Introducing English Linguistics

part of another phrase in the clause, it is functioning as an adverbial. The
third adverb, especially, is an intensifying adverb occurring within an
adjective phrase that is functioning as a subject complement. Because
English syntax
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especially is part of this phrase, it has no function in the clause and would
therefore not be considered an adverbial.
Many different kinds of phrases can function as adverbials: noun phras-
es, adverb phrases, prepositional phrases, and clauses (both finite and
non-finite). Adverbials differ from the other clause functions in three
major regards. First, clauses are restricted to containing only one of the
other clause functions: one subject, for instance, or one direct object.
However, they can contain more than one adverbial. The clause below
contains three adverbials:
A MAN was left homeless