is using adverbs in the wrong place. Adverbs of time usually come at the beginning of a sentence, while adverbs of place and adverbs of manner normally come after the verb. For example, you should say “Yesterday I went to the store” instead of “I yesterday went to the store”.

Make sure that the adverbial phrase you use is appropriate for the context. For example, you wouldn’t use “now” if you’re talking about something in the past. Or, you wouldn’t use an adverb “nearby” if you’re talking about something that happened far away.

Summary

An adverbial phrase is a type of adverb that adds more detail and meaning to a sentence. Adverbial phrases can be divided into three main types: time, place, and manner. They can be used to modify verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and even other adverbial phrases.

With a little practice, you’ll use adverbial phrases in your own language and become fluent in no time!