What is an adverbial in English?

Adverbial (adv. for short) is an important modifying component of a sentence. It is another additional component in the predicate, which modifies and limits the central word of the predicate in terms of situation, time, place, manner, condition, object, affirmation, negation, scope and degree. English adverbials modify verbs, adjectives, adverbs or entire sentences.

1. Adverbs usually serve as adverbials in sentences

He speaks English very well. He speaks English very well.

The "very" is an adverb of degree, used to modify "well". "Very well" is an adverbial of degree that modifies "speak".

2. Infinitives can be used as adverbials of purpose in sentences

I come specially to see you. I come specially to see you.

3. Prepositional phrases

Ten years ago, She began to live in Dalian.

From ten years ago, she began to live in Dalian.

4. Clauses as adverbials

When she was 12 years old, she began to live in Dalian.

She began to live in Dalian when she was 12 years old. Dalian.

5. The ing form of the verb is used as an adverbial

①Indicates time

Seeing its mother, the baby smiled. (see and smile occur at the same time)

Seeing its mother, the baby smiled.

②Indicates the reason

Not knowing anything about the accident, he went to work as usual.

(=Because he didn't know anything about the. ..)

③Indicate the result

It rained heavily, causing severe flooding in that country.

The heavy rain caused severe flooding in that country.

④Expression

He earns a living driving a truck. He earns a living by driving a truck.

⑤ means accompanying

She sat at the desk reading a newspaper. (reading is accompanied by sat)

She sat at the desk reading a newspaper.

6. Nouns as adverbials

We must get together again some day.

We must get together again some day in the future.

Extended information:

The function of adverbials: adverbials describe place, time, reason, purpose, result, condition, direction, degree, manner and accompanying conditions, etc.

Adverbials are generally played by adverbs, prepositional phrases, participles and participle phrases, nouns, infinitives or words or phrases equivalent to adverbs. Its position is usually at the end of the sentence, but it can also be placed at the beginning or middle of the sentence.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Adverbial