Courses

Courses for Kids

Free study material

Store

Talk to our experts

1800-120-456-456

English

Grammar

Adverbial Phrase

Adverbial Phrase: Definition, Types & Examples

Q: 2. How does an adverbial phrase differ from an adverbial clause?

The key difference lies in their structure. An adverbial phrase lacks a subject and a verb; it functions as a single unit modifying another word. An adverbial clause, however, contains both a subject and a verb, forming a complete clause that depends on the main clause for its meaning. For example, "She walked quickly" (adverb) vs. "She walked quickly because she was late" (adverbial clause).

Q: 3. What are the different types of adverbial phrases?

Adverbial phrases can be categorized by their function: Time (in the morning), Place (near the river), Manner (with great care), Reason (because of the rain), Frequency (every day), Purpose (to help others), Condition (if it rains), Concession (although she was tired), and Degree (very quickly).

Q: 5. Can you give me some examples of adverbial phrases?

Here are some examples:• Time: in the evening, after dinner, before sunrise• Place: in the garden, near the school, across the street• Manner: with great enthusiasm, very carefully, quite slowly• Frequency: every day, twice a week, often• Reason: because of the rain, due to illness, for this reason

Q: 8. Can a prepositional phrase be an adverbial phrase?

Yes! A prepositional phrase functions as an adverbial phrase when it modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb, providing information about time, place, manner, etc. For example, "The book is on the table" – "on the table" is a prepositional phrase acting as an adverbial phrase of place.

Q: 9. What are some common mistakes to avoid when using adverbial phrases?

• Comma splices: Don’t use a comma to join two independent clauses with only an adverbial phrase in between.• Misplaced modifiers: Ensure the adverbial phrase clearly modifies the intended word to avoid ambiguity.• Overuse: While helpful, too many adverbial phrases can make your writing cumbersome. Strive for clarity and conciseness.

How to Identify and Use Adverbial Phrases in English

An adverbial phrase is a group of words that functions as an adverb in a sentence, modifying a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. It provides additional information about how, when, where, or why something happens. Unlike a single-word adverb, an adverbial phrase consists of two or more words working together to give a more detailed description. For example, in the sentence "She ran at a fast pace," the phrase "at a fast pace" is an adverbial phrase describing how she ran. Below we have provided some Adverbial phrase examples with answers.

Table of Content

Interesting Facts About Adverbial Phrase

Adverbial phrases can sometimes be tricky to identify because they can take many forms, including prepositional phrases, infinitive phrases, or even clauses acting as adverbs.
Adverbial phrases can be placed at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence, offering flexibility in how you structure your sentences.
Unlike adverbial clauses, which contain a subject and a verb, adverbial phrases do not have a subject and verb and are usually shorter.

An adverbial phrase is a group of words that functions as an adverb, providing more detailed information about how, when, where, or why something happens in a sentence. Understanding adverbial phrases boosts your marks in school grammar, strengthens writing skills, and helps you recognise nuanced meanings in competitive exams or spoken English.

What is an Adverbial Phrase?

An adverbial phrase modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb by answering questions such as how, when, where, or why. It often starts with a preposition and includes modifiers. For example, in “She danced with great enthusiasm,” the phrase “with great enthusiasm” explains how she danced.

Adverbial Phrase vs. Adverb vs. Adverbial Clause

Feature	Adverb	Adverbial Phrase	Adverbial Clause
Structure	One word (e.g., quickly)	Group of related words (e.g., in the morning)	Dependent clause with subject & verb (e.g., when school ended)
Example	She studied carefully.	She studied with great care.	She studied because she had an exam.
Has subject & verb?	No	No	Yes

Adverbial phrases provide extra detail, but unlike adverbial clauses, do not have both a subject and verb.

Types of Adverbial Phrases

Type	Definition	Example Sentence
Time	When an action occurs	He reads in the evening.
Place	Where an action happens	Wait at the bus stop.
Manner	How something is done	Write with a blue pen.
Reason	Why an action happens	They cried because of the noise.
Frequency	How often	She exercises every morning.
Purpose	What for	They met to discuss plans.
Degree	To what extent	I am completely at ease.
Condition	Under what circumstances	In case of rain, the match is cancelled.
Concession	Contradicting expectation	Despite the cold, they played outside.

