A. Structure: Adverbial Phrase
Adverbial phrase (or adverb phrase) is the term for two or more words which play the role of an adverb. Adverbial phrases are phrases that do the work of an adverb in a sentence and people use adverbial phrases at the end of the sentence. An Adverbial phrase is a word group with an adverb as its head. This adverb may be accompanied by modifiers or qualifiers. An adverb phrase can modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb, and it can appear in a number of different positions in a sentence.
- I will sit quietly. (normal adverb)
- I will sit in silence. (adverbial phrase)
- I will sit like a monk meditates. (adverbial clause)
(When the multi-word adverb contains a subject and a verb (like in this example), it is an adverbial clause as opposed to an adverbial phrase.)
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Types of Adverbial Phrases
Adverbial Phrase of Time: An adverbial phrase of time states when something happens or how often. For example:
I’ll come in 10 minutes
He visits my house everyday
Adverbial Phrase of Place: An adverbial phrase of place states where something happens. For example:
He went to the market and he couldn’t get anywhere to park
He man was stabbed in the back
Adverbial Phrase of Manner: An adverbial phrase of manner states how something is done. For example:
He talks to his mum rudely
She sleeps like a baby
B. Intonation: The Intonation of different Utterances.
Earlier in SS1, you learnt about intonation in question tags. You have learned that intonation means perceiving and using correctly the two main tones of English – Rising and Falling.
Utterance | Tone | Examples |
Statements | Falling | Nigeria stands a good chance in the next World Cup. |
I can’t stand violent sports of any kind.Wh – QuestionsFallingWho’s going to win the World Cup?
What is your favourite sport?Tag Questions (seeking confirmation)FallingWe enjoy our English lessons, don’t we?
You’re going to watch the match, aren’t you?Yes/No questionsRisingAre you going to the match on Saturday?
Did we win the semi-finals?Wh – questions expressing surprise (‘echo questions’)RisingWho did you say won the match?Wh – questions asking for information to be repeatedRisingWhat did you say?
Who did you say that was?Tag questions (seeking information)RisingYou don’t really mean that, do you?
You want to go to the match, don’t you?
Read each of the following sentences, giving appropriate intonation to each.
1.The players are exhausted, aren’t they?
2. When will the super eagles travel abroad again?
3. He gets up early every morning and goes jogging?
4. Everyone wants their national team to win the world cup
5. Do you often see girls playing table tennis?
C. Stress Pattern: Emphatic Stress – Questions and Answers
In our practice of intonation patterns so far, we have seen that in any utterance, the voice rises or falls on one particular syllable. However the fall or rise is shifted to some other syllable in the utterance. We do this to emphasize the word containing the syllable. The syllable is now said to carry emphatic stress.
Example:
1.
A: Does your cousin’s brother hate boxing?
B: My cousin’s ↓ SISTER hates boxing.
In this example, B emphasizes that it is the sister, not the brother who hates boxing.
2.
A: Does your cousin’s sister love boxing?
B: My cousin’s sister ↓ HATES boxing.
And if A asks:
Does your cousin’s sister hate sport?
B may reply:
My cousin’s sister hates ↓ BOXING.
You will notice that the words of B’s reply are the same; but the main stress in the sentence comes in a different place each time.
Test:
1. My best friend enjoys ATHLETICS
a. Does your best friend enjoy athletics?
b. Does your best friend enjoy singing?
c. Does your brother enjoy athletics?
d. Does your best friend hate athletics?
2. I’m going to play in the match NEXT WEEK
a. Are you going to watch the match next week?
b. Are you going to play in the match next month?
c. Are they going to play in the match next week?
d. Did they play in the match last week?
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