Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

prep phrase

adv phrase

In the summer we very often make our own ice cream.

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Linking adjunct

Adverb, adverb phrase Indicates the time, place, manner, degree, frequency,

duration, viewpoint, etc. of an event, action or process. It is mostly realised by

the -ly suffix added to an adjective (beautifully, fortunately, angrily, actually). 

A phrase with an adverb functioning as the head is called an adverb phrase

(The lecturer spoke 

very 

clearly

.

). Adverb phrases can modify verbs, adjectives,

other adverbs and whole clauses.

Adverbial, adverbial clause Any word, phrase or clause that functions like an

adverb. 

Adverbial clauses are clauses which act as modifiers to a main clause:

Tell me 

after I’ve eaten my dinner. (time)

Drive carefully 

because it is snowing. (reason)

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Modification

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Affirmative A grammatical construction with positive polarity that has an

assertive meaning. Affirmative contrasts with negative:

I have done my homework.

(affirmative)

I haven’t done my homework. 

(negative)

Affix A syllable or group of syllables which are added to the beginning or end of a

word to make a new word. Affixes added to the beginning of a word are

prefixes. Affixes added to the end of a word are suffixes. In the adjective

unworkable there are two affixes, un- (prefix) and -able (suffix).

Agent, agency Refers to the performer or ‘doer’ of an action. In the little girl

tidied up the playroom

, ‘the little girl’ is the agent. In a passive clause, the agent

may be indicated by the noun phrase that follows the optional by-phrase (The

government is criticised by 

everybody.).