Knowing these types helps students in CBSE, ICSE, and state boards quickly classify and use adverbial phrases correctly.

How to Identify Adverbial Phrases

Find the verb in the sentence.
Ask how, when, where, why, or how often about it.
If a group of words (not just one) answers these, it’s an adverbial phrase.

In “She played with joy and laughter,” the words after “played” explain how—so this is an adverbial phrase.

Examples of Adverbial Phrases in Sentences

Adverbial Phrase	Usage/Meaning	Example
in the morning	Time	He jogs in the morning.
with his friends	Manner	She travels with her friends.
after school	Time	They meet after school.
at the park	Place	Children play at the park.
for a long time	Duration	She waited for a long time.
because of the rain	Reason	The match was stopped because of the rain.
to win the prize	Purpose	He studied to win the prize.
in silence	Manner	She listened in silence.
every Saturday	Frequency	They meet every Saturday.
in a hurry	Manner	He left in a hurry.

Use these examples as a reference when answering English grammar questions or enhancing your essays for exams.

Practice Exercises on Adverbial Phrases

Identify the adverbial phrase in: “The teacher explained the topic with great patience.”
Rewrite using an adverbial phrase: “They left. (Why?)” [Your answer should say why they left]
Choose the correct adverbial phrase: “She completed her project ___.” (on time / very / because)
Insert an adverbial phrase: “We will visit our grandmother ___.”
Under which type does the phrase fit? “With their cousins” (time, manner, place, reason)

Check your answers to improve understanding for CBSE, ICSE, and competitive English exams.

Common Mistakes and Quick Tips

Don’t confuse prepositional phrases: Only those answering “how, when, where, why” are adverbial.
Adverbial clauses aren’t phrases: Clauses have a subject and verb. Phrases do not.
Placement matters: Move the adverbial phrase for clarity or emphasis, but punctuate properly with commas if it's at the start.

Summary Table: Adverbial Phrase Cheat Sheet

Type	Question Answered	Example Phrase
Time	When?	after dinner
Place	Where?	in the city
Manner	How?	with a smile
Reason	Why?	because of the exam
Frequency	How often?	twice a week
Purpose	What for?	to learn grammar

Learning adverbial phrases with real examples and structured tables helps you write clearly, answer grammar questions confidently, and improve your performance in exams and communication. Mastering this topic with Vedantu’s resources builds a strong grammar foundation for every learner.

How to Form an Adverbial Phrase?

To form an adverbial phrase, you typically start with a preposition, such as "in," "at," "on," "with," or "by," and then add a modifier like an adjective or adverb to provide more detail. This is often followed by a noun or pronoun to complete the thought, such as "in the park" or "with great enthusiasm." Additionally, adverbial phrases can sometimes be formed using infinitives, like "to win the game." The key is to combine these elements in a way that provides specific information about the action or description, enriching your sentences with more precise detail.

Elements of an Adverbial Phrase

Preposition: Many adverbial phrases start with a preposition, which connects the phrase to the rest of the sentence, indicating relationships such as time, place, or manner. Examples include "in," "at," "on," "with," and "by."
Modifier: This part of the phrase, which can be an adjective or adverb, adds more detail about the noun or pronoun that follows. Examples are "in the quiet night" or "at an impressive speed."
Noun or Pronoun: The phrase typically includes a noun or pronoun that is described by the preposition and modifier, such as "in the room" or "with her."
Infinitive (for Infinitive Phrases): Sometimes, adverbial phrases are formed using an infinitive verb, such as "to learn" or "to achieve success."

Points to Remember while Forming and Using an Adverbial Phrase

Creating an adverbial phrase becomes straightforward once you understand how the various components work together.

1. Multiple Adverbial Phrases in a Sentence: It's important to note that a sentence can contain more than one adverbial phrase. This allows for greater detail and clarity in describing the action or situation.

2. Flexible Placement: You can position the adverbial phrase anywhere in the sentence, depending on its significance. If the adverbial phrase is crucial to the action being performed by the subject, place it at the beginning of the sentence. Conversely, if the adverbial phrase provides additional, non-essential information, it can be positioned at the end of the sentence.

