Adjuncts
'Adjunct' is a word from the Latin that means 'join'. They are any elements in the structure of a clause that is not part of its core. Let's learn about them!
What Are Adjuncts?
Elements of a Clause
We have five main elements in the structure of a clause:
- Subject (S)
- Verb (V)
- Object (O)
- Complement (C)
- Adjunct
Adjuncts: Forms
An adjunct can be:
- a single word,
- an adverbial phrase,
- a prepositional phrase,
- a noun phrase,
- an adverbial clause.
He drove away
The river was flowing
I always buy my groceries from the market
I'm going skiing
I can still recall that day,
Adjuncts: Types
Here are the main types of adjuncts:
- Time Adjuncts (also called adverbs of time)
The concert started
- Place Adjuncts (also called adverbs of place)
They sat
The poverty is a major issue
- Frequency Adjuncts (also called adverbs of frequency)
Collin visits her grandparents
We have English lessons
- Manner Adjuncts (also called adverbs of manner)
Camilla smiled
The painting was drawn
- Degree Adjuncts (also called adverbs of degree)
He didn't work hard
He ran
- Reason Adjuncts (also called adverbs of reason)
She left the party
Adjuncts: Positions
using adjuncts in a sentence
Adjuncts can appear in different positions within a clause, depending on the sentence structure. They can come at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a sentence. For example:
The fox
I went to sleep
Adjuncts Vs. Complements
Adjuncts and complements are not the same things:
- Adjuncts are not necessary, and add extra information to the sentence.
- Complements are necessary in order to complete the meaning of the sentence.
Take a look at the examples:
He put the toys
The verb 'put' must have a complement indicating a place. Without the complement (in the box), the clause would not be complete. We cannot just say 'He put the toys.'
I sat
The verb 'sit' does not need a complement to complete its meaning. Therefore, 'in a chair' is an adjunct and can be omitted.
Adjuncts vs. Post-modifiers
The differences between an adjunct and a post-modifier are that:
- An adjunct adds extra information to a clause.
- A post-modifier gives information about the noun.
I went to the café
'On 5th Street' is a post-modifier and it is a part of the object noun phrase. It tells us which café we are talking about.
I went to the café
'At noon' is an adjunct and it can be omitted from the clause without harming the overall meaning of the sentence.
Dangling Modifiers
Dangling (also called misplaced) modifiers are the adjuncts that are either placed too far away from the word or phrase they are modifying or too close to another word or phrase. In such cases, it can be unclear what the adjunct is modifying. Look at these examples:
Taking long walks
In this sentence, it is difficult to tell if 'frequently' is modifying 'taking long walks' or 'improving health.'
If we place the adjunct in a better position, we can clarify the meaning of the sentence.
We drank the beers that we had brought
This sentence suggests that we brought the beers slowly.
We
Noun Adjuncts
A single noun can be an adjunct. Noun adjuncts (also called noun modifiers) are nouns that modify other nouns. It is sometimes used as a way of creating a compound noun. For example:
Melissa made some
In this sentence, 'chicken' is the noun adjunct, and it modifies the word 'soup', creating the compound noun 'chicken soup'. If we left out 'chicken', only the meaning of the sentence would change, but the sentence would still be grammatically correct.
Tip!
Noun adjuncts can also create single-word compound nouns, as in businessman, where the word 'business' modifies the word man.
Adjectival Adjuncts
Adjectival (also called attributive) adjuncts are adjectives that come immediately before the noun they describe. We can remove them without compromising grammatical correctness. For example:
Melissa played with her
In this sentence, 'black' is the adjectival adjunct, and it modifies the word 'kitten'. If we omit 'black', it does not affect the grammar of the sentence.
The kitten that was
However, in this sentence, 'black' is not an adjunct, it is integral to the meaning of the sentence.
Review
Adjuncts are words, phrases, or clauses that are added to other clauses or sentences to give more information. They can be easily removed from the sentence with no change in the meaning that is what makes them different from complements.
Look at the table below
| forms | types |
|---|---|
| single word | time |
| adverbial phrase | place |
| prepositional phrase | frequency |
| noun phrase | manner |
| adverbial clause | degree |
| _ | reason |
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Direct Objects
Generally, an object is a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that usually comes after the verb. In this article we will talk about the direct objects.
Indirect Objects
As you know, there are three different groups of objects in English. This article is about indirect objects and their functions.
Objects of Prepositions
Objects of prepositions are used when we know there must be an object after the prepositions.
Complements
In grammar, complements are words, phrases, or clauses that are essential to complete the meaning of a given expression. Here, we will study them thoroughly!
