daijobu Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Let's do a 4-level analysis of this sentence: Every day I take a nap. What part of the sentence is EVERY DAY? Is it some sort of phrase? It seems like a prepositional phrase modifying TAKE, but the dictionaries call EVERY an adjective. Thanks for your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saille Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Hmmm. Adverbial phrase? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 (edited) "Every" is an adjective modifying the noun "day". The function of that phrase in the sentence is to modify the verb "take", so it is an adverbial phrase. It's more clear when you rearrange the sentence to read: I take a nap every day. "I" is the subject. "Take" is the action verb predicate. "Nap" is the direct object (What do I take? I take a nap). "Every day" is the adverbial phrase (When do I take a nap? I take a nap every day). ETA: It is not a prepositional phrase because it does not relate two nouns or pronouns. I take a nap on the couch has a prepositional phrase because it relates the pronoun "I" with the noun "couch". Edited September 12, 2012 by Crimson Wife Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbmamaz Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 we only got through voyage but did not see adverbial phrases? or did i forget so soon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 I can't remember if it was discussed in the "town" level but Don Killgallon definitely has a section on it in Grammar for Middle School. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daijobu Posted September 13, 2012 Author Share Posted September 13, 2012 The function of that phrase in the sentence is to modify the verb "take", so it is an adverbial phrase. Thank you. We are still on the Voyage level as well, and we have not encountered adverbial phrases, hence my confusion. (I can't say I'm looking forward to still more kinds of phrases. I thought I already had a full plate of 'em.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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