1.
English
2. English Grammar
3. Phrases
4. Adverbial Phrase
Adverbial Phrase - Definition, Formation, Usage & Examples
Have you already learnt what adverbs are and what phrases are? If you have, here is what
you can explore next. Ever heard of adverbial phrases? Check out the article to learn what an
adverbial phrase is, how it is formed, and how it can be used to make your writing and
speech much more clear and informative. Furthermore, there are examples given in the
article to aid you in better comprehension and usage of adverbial phrases.
Table of Contents
What Is an Adverbial Phrase? – Meaning and Definition
How to Form an Adverbial Phrase?
Components of an Adverbial Phrase
A List of Words to Help You Form Adverbial Phrases
Points to Remember When Forming and Using an Adverbial Phrase
What Makes an Adverbial Phrase Different from an Adverbial Clause?
Examples of Adverbial Phrases
Examples of Adverbial Phrases Referring to Time
Examples of Adverbial Phrases Referring to Place
Examples of Adverbial Phrases Referring to the Manner in Which an Action is
Taking Place
Examples of Adverbial Phrases Referring to the Frequency of an Action
Examples of Adverbial Phrases Referring to the Reason behind an Action
Taking Place
Check Your Understanding of Adverbial Phrases
Frequently Asked Questions on Adverbial Phrases in English
What Is an Adverbial Phrase? – Meaning and Definition
Two or more words that perform the role of an adverb, when put together, can be identified
as an adverbial phrase. Like an adverb, an adverbial phrase will also answer questions such
as ‘when’, ‘where’, ‘why’, ‘how’ and ‘how often’. An adverbial phrase modifies or provides
extra information about a verb, a phrase, an adjective or another adverb in the sentence.
An adverbial phrase, according to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, is defined as a phrase that
can be used for “adding more information about place, time, manner, cause or degree to a
verb, an adjective, a phrase or another adverb.” “An adverb phrase or adverbial phrase is a
group of words based on an adverb, such as ‘very slowly’ or ‘ fortunately for us.’ An adverb
phrase can also consist simply of an adverb”, according to the Collins Dictionary.
How to Form an Adverbial Phrase?
To be able to form an adverbial phrase, you should know the different components that
constitute an adverbial phrase. Take a look at the points given below to learn how an
adverbial phrase can be formed.
Components of an Adverbial Phrase
There is no particular rule that an adverbial phrase should definitely contain at least one
adverb. Adverbs can be a part of the adverbial phrase; however, there are some other
components that constitute an adverbial phrase. They include,
Nouns – words used to classify a person, place, animal, thing or idea
Pronouns – words that substitute a noun
Adjectives – words used to describe a noun
Prepositions – words that describe the position of a particular noun or pronoun
Articles – words such as ‘a’, ‘an’, ‘the’ used to determine the noun
Points to Remember When Forming and Using an Adverbial Phrase
You can easily form an adverbial phrase if you know how the different components that
constitute an adverbial phrase can be used. Let us take a look at some points that you have
to keep in mind when forming and using adverbial phrases.
The very first point that you have to bear in mind is that there can be more than one
adverbial phrase in a sentence.
Secondly, remember that you can position the adverbial phrase in any part of the
sentence according to its importance. You can place it in the beginning of the
sentence if that is what governs the action done by the subject. In other cases, you
can place the adverbial phrase at the end if that is just some extra information and
does not drive the sentence.
As far as the punctuation is concerned, use a comma immediately after the adverbial
phrase if it is placed in the beginning. If the adverbial phrase is positioned
somewhere in the middle of the sentence, make sure you place the adverb phrase
within commas or, in other words, use a comma before and after the adverbial
phrase. There is no particular need for a comma or any other punctuation mark if the
adverbial phrase is placed towards the end of the sentence.
Now, let us look at how an adverbial phrase can be formed. An adverbial phrase can be
formed using the following combinations:
A preposition, an article and a noun
A preposition, a pronoun and a noun
An adjective and an adverb
An adverb, a preposition and a noun or a pronoun
A preposition, an article, an adjective and a noun
Multiple adverbs and an adjective
Multiple adverbs – one adverb describing another
A List of Words to Help You Form Adverbial Phrases
Here are some words (in bold) that will help you form and identify adverbial phrases easily.
Check them out.
HOW WHEN WHERE WHY HOW OFTEN
In anger Before sunrise Right next to To console her Every month
her
Like a snail Exactly in three At every signal For a much-need Every now and
hours break then
Sincerely happy Earlier than By the store So as to finish the Rarely
expected work
Very quickly As soon as possible Next to the Owing to Annually
play area the extension
Somewhat sad Even before the Around the Due to her All Fridays
announcement main road continuous efforts
A lot Within a matter of a In all major Because of the As often
more sophisticated few months cities heavy rains as required
With a duct tape After the lockdown On this swing In order to find Every few
out minutes
What Makes an Adverbial Phrase Different from an Adverbial Clause?
