Looking at adverbial phrases
Like adverbs, adverbial phrases answer the questions: how?
when? why? where?
They have goneto France. (where)(Adverbial phrase of place and also a prepositional phrase.)
A total eclipse took placeon 11 August 1999. (when)(Adverbial phrase of time and also a prepositional phrase.)
He was drivingmuch too quickly. (how)(Adverbial phrase qualifying ‘was driving’.)
Exhausted by the heat, she sat down in the shade. (why)(Adverbial phrase of reason and also a participial phrase.)
Adverbial phrases can indicate:
Place
She waitedin the restaurant.
The letter wason the table.
He stoodby the gate.Direction
He walkedacross the road.
The boy walked moodilyalong the path.LEARNING ABOUT SENTENCE CONSTRUCTION / 31