3. Punctuation Rules: When placing an adverbial phrase at the beginning of a sentence, follow it with a comma. If the adverbial phrase appears in the middle of the sentence, enclose it with commas, placing one before and one after the phrase. If the adverbial phrase is at the end of the sentence, no special punctuation is needed.

4. Forming an Adverbial Phrase: Adverbial phrases can be constructed using various combinations, including:

A preposition, an article, and a noun (e.g., "in the park").
A preposition, a pronoun, and a noun (e.g., "for him").
An adjective and an adverb (e.g., "extremely fast").
An adverb, a preposition, and a noun or pronoun (e.g., "quickly after the game").
A preposition, an article, an adjective, and a noun (e.g., "under the old bridge").
Multiple adverbs and an adjective (e.g., "very quickly indeed").
Multiple adverbs modify one another (e.g., "almost always").

Words to Help You Create Adverbial Phrases

How	When	Where	Why	How Often
quickly	yesterday	at the park	because	sometimes
slowly	today	in the room	due to	frequently
carefully	tomorrow	on the table	for this reason	rarely
quietly	later	under the bridge	since	often
efficiently	in the morning	near the river	as a result	always
with care	at noon	outside the house	because of	never
with enthusiasm	in the evening	next to the store	so that	occasionally
with precision	at night	across the street	for the purpose of	usually
with confidence	last week	in the city	on account of	hardly ever
with ease	in the afternoon	through the forest	to	every now and then

What Separates an Adverbial Clause from an Adverbial Phrase?

Here is the table explaining the difference between Adverbial Clause and Adverbial Phrase.

Feature	Adverbial Phrase	Adverbial Clause
Definition	A group of words that modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb, providing details about how, when, where, or why something happens.	A dependent clause that modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb, and provides details about how, when, where, or why something happens.
Structure	Does not contain a subject and a predicate.	Contains both a subject and a predicate.
Punctuation	No special punctuation is needed unless at the beginning of a sentence.	Often set off by commas if it appears at the beginning or middle of a sentence.
Dependency	Independent of the main clause, cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.	Depending on the main clause, cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
Function	Provides additional information without a complete sentence structure.	Provides additional information with a complete sentence structure.
Usage	Used to add detail and clarity to a sentence.	Used to add detail and clarity, and can show relationships such as cause and effect or time.
Complexity	Generally simpler and shorter.	More complex, often involving conjunctions such as "when," "because," and "if."
Flexibility in Placement	Can be placed at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence.	Typically placed at the beginning or middle of a sentence, and often separated by commas.
Examples	With great care, after lunch, by the lake.	Because it was raining, although he was tired if you arrive early.

Examples of Adverbial Phrases and Their Usage in Different Scenarios

Adverbial Phrases Indicating Time

These adverbial phrases answer the question ‘when’.

My mother was upset with me for arriving home so late.
By midday, we had completed all the day's tasks.
My aunt mentioned that she would be arriving in India in September.
Until the previous year, Devi found it hard to adjust to the city and its culture.
Interest waned towards the end of the show.

Adverbial Phrases Indicating Place

These phrases describe the location where an action occurs and answer the question ‘where’. They also include prepositional phrases functioning as adverbs.

There’s a new grocery store directly across from my house.
My father reminded us that he had parked the car just beside the overpass.
We strolled across the bridge.
Kids play at the park.
Adults and teens are often seen walking along the pavements.

Adverbial Phrases Indicating Manner

These phrases describe how an action is performed, answering the question ‘how’.

Anand waited quietly and patiently.
Fortunately for my sister, she always got her way.
Everything proceeded surprisingly smoothly.
The teacher instructed the students to complete the evaluation forms very thoroughly.
We managed to finish it fairly easily.

Adverbial Phrases Indicating Frequency

These phrases describe how often an action occurs, answering the question ‘how often’.

Almost annually, we take a trip up North.
Norah and her family visit her grandparents quite frequently.
Manassa bakes a fresh batch of cookies every week.
We rarely get a chance to take a break and go somewhere.
Every other weekend, my friends and I gather for dinner.

Adverbial Phrases Indicating Reason

These phrases explain why an action takes place, answering the question ‘why’.

