Adverbs (Adv) and Adverb Phrases (AdvP)

This chapter discusses adverbs and adverb phrases. Adverbs are a mixed category of both content words (e.g. here , now , frequently ) and common function words (e.g. very , just , not ). Adverbs may be gradable (e.g. slowly, more slowly, most slowly ) or non-gradable (e.g. now ; too ; very ). An adverb functions as the head of an adverb phrase, which may also include a pre-modifying adverb phrase and/or a post-modifying adverbial prepositional phrase. Adverb phrases tell when , where , why , how , how much , how often , how long , and other versions of those sorts of information. According to traditional grammar, an adverb phrase may modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb. Adverb phrases may also modify whole sentences, dependent clauses, infinitive phrases, and participle phrases. Adverb phrases can also function as several different types of verb complement. The most common forms of negation involve placing the adverb not , or its contracted forms, with a verb. Some of the most highly marked features of non-White Mainstream English varieties involve negation, especially the non-WME but common word ain’t , which features in double negatives and multiple negation, also called “negative concord.”