Can an adverb modify an uncountable noun?

Question

I have six questions that I can't answer myself since my grammar book doesn't list information on this point. It'd be much more helpful if you provide trustworhy sources as well, though not necessary. I found examples 1 and 2 on Google, by the way. If an anonymous answers my questions, would you please write about whether you're a native English speaker and which English you speak so that I, including others, read your answer, given that?

- example 1. The soup is almost water.

Q1) Is example 1 correct English?

Q2) As for example 1, does the adverb "almost" modify the uncountable noun "water"?

Q3) Like in example 1, can an adverb modify an uncountable noun?

As a side question,

- example 2. Sometimes, it was nearly him. Enough of him that they could talk and she would smile and be happy for both of them. Those rare golden days.

Q4) Is example 2 correct English?

Q5) As for example 2, does the adverb "nearly" modify the pronoun "him"?

Q6) Like in example 2, can an adverb modify a pronoun?
My gut tells me to say yes to all the six questions above, but I'd like to be more sure whether I'm really right.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

fire1Q1) Is example 1 correct English?

Yes.

fire1Q2) As for example 1, does the adverb "almost" modify the uncountable noun "water"?

No adverb can modify any noun by definition. "Almost" modifies "is". The soup almost is water.

fire1Q4) Is example 2 correct English?

Yes, but it is rather free and literary.

fire1Q5) As for example 2, does the adverb "nearly" modify the pronoun "him"?

This is the same as the first one. It nearly was him.

fire1Q6) Like in example 2, can an adverb modify a pronoun?

No. If it did, you would have to call it an adjective.

Anonymous · Answer

I'm a native English speaker in the US, and a long-time regular poster on englishforums.com.

Q1). Example 1 is okay English.

Q2). The adverb "almost" modifies the verb "is." So the sentence, rearranged, is: "The soup almost is water."

Q3). Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, not nouns.

Q4). Example 2 is not right. It should be something like, for example: "Sometimes he was nearly himself. Enough like himself so that they could talk, and she would smile and be happy for both of them. Ah, those rare golden days."

Q5). The adverb "nearly" modifies the verb "was." So the sentence, rearranged, is "Sometimes he nearly was himself."

Q6). Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, not nouns or pronouns.

CalifJim · Answer

fire1
The soup is almost water.
Q1) Is example 1 correct English?

It's unusual, but I'd say it's correct — at least in the sense that you might actually hear it in conversation.

fire1Q2) As for example 1, does the adverb "almost" modify the uncountable noun "water"?

Yes. I suppose you could say it quantifies the wateriness of the soup.

But be cautious about this, because some will argue that 'almost' modifies 'is', or in effect, the whole clause thus:

It is almost the case that this soup is water.

fire1Q3) Like in example 1, can an adverb modify an uncountable noun?

Yes. Adverb modifiers of nouns usually occur after the noun. The distinction of countable vs uncountable is not significant.

This mud here should be cleaned up before it gets tracked into the house.

fire1
As a side question,
- example 2. Sometimes, it was nearly him. Enough of him that they could talk and she would smile and be happy for both of them. Those rare golden days.
Q4) Is example 2 correct English?

Yes.

fire1Q5) As for example 2, does the adverb "nearly" modify the pronoun "him"?

See the discussion of "The soup was almost water". The same reasoning and cautions apply.

fire1Q6) Like in example 2, can an adverb modify a pronoun?
My gut tells me to say yes to all the six questions above, but I'd like to be more sure whether I'm really right.

A clear case of that will be harder to find than in the case of a noun. I don't have an unambiguous example to show you.

CJ

Off-topic comment: I take it you are less interested in becoming fluent in speaking English and more interested in becoming knowledgeable about English linguistics. I hope you don't think the latter will be much help in achieving the former.

Can an adverb modify an uncountable noun?

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