Lecture 15 -16 ADJECTIVE and ADVERB
b) the category of comparison of adverbs
on the basis of their function: 1) evaluative adverbs 2) specificative adverbs
In evaluative function adverbs distinguish the category of comparison five morphological forms: § one positive, § two comparative (direct and reverse) § two superlative (direct and reverse), e. g. : bitterly – more bitterly, less bitterly – most bitterly, least bitterly.
Synthetic and analitical forms are in complimentary distribution to each other.
The superlative degree form can be used • in the absolute sense = absolute superiority • in the elative sense = a high degree of the property, e. g. : The youngest kid cried most bitterly of all. – The kid cried most bitterly.
When used in the specificative function, adverbs are unchangeable e. g. : We meet today; We came ashore.
c) Semantic subdivisions of adverbs
on the basis of their semantic value: - genuine, or notional (nominal) adverbs of full semantic value - semi-functional (pronominal) adverbs of partial semantic value.
on the basis of their general semantics: 1) the qualitative adverbs - denote the inherent qualities of actions and other qualities; derived from qualitative adjectives, e. g. : bitterly, hard, beautifully, well, etc.
They include ügenuine qualitative adverbs, e. g. : bitterly, hard, beautifully, well, etc. üsemi-functional words of degree, quality evaluators:
- adverbs of high degree (intensifiers), e. g. : very, greatly, absolutely, pretty; - adverbs of excessive degree, e. g. : too, awfully, tremendously; - adverbs of unexpected degree, e. g. : surprisingly, astonishingly; - adverbs of moderate degree, e. g. : fairly, relatively, rather.
2) the quantitative adverbs show quantity measure; derived from numerals, e. g. : twice, three times, tenfold, manifold, etc. They belong to the group of semi-functional adverbs.
3) the circumstantial adverbs denote mainly the circumstances of time and place e. g. : today, here, when, far, ashore, abroad, often, etc.
Circumstantial adverbs can be notional and functional. 1) Notional (genuine) circumstantial adverbs denote time and frequency e. g. : tomorrow, never, recently, late; space and direction orientation, e. g. : homeward, ashore, outside, far.
2) functional circumstantial adverbs pronominal adverbs of time, place, manner, cause, consequence, e. g. : here, when, where, so, thus, nevertheless, otherwise, etc.
They substitute notional adverbs or other words used in the function of adverbial modifiers in a sentence, cf. : He stayed at school. – He stayed there;
adverbs nominal qualitative pronominal orientative genuine degree qualitative adverbs temporal adverbs local adverbs
