Can adverbs modify direct objects?
1. I didn't want just that.
2. I hit only the ball.
It's not that I don't understand the meanings of examples 1 and 2, but that I'm not very clear whether it's correct to analyze "just" and "only" as modifying the direct object "that" in examples 1 and 2.
I think that, as adverbs, "just" and "only" modifies "that", but since I can't find any explanation that adverbs can modify direct objects, I'm not sure about my analysis.
Would you help me out?
Top answer
In 1 "just" modifies "that" which is a substantive (ie a noun or noun equivalent) and is therefore an adjective. If you remove "just" from the sentence and read it ,then replace "just" you'll see it modifies the object "that". In 2 "only" is an adverb as it modifies the adjective "the".
- In 1 "just" modifies "that" which is a substantive (ie a noun or noun equivalent) and is therefore an adjective.
- If you remove "just" from the sentence and read it ,then replace "just" you'll see it modifies the object "that".
- In 2 "only" is an adverb as it modifies the adjective "the".
- Again remove the troublesome word and read what remains to see if it makes sense.
- " makes sense.
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In 1 "just" modifies "that" which is a substantive (ie a noun or noun equivalent) and is therefore an adjective. If you remove "just" from the sentence and read it ,then replace "just" you'll see it modifies the object "that".
In 2 "only" is an adverb as it modifies the adjective "the". Again remove the troublesome word and read what remains to see if it makes sense. "I hit the ball." m
0fire1Can adverbs modify direct objects?
Yes. You just mentioned two adverbs that do exactly that.
fire1I think that, as adverbs, "just" and "only" modifies "that", but since I can't find any explanation that adverbs can modify direct objects, I'm not sure about my analysis.
You're right, but most books don't pick
0
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