Peter,
Thomas Klammer would disagree with you. and after using his book for years, I now too disagree with you about these words as adverbs.
In his book Analyzing English Grammar, Klammer labels “always,” “sometimes,” “never,” etc. qualifiers, I think.
I believe he points out that one of the tests of an adverb is whether “one” can put very or another intensifier in front of it. He uses frame sentences as a way to identify a word as/check whether a word actually is a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb.
I really really like his book. Get a copy from your Longman rep.
Christine
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Peter Adams
Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2006 7:25 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Conjunctive Adverbs
In a message dated 9/10/06 5:55:25 PM, [log in to unmask] writes:
Peter, I know what you mean about conjunctive adverbs. They are “mobile,” as are adverbs.
However, conjunctive adverbs cannot be intensified, which is, I think, a property adverbs have: very suddenly, for example. Nor are conjunctive adverbs able to modify verbs.
Good points, Christine, but consider the following. Some adverbs also cannot be intensified: always, sometimes, now, today, never. I don't think anyone would argue these are not adverbs.
Also, take a look at these:
Christine likes adverbs, but Herb, nevertheless, prefers conjunctions.
Ed believes in innate knowledge, and Phil, therefore, agrees with him.
In these two, it seems clear that the so-called conjunctive adverb is not joining the two clauses; the coordinating conjunctions are serving that purpose. So would we still call them conjunctions in sentences like these?
Or how about in a simple declarative sentence.
Roger Federer won the US Open, for example, in four sets.
Why would we want to consider for example to be a conjunction in a sentence like this. Or would we?
Peter Adams
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