Adverbial Phrase Examples: We all have heard about the term ‘phrases’. But, do you know what are adverbial phrase, their types and how they can be used in sentences? Being a part of the English Grammar, they might sound a bit confusing or rather tricky to understand. However, if you are a grammar nazi, you must know that adverbial phrases are just words combined to function like adverbs. Keep reading this blog post, to learn all about these phrases with the help of examples to learn more about them easily.
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What is an Adverbial Phrase? – Definition
Adverbial phrases are words that are joined together and function as adverbs in a sentence. They modify verbs or other adverbs and provide other information about the time, manner, place, frequency, degree or reason for the action or state described by the word they modify.
Below is the structure for adverbial phrases:
It can be made with prepositions, others made with infinitives or with intensifiers. Here are some adverbial phrase examples for your understanding.
Adverbial Phrases Examples for Each Type
Here are some adverbial phrase examples for each type along with their definitions. These will help you understand each one of them in more detail.
Adverb Phrases of Time
This adverb phrase of time tells us when an action happened, for how long and how often. They are invariable. These adverbs are extremely common in English.
The birds start chirping at dawn. |
We usually take a walk after dinner. |
She fell asleep during the movie. |
We often relax in the garden in the evening. |
The sun is directly overhead at noon. |
She lives in Spain. |
The Earth rotates on its axis. |
Adverb Phrases of Place
This adverb tells us where something happened. They are usually placed after the main verb or after the clause that modifies the verb. Keep in mind that they do not modify adjectives or any other adverbs.
The book was placed on the top shelf. |
She sat by the window and watched the rain. |
The children played happily in the garden. |
The bakery is located across the street from the library. |
We found old photographs stored in the attic. |
She interrupts me every 5 minutes. |
Sing for me something in that tone. |
She walks with confidence. |
Adverb Phrases of Manner
Adverbs of manner modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs. They also answer the main question: How? They can sometimes be found at the beginning of the sentence or after the verb they are modifying.
She sang the song with enthusiasm. |
He completed the assignment in a hurry. |
She wrapped the gift with care. |
He pursued his goals with determination. |
She danced across the stage with grace. |
She went to the store to buy some groceries. |
She arrived quite early at the party. |
The dog barked loudly and persistently at the mailman. |
Adverb Phrases of Reason
They are used to describe why something happens or is done. It is also known as the phrase of reason. It is an infinitive phrase used to modify a verb and indicate the reason for the action.
They cancelled the outdoor event due to the rain. |
He arrived late because of the traffic jam. |
Owing to his illness, he couldn’t attend the meeting. |
Thanks to their support, we were able to finish the project on time. |
Because of his honesty, he was trusted with important responsibilities. |
She spoke softly and clearly during her presentation. |
They finished the task in record time. |
Vitamins are provided in many foods. |
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FAQs
Here is an example of an adverbial phrase: Bri ate her breakfast very quickly.
An adverbial phrase is a group of words which act more like an adverb to add more details to the verb, adjectives or other adverbs in the sentence.
The adverbial phrase for ‘quickly’ is: He ran quickly. Here the adverbial phrase is ‘quickly.
We hope this blog has provided you with all the necessary information on adverbial phrase examples. To advance your grammar knowledge and read more informative blogs, check out our Learn English page and don’t forget to follow Leverage Edu.