_{Syntactic Theory}

The Adverb

Tests to identify adverbs

• semantic test:
  • Adverbs refer to the manner, location, time or frequency of an action
• morphological test: -
• syntactic test
  • Adverbs can occur in the following diagnostic environment:
    Pat treats Chris very __

Problems with these tests:

• Adverbs are a very heterogeneous group. This is already obvious from the way in which the semantic criterion is stated. Kaplan 1989 distinguishes four subclasses (verb-modifying, adjective/adverb-modifying, denominal adverb, sentence adverb).

Reference
Kaplan, Jeffrey P. (1989): English Grammar - Principles and Facts (2nd edition). New Jersey.

Categories: Glossary