adverbialize

Adverbialize is a verb used in linguistic description to denote the process of turning a word or structure into an adverbial element that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another clause. The term is formed from the noun/adjective base plus the suffix -ize, signaling conversion or function as an adverbial unit. Because it is primarily a descriptive term, it appears most often in grammars or linguistic discussions rather than in everyday prescriptive writing.

In practice, adverbialization can take several forms. Adjectives can be adverbialized to produce adverbs, typically by standard morphological means such as adding -ly in English (for example, clear becomes clearly). This is sometimes described as adverbializing an adjective. Noun phrases can be adverbialized by converting them into adverbial phrases that express manner, time, or place, such as in a rush or with great care, which function as adverbials modifying the main verb. Clausal material can also be adverbialized by using a dependent clause to express the same information as an adverbial modifier (for example, When the rain stopped, we went outside).

The term is more common in theoretical or comparative grammar than in everyday usage; many grammars prefer terms like adverbialization or adverbial clause/phrase rather than the verb adverbialize itself. Nevertheless, adverbialize serves as a concise way to describe the broad process of turning various linguistic materials into adverbial functions.

See also: adverb, adverbial, adverbial phrase, adverbial clause, adverbialization.