Once students are familiar with the noun modification, we are ready to move on to the second element of the sentence that can be qualified, the verb.

1. Single-word adverbs

The most basic type of verb modifiers is the single-word adverb. It usually describes the verb in terms of how the verb is done.

Anna walked gracefully when she appeared on the stage.

Anna elegantly dressed when she came to our wedding reception.

The somewhat familiar form of adverbs is adjective+ly, such as

beautiful -> beautifully

careful -> carefully

attentive -> attentively

2. Prepositional Phrases

As discussed previously, the prepositional phrase consists of a preposition a noun phrase. The prepositional phrase may explain the verb in terms of where and when the actionis done.

John left to San Francisco on Monday night.

3. Adverb Clauses

The adverb clauses will be thoroughly discussed again once we get to Unit 4. For this unit, we focus on only four types of adverb clauses.

Every adverb clause consists of a subordinator (depending on its type) + subject + verb.

3.1 Clauses telling time: when, once, as soon as, before, after

John will introduce you to everyone when they arrive.

3.2 Clauses telling reason: because, as, since

John denied all charges because he did not commit the crime.

3.3 Clauses indicating contrast: although, even though, though

Although the exam is up in two weeks, Jane has not begun studying yet.

3.4 Clauses telling purpose: in order that

Anna decided to go the gym in order that she would lose some weight.

4. Reduced Adverb Clauses

Sometimes the writer shortens his adverb clauses into phrases. Ways to do this are:

1. Drop the subordinator that introduces the adverb clause, drop the subject in the adverb clause and change the verb in the adverb clause into either Ving or V3.

As soon as John knew the test result, he happily called his wife.

Knowing the test result, John happily called his wife.

When he was named the department manager, John threw a party.

Named the department manager, John threw a party.

Being a single mom, Anna had to balance her work and her time for the children.

In the above examples, the verbal phrases begin the sentences. The verbal phrases can also be put in the end. For example:

The plane disappeared from the control radar, crashing into a football field.

The car collided into the building, injuring two passers-by.

2. Drop only the subject in the adverb clause and change the verb in the adverb clause into either Ving or Being + V3, or V3(for emotive verbs like tire, shock, interest etc).

1. When she learned about his loss, Anna consoled her best friend, John.

When learning about his loss, Anna consoled her best friend, John.

2. After she was left with her two kids, Anna worked two extra jobs.

After being left with her two kids, Anna worked two extra jobs.

3. Although she was tired from work, Anna went to see the film with her friends in the evening.

Although tired from work, Anna went to see the film with her friends in the evening.

When the subjects in the adverb clause and the subordinate clause are different, a special form of reduced clause is used. This pattern is called 'an

5. Absolute Phrase'.

Drop the subordinator that introduces the adverb clause, retain the subject in the subordinate clause, and change the form of the verb in the subordinate clause into either Ving or V3.

1. Because/When the car broke down, John stopped at a rest area.

The car breaking down, John stopped at a rest area.

2. Because his son was unreasonably punished, John came to school and asked to see the principal.

His son unreasonably punished, John came to school and asked to see the principal.

3. When the time was over, the proctor collected the exam papers.

The time over, the proctor collected the exam papers.

Because the questions were not answered, the reporter repeated them many times.

The questions not answered, the reporter repeated them many times.