Adverbials

Adverbials are a category of modifiers in grammar that function to modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or whole clauses, providing circumstantial information such as time, place, manner, degree, or frequency. They answer questions like when, where, how, why, or to what extent.

They come in three main forms: adverbs (single words like quietly, yesterday), adverbial phrases (in the morning, with great care), and adverbial clauses (because he was late, when the bell rang). They are also called adverbial modifiers.

Adverbials perform a range of functions. They can modify a verb (She spoke softly), an adjective (very tired), another adverb (almost always), or an entire clause (If it rains, we will cancel). They express time, place, manner, frequency, degree, cause, condition, or concession.

Position in a sentence is flexible. They can occur at the beginning, middle, or end, and may be fronted for emphasis. Punctuation is often used with fronted adverbials or when an adverbial clause appears mid-sentence.

Formation and syntax: many adverbs are formed with -ly, but many common adverbs have irregular forms (well, fast). Adverbial phrases are built from prepositional phrases (in the morning, on foot). Adverbial clauses are introduced by subordinating conjunctions (because, when, although).

Cross-linguistic notes: languages differ in how adverbials are marked and organized; some rely on case marking for adverbial phrases, others use prepositions or serial verb constructions. The term adverbial emphasizes function rather than a single word class.