The English Language english language

Delahunty and Garvey

very extraordinarily
quite reasonably
rather particularly
too extremely
more/most terrifically
only
somewhat

table 1: typical intensifiers and degree adverbs

The following formula encapsulates the functional properties of AdvPs:

(5) (Modifier) + Head [In formulae like this, parentheses indicate

optional elements.]

The structures associated with (4a), (4b), and (4c) may be represented by
the following trees:

(6)a. AdvP (6)b. AdvP

Adv Int Adv

adamantly quite reluctantly

(6)c. AdvP

Adv Adv

extremely clumsily

As we noted for single adverbs (i.e., adverb phrases composed of just a head
adverb), adverb phrases are relatively movable within a sentence, although the
changes in position may be accompanied by changes in meaning, for example:

(7) a. Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.

b. My dear, I frankly don’t give a damn.

c. My dear, I don’t give a damn, frankly.

(8) a. Luckily, his fall was broken by deep snow.

b. His fall was broken by deep snow, luckily.