Noun Phrases as Adverbials Ed McCorduck English 402--Grammar SUNY Cortland

Remember from the chapter 2 “Phrase Structure” lecture that a noun phrase (NP) consists of at least a headword (or just “head”) which is always a noun: slide 2: review of the definition of an NP English 402: Grammar

exx (headword in red) a dog the dog dogs Fido this dog those fierce dogs that dog of mine Mary’s humongous dog a huge, shaggy dog foaming at the mouth that I saw make off with the chickens slide 3: examples of noun phrases English 402: Grammar

Noun phrases can also function as adverbials (see the “Adverbs and Adverbials” lecture). exx The hungover bastard just sat there all day. NP functioning as an adverbial (answers the questions “When?” or “How long?”) She takes high tea each afternoon. NP functioning as an adverbial (answers the question “How often?”) slide 4: NPs as adverbials English 402: Grammar

Like hell I’m going to pay you back the next time I have any money. NP (headword time ) functioning as an adverbial (answers the question “When?”) We traveled deserted roads and pioneer trails to get there. compound NP (i.e., two NPs joined by and, headwords roads and trails, respectively) functioning as an adverbial (answers the questions “Where?” or “How?”) She loves her morbidly obese man a ton. NP functioning as an adverbial (answers the questions “How?” or “How much?”) slide 5: more examples of NPs as adverbials English 402: Grammar

Sometimes it may be hard to distinguish an NP functioning as an adverbial from a structurally similar NP having another function in a sentence. exx Peerybingle drove a hearse. NP functioning as dir obj in Pattern VII sentence Peerybingle drove a mile. NP functioning as an adverbial in Pattern VI sentence (answers the question “How far?”) slide 6: distinguishing adverbial NPs from NPs with other functions English 402: Grammar

He reserved Monday for the stoning. NP functioning as dir obj in Pattern VII sentence He departed Monday for the stoning. NP functioning as an adverbial in Pattern VI sentence (answers the question “When?”) slide 7: another example of the difficulty distinguishing adverbial NPs from other NPs English 402: Grammar

Two tests can often be applied to tell whether an NP is functioning as an adverbial in a sentence or the NP has some other function: If the sentence can be made into a grammatical (in the descriptive sense) passive- voice sentence with the NP as the subject of the passive, the NP is (normally) not an adverbial. slide 8: one test for telling if an NP functions as an adverbial English 402: Grammar

ex Peerybingle drove a demonstrator hearse. NP (dir obj) ⇒ A demonstrator hearse was driven by Peerybingle. Peerybingle drove a country mile. NP (adverbial) ⇒ *A country mile was driven by Peerybingle. slide 9: examples of the application of the passive test English 402: Grammar

ex The suits set aside Monday for the annual anal exam. NP (dir obj) ⇒ Monday was set aside by the suits for the annual anal exam. The suits flew out Monday for the annual anal exam. NP (adverbial) ⇒ *Monday was flown out by the suits for the annual anal exam. slide 10: more examples of the application of the passive test English 402: Grammar

If a preposition can be inserted before the NP (i.e., if the NP can be incorporated into a PP) with the sentence still grammatical, the NP is (usually) then an adverbial. exx He drove a mile. ⇒ He drove for a mile. NP (adverbial) PP (adverbial) He drove a hearse. ⇒ * He drove for a hearse. NP (dir obj) She comes Fridays. ⇒ She comes on Fridays. NP (adverbial) PP (adverbial) She detests Fridays. ⇒ * She detests on Fridays. NP (dir obj) slide 11: another test for telling if an NP functions as an adverbial English 402: Grammar