We had to cancel our plans because of the unexpected rain.
Schools will be closed for a week due to severe snowstorms.
To stay updated with tech developments, my brother reads every blog on technological advancements worldwide.
The little boy’s mother scolded him for breaking the glass bowl.
I travelled to Chennai just to visit my friend.

Test Your Knowledge of Adverbial Phrase

1. Identify the Adverbial Phrase

In each of the following sentences, identify the adverbial phrase and state whether it refers to time, place, manner, frequency, or reason.

At the crack of dawn, we set out on our hike.
The children played with great enthusiasm during the summer camp.
Due to the heavy traffic, I arrived late to the meeting.
The conference will be held in the downtown convention centre.
She practices yoga every morning to stay healthy.

2. Complete the Sentence with an Adverbial Phrase

Fill in the blanks with appropriate adverbial phrases from the options provided.

She sings beautifully ___.
Options: (at the concert, with her friends, every weekend, in the car)
They decided to go on a vacation ___.
Options: (because they needed a break, in the middle of the week, quietly, at the beach)
He completed the project ___.
Options: (with a lot of effort, yesterday, near the office, as soon as possible)
___, the team celebrated their victory.
Options: (During the award ceremony, under the moonlight, every year, due to the team's hard work)
She reads novels ___.
Options: (in the library, carefully, on her tablet, every night)

3. Rewrite the Sentence Using an Adverbial Phrase

Rewrite each sentence to include an adverbial phrase that modifies the main action.

She finished her assignment quickly.
Rewrite: ___
The kids played in the garden.
Rewrite: ___
He was excited about the upcoming trip.
Rewrite: ___
The car broke down on the highway.
Rewrite: ___
They moved to a new house last month.
Rewrite: ___

4. Choose the Correct Adverbial Phrase

Choose the correct adverbial phrase to complete each sentence.

They will meet ___.

a) on Friday

b) loudly

c) because of the rain

d) with their friends

The book was read ___.

a) at the bookstore

b) carefully

c) since last week

d) in the evening

The event was cancelled ___.

a) in the hall

b) to the public's dismay

c) very often

d) on Monday

She danced ___.

a) in the auditorium

b) happily

c) every day

d) because she loves dancing

The letter arrived ___.

a) with the morning mail

b) on Tuesday

c) at the address

d) so quickly

5. Create Your Adverbial Phrases

Write sentences using adverbial phrases for each of the following types:

Time: Example: “We’ll meet after the movie ends.”
Place: Example: “The picnic will be held in the park.”
Manner: Example: “She spoke with great confidence.”
Frequency: Example: “He visits his grandparents every summer.”
Reason: Example: “They left early because of the storm.”

Find Out if You Got them All Right from the Answers Below.

1. Identify the Adverbial Phrase

At the crack of dawn – Time
With great enthusiasm – Manner
Due to the heavy traffic – Reason
In the downtown convention centre – Place
Every morning – Frequency

2. Complete the Sentence with an Adverbial Phrase

She sings beautifully at the concert.
They decided to go on a vacation because they needed a break.
He completed the project with a lot of effort.
During the award ceremony, the team celebrated their victory.
She reads novels every night.

3. Rewrite the Sentence Using an Adverbial Phrase

She finished her assignment quickly.
She finished her assignment with great speed.
The kids played in the garden.
The kids played outside in the garden.
He was excited about the upcoming trip.
He was excited about the upcoming trip because it was to Paris.
The car broke down on the highway.
The car broke down while travelling on the highway.
They moved to a new house last month.
They moved to a new house just last month.

4. Choose the Correct Adverbial Phrase

They will meet on Friday.
The book was read carefully.
The event was cancelled to the public's dismay.
She danced happily.
The letter arrived with the morning mail.

5. Create Your Adverbial Phrases

Time: We’ll meet after the movie ends.
Place: The picnic will be held in the park.
Manner: She spoke with great confidence.
Frequency: He visits his grandparents every summer.
Reason: They left early because of the storm.