It is possible that you might get confused between an adverbial phrase and an adverbial
clause as their functions are very similar. Take a look at the table given below to help you
perceive the factors that make an adverbial phrase different from an adverbial clause.
Adverbial Phrase Adverbial Clause
An adverbial phrase is just a part of a An adverbial clause is a group of words
sentence that is employed to provide that gives some extra information about
more information about the action done another clause and aids in the completion
by the subject, an adjective, another of the idea or thought being
adverb or even another phrase. communicated.
An adverbial phrase need not An adverbial clause should contain a
necessarily have a subject or a verb. subject and a verb.
Examples: Examples:
In the spring season, travelling As soon as I reach the spot, I will
can be a pleasant and satisfying give you a call.
activity.
She decided not to go to work
Unfortunately for him, it started tomorrow because she was too
raining the moment he left sick.
home.
Examples of Adverbial Phrases
Going through a number of adverbial phrases can help you in comprehending the formation
and usage of adverbial phrases in a much better manner.
Examples of Adverbial Phrases Referring to Time
Adverbial phrases referring to time answer the question ‘when’.
My mom was angry with me for getting home really late.
Around noon, we all had completed the tasks for the day.
My aunt told me that she will be coming to India in the month of September.
Until last year, Devi struggled to adapt to the city and its culture.
Everyone started losing their interest towards the end of the show.
Examples of Adverbial Phrases Referring to Place
Adverbial phrases that refer to the position or place in which the action is taking place
answer the question ‘where’. Adverbial phrases of this type also include prepositional
phrases which function like an adverb.
There is a new supermarket right in front of my house.
My father asked us to remember that he had parked the car right next to the
overbridge.
We walked over the bridge.
Children play in the park.
Adults and teenagers are seen walking on the pavements.
Examples of Adverbial Phrases Referring to the Manner in Which an Action is Taking Place
Adverbial phrases that represent the manner in which an action is being carried out by the
subject can be identified by asking the question, ‘how’.
Anand waited silently and patiently.
Luckily for my sister, she always got her way.
Everything went on surprisingly well.
The teacher asked the students to fill in the evaluation forms very carefully.
We were able to finish it quite easily.
Examples of Adverbial Phrases Referring to the Frequency of an Action
Adverbial phrases that refer to the frequency of an action can be identified by asking the
question, ‘how often’.
Almost every year, we take a trip to the North.
Norah and her family visit her grandparents very often.
Manassa bakes a new set of cookies every week.
Only rarely do we get an opportunity to take a break and go somewhere.
Every alternate weekend, my friends and I get together for dinner.
Examples of Adverbial Phrases Referring to the Reason behind an Action Taking Place
Some adverbial phrases refer to the reasons why a particular action is taking place. This type
of adverbial phrase can be identified by asking the question ‘why’.
Due to the sudden rains, we had to cancel our plans.
All schools will be closed for a week owing to the heavy snow storms.
To keep up with the developments in the field of technology, my brother read every
single blog on the technological advancements around the world.
The little boy’s mother scolded him for breaking the glass bowl.
I went to Chennai just to visit my friend.
Check Your Understanding of Adverbial Phrases
Now that you know how an adverbial phrase is formed and the difference between an
adverbial phrase and an adverbial clause, try working out the following exercise. Identify the
adverbial phrases in the following sentences.
1. On the way to the hospital, I met my friend from school.
2. Owing to the pandemic, my sister’s batch was exempted from writing exams.
3. Saurab’s friends reached the hilltop exactly in an hour.
4. Probably, by the end of June, we can expect heavy rains.
5. The science teacher asked us to do our records neatly and carefully.
6. All of them did it exactly as informed.
7. All of a sudden, there was a fire in the building.
8. Throughout the year, the residents of the area faced difficulties with power and water
supply.
9. The children were seemingly quiet.
10. Gautham’s friends could not make it to the wedding in time due to the traffic jam.
Check the answers given below to find out if you have identified the adverbial phrases
correctly.
1. On the way to the hospital, I met my friend from school.
2. Owing to the pandemic, my sister’s batch was exempted from writing exams.
3. Saurab’s friends reached the hilltop exactly in an hour.
4. Probably, by the end of June, we can expect heavy rains.
5. The science teacher asked us to do our records neatly and carefully.
6. All of them did it exactly as informed.
7. All of a sudden, there was a fire in the building.
8. Throughout the year, the residents of the area faced difficulties with power and water
supply.
9. The children were seemingly quiet.
10. Gautham’s friends could not make it to the wedding in time due to the traffic jam