Is "much" used as an adverb of degree in this sentence
Hello teachers,
Is "much" used as an adverb of degree in this sentence? The reason why I'm asking this is that this site says that adverbs of degree cannot be graded, i.e., one cannot use grading adverbs, such as, very or extremely with them, for example, one cannot say very extremely. But, in the example given below, "much" is used with "very", which is a grading adverb.
-She likes Tom very much.
Thank you.
Top answer
She likes Tom very much . Traditional grammar analyses "much" as an adverb, while modern grammar takes it as a determinative. In the latter, "very much" is a DP (determinative phrase) functioning as a modifier in clause structure.
- She likes Tom very much .
- Traditional grammar analyses "much" as an adverb, while modern grammar takes it as a determinative.
- In the latter, "very much" is a DP (determinative phrase) functioning as a modifier in clause structure.
- ).
- So we have: She likes Tom fairly / too/very much , but not * She likes Tom incredibly / extremely much.
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She likes Tom very much