Takeaways from this Page

Adverbial phrases modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, providing additional information about the action in a sentence. They can indicate time, place, manner, frequency, or reason.
Adverbial phrases can be formed with combinations such as a preposition and noun, an adjective and adverb, or multiple adverbs. The structure varies based on the type of information conveyed.
These phrases can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence, depending on what they modify and the emphasis needed. Placement affects how the sentence’s meaning is perceived.
When an adverbial phrase is at the beginning of a sentence, it is usually followed by a comma. If it appears in the middle, it should be set off by commas. No special punctuation is needed if it’s at the end.

FAQs on Adverbial Phrase: Definition, Types & Examples

1. What is an adverbial phrase?

An adverbial phrase is a group of words that functions as an adverb, modifying a verb, adjective, or another adverb. It provides additional information about how, when, where, or why something happens. Unlike a single-word adverb, an adverbial phrase consists of two or more words working together to give a more detailed description. For example, in the sentence "She ran at a fast pace," the phrase "at a fast pace" is an adverbial phrase describing how she ran.

2. How does an adverbial phrase differ from an adverbial clause?

The key difference lies in their structure. An adverbial phrase lacks a subject and a verb; it functions as a single unit modifying another word. An adverbial clause, however, contains both a subject and a verb, forming a complete clause that depends on the main clause for its meaning. For example, "She walked quickly" (adverb) vs. "She walked quickly because she was late" (adverbial clause).

3. What are the different types of adverbial phrases?

Adverbial phrases can be categorized by their function: Time (in the morning), Place (near the river), Manner (with great care), Reason (because of the rain), Frequency (every day), Purpose (to help others), Condition (if it rains), Concession (although she was tired), and Degree (very quickly).

4. How do I identify an adverbial phrase in a sentence?

Look for a group of words that modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb. Ask yourself: Does this phrase tell me how, when, where, why, how often, or to what extent something happened? If so, it's likely an adverbial phrase. For example, in "The dog slept soundly under the porch," "under the porch" is an adverbial phrase of place.

5. Can you give me some examples of adverbial phrases?

Here are some examples:
• Time: in the evening, after dinner, before sunrise
• Place: in the garden, near the school, across the street
• Manner: with great enthusiasm, very carefully, quite slowly
• Frequency: every day, twice a week, often
• Reason: because of the rain, due to illness, for this reason

6. Where can I place an adverbial phrase in a sentence?

Adverbial phrases are flexible! They can be placed at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. However, their placement affects emphasis. Beginning: After the game, we went home. Middle: The cat, with a flick of its tail, leaped onto the fence. End: She sang beautifully at the concert.

7. How do I punctuate adverbial phrases?

Generally, adverbial phrases at the beginning of a sentence are followed by a comma. If an adverbial phrase interrupts the main clause, use commas to set it off. No commas are needed if the phrase ends the sentence. Example: In the quiet room, she studied. She studied quietly in the quiet room. She studied quietly.

8. Can a prepositional phrase be an adverbial phrase?

Yes! A prepositional phrase functions as an adverbial phrase when it modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb, providing information about time, place, manner, etc. For example, "The book is on the table" – "on the table" is a prepositional phrase acting as an adverbial phrase of place.

9. What are some common mistakes to avoid when using adverbial phrases?

• Comma splices: Don’t use a comma to join two independent clauses with only an adverbial phrase in between.
• Misplaced modifiers: Ensure the adverbial phrase clearly modifies the intended word to avoid ambiguity.
• Overuse: While helpful, too many adverbial phrases can make your writing cumbersome. Strive for clarity and conciseness.

10. How do adverbial phrases improve my writing?

Adverbial phrases add detail and precision to your writing, enhancing clarity and style. They help you convey nuanced information about the actions and descriptions in your sentences, making your writing more engaging and effective. They also allow for sentence variation and stronger descriptive power.

11. Can an adverbial phrase modify an adjective?

Yes, while less common than modifying verbs, adverbial phrases can modify adjectives. For example, in the sentence "She was incredibly happy after the surprise party," the phrase "after the surprise party" modifies the adjective "happy" by specifying the condition under which she felt that emotion.

12. What is the difference between an adverbial phrase and an adverb?

An adverb is a single word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb (e.g., quickly, slowly, happily). An adverbial phrase is a group of two or more words that function as an adverb, providing more detailed information (e.g., very quickly, with great care, in the morning).