Sentence adverbs
Definition: A disjunct is a type of adverbial that expresses information that is not considered essential to the sentence it appears in, but which is consider to be the speaker’s or writer’s attitude towards, or descriptive statement of, the positional content of the sentence.
Etymology: From the Latin, "to separate"
For example:
Fortunately, we managed to get there on time.
* “Fortunately” shows us that the speaker was pleased about the result of the action.
More generally, the term disjunct can be used to refer to any sentence element that is not fully integrated into the causal structure of the sentence. Such elements usually appear peripherally (at beginning or end of the sentence) and are set off from the rest of the sentence by a comma (in writing) and a pause (in speech).
Disjuncts are evaluative
The express the speaker’s:
Judgment of the truth of the utterance (modal disjuncts)
For example:
Probably, certainly, maybe
The speaker’s evaluation of a fact (fact-evaluating disjuncts)
For example:
Fortunately, actually, to my surprise
The speaker’s comment on his/her own wording of the sentence
For example:
Briefly, in other words, to tell you the truth
On the speaker’s comment on the subject referent (subject-evaluating disjuncts)
For example:
Wisely, she spent the money.
* She was wise to spend the money.
Examples:
Honestly, I couldn’t believe it.
Unfortunately, Kim has had to leave us.
Honestly, I didn’t do it.
Fortunately to you, I have it right here.
In my opinion, the green one is better.
Frankly, Martha, I don’t give a hoot.
Definition: An adjunct is part of a sentence and modifies the verb to show time, manner, place, frequency and degree.
Etymology: From the Latin, "join"
Certain parts of a sentence may convey information about how, when, or where something happened:
Examples:
He ate his meal quickly (how)
David gave blood last week (when)
Susan went to school in New York (where)
The underlined constituents here are ADJUNCTS. From a syntactic point of view, adjuncts are optional elements, since their omission still leaves a complete sentence:
Examples:
He ate his meal quickly ~ He ate his meal
David gave blood last week ~ David gave blood
Susan went to school in New York ~ Susan went to school
Adjuncts can be categorized in terms of the functional meaning that they contribute the phrase, clause, or sentence in which they appear. The following list of the semantic functions is by no means exhaustive, but it does include most of the semantic functions of adjuncts identified in the literature on adjuncts:
Causal - Causal adjuncts establish the reason for, or purpose of, an action or state.
For example:
The ladder collapsed because it was old. (reason)
She went out to buy some bread. (purpose)
Concessive - Concessive adjuncts establish contrary circumstances.
For example:
Lorna went out although it was raining.
Conditional - Conditional adjuncts establish the condition in which an an action occurs or state holds.
For example:
I would go to Paris, if I had the money.
Consecutive - Consecutive adjuncts establish an effect or result.
For example:
It rained so hard that the streets flooded.
Instrumental - Instrumental adjuncts establish the instrument used to accomplish an action.
For example:
Mr. Bibby wrote the letter with a pencil.
Locative - Locative adjuncts establish where, to where, or from where a state or action happened or existed.
For example:
She sat on the table. (locative)
Measure - Measure adjuncts establish the measure of the action, state, or quality that they modify
For example:
I am completely finished.
That is mostly true.
We want to stay in part.
Modal - Modal adjuncts establish the extent to which the speaker views the action or state as (im)probable.
For example:
They probably left.
That is perhaps possible.
Modicative - Modicative adjuncts establish how the action happened or the state existed.
For example:
He ran with difficulty. (manner)
He stood in silence. (state)
He helped me with my homework. (limiting)
Temporal - Temporal adjuncts establish when, how long, or how frequent the action or state happened or existed.
For example:
He arrived yesterday. (time point)
He stayed for two weeks. (duration)
She drinks in that bar every day. (frequency)
EXERCISE
Adjunct or Disjunct?
Which the highlighted following expressions are adjuncts and disjuncts?
The alarm went off again last night. -………………………………
Frankly, Martha, I don't give a hoot.-………………………………….
Simon drinks his pints like a demon.-……………………………….
Honestly, I didn't do it.-…………………………………….
She buries all her toys wherever Ollie buries his.- ……………………..
Unfortunately, Kim has had to leave us.-………………………………..
In my opinion, the green one is better.-……………………………..
Sam opened the door with a hammer.-……………………………….
Honestly, I couldn't believe it.-………………………………………..
Fortunately for you, I have it right here.-…………………………..
EXERCISE
Adjunct or Disjunct?
Which the highlighted following expressions are adjuncts and disjuncts?
The alarm went off again last night. -………………………………
Frankly, Martha, I don't give a hoot.-………………………………….
Simon drinks his pints like a demon.-……………………………….
Honestly, I didn't do it.-…………………………………….
She buries all her toys wherever Ollie buries his.- ……………………..
Unfortunately, Kim has had to leave us.-………………………………..
In my opinion, the green one is better.-……………………………..
Sam opened the door with a hammer.-……………………………….
Honestly, I couldn't believe it.-………………………………………..
Fortunately for you, I have it right here.-…………………………..