The perfect English grammar workbook for Adverb Phrase: simple rules and quizzes to master today's English

Table of content

What is an Adverbial Phrase?
Adverb phrase formed with Preposition
Adverb phrase formed with infinitives
Worksheet with answers
 

What is an Adverbial Phrase?

An adverb is very important parts of speech in English Grammar. Adverb is very basic element in English grammar. Adverb is a part of speech that modifies other sentence elements such as verb, adjective and other adverbs.   

An adverb may be single word, such as quickly, here or yesterday. However adverbs can also be phrases, some made with preposition, other made with infinitives. 

A phrase is abridged form where the subject is omitted and the verb is reduced to participle form. Phrases can be difficult for any English language learners to understand because they are not so simple to spot. Let’s take a closer look at common type ADVERB PHRASE

This post will explain the basic types of adverb phrases and how to identify them. Adverb Phrase is also known as Adverbial phrase.

An adverb phrase is a group of words that refines the meaning of a verb, adjective or adverb. In the same way adverbial phrase modify other words by explaining why, where. How or when an action occurred. Have a look on the following sentence:

1. He acted in a dishonorable manner.

# In the above sentence in dishonorable manner is a group of words and it works as an adverb. 

Now how we can identify it works as an adverb?

If you ask how he acted? You get the answer in dishonorable manner. Such a group of words is called an Adverb Phrase. 

#Definition of Adverb Phrase

An adverb Phrase is a group of words that does the work of an adverb.

Some more examples of Adverbial phrase

[Underlined words are Adverb Phrase]

 Little Jack Morgan sat in a corner. 

 The sun rises in the east.

 He is coming at this very moment.

 Rama ran with great speed.

 The arrow fell on this fought.

 Let’s have dinner after the show.

 They achieved the goal as a unified team.

#Adverb phrase formed with preposition#

All kind of adverb phrase can be made with preposition. 

When prepositional phrase functions as an adverb phrase it is letting us know the relationship between the object of the preposition and the verb [the action or state of being]

The adverb phrase answers the following types of questions about the verb in the sentence: when, where, why, how, to what extent, under what conditions.

 Here are some examples:

1. The old ship sank beneath the waves..

Here the relationship between waves and sank is told by preposition ‘beneath’

2. The dog lay on the floor.

3. The boy stood on the stool.

4. He returned in an hour.

5. A fair little girl sat under a tree.

#Adverb phrases made with infinitives#

A different kind of adverb phrase can be made with the infinitive form of a verb. Most of these phrases express purpose. Study the following examples to get clear idea.

1. He strove with all his might to escape

 2. The boy shouted to show his anger.

3. Sam collected all old bottle caps to prepare his project.

4. He is saving money to buy a new car.

5. They gather all courage to fight in the war.

WORKSHEET WITH ANSWERS

Pick out the adverb phrases from the following sentences

1) On his return we asked him many questions.

2) Little jack Horner sat in a corner.

3) He ran with all his might.

4) They fought to the last man.

5) He acted in a rude manner.

6) He is coming at this very moment.

7) He did it against its will.

8) The cat lay on the mattress.

9) You can buy it in all places.

10) He fell to the ground.

Answers

1) many questions

2) in a corner

3) with all his might

4) to the last man

5) in a rude manner

6) at this very moment

7) against its will

8) on the mattress

9) in all places

10) to the ground