BlackBlitz“1. What exactly is an adverb of place?
I know that it describes where the action takes place.
"I was swimming at the pool"
At the pool = adverb place
But then someone told me that it can modify any direction of the verb.
"I stole the clothes from the store"
From the stole = sounds like the direction/place of stealing,
BUTTT... it also can modify "the clothes"
And what about this sentence, "I received a gift from him" and "I banned him from the school"”
Hi, Black Blitz,
Please try to distinguish between a word and a phrase.
An adverb is a word. You may look it up in the dictionary, and it will say "adv." It may tell where, it may tell when, it may tell how, etc. It frequently modifies the verb, but may also modify an adjective or another adverb.
Phrases are groups of words. The same phrase may be "named" in two different ways: (1) for the type of word it begins with, and (2) for the way it functions. A participial phrase begins with a participle. A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition.
An adverbial phrase probably doesn't begin with an adverb, but functions to modify the verb, or describe the action. An adjectival phrase probably doesn't begin with an adjective, but functions to modify a noun.
Phrases which begin with nouns, or which function as nouns are beyond the scope of this discussion.
As we've discussed in other threads, a prepositional phrase such as "under the water" can be adverbial and it can be adjectival, but it is not an adverb and it is not an adjective, and it has neither an adverb nor an adjective in it.
"Rocks under the water can be a hazzard to pleasure boats."
"Swim under the water, and you will avoid detection."
"The submarine disappeared under the water."
In the first example, the prepositional phrase "under the water" is obviously adjectival, modifying the noun "rocks."
In the second example, it's obviously adverbial, modifying the verb "to swim." Since it tells "where," you can say it's an adverbial phrase of place. (I don't think it's correct to call it an adverb of place.)
The third example is the type you consistently have problems with. Does it modify the verb "to disappear," or does it modify the noun, "submarine"? Both are under the water, so to speak.
My personal advice would be to stick with the verb in these cases where you feel it modifies both.
I know some of them can be argued forever -
"I saw / meant the book on the floor."
"I stole the clothes from the store."
I think you have to make a pretty good case that the speaker intends to indicate "which" clothes before you can call it adjectival.
"Did you steal those clothes from the store, or from the truck?" (reply) "I stole 'em from the truck."
I think this is still adverbial.
"I brought these clothes from my house."
Still adverbial.
<< "I received a gift from him" and "I banned him from the school" >>
These are both adverbial, in my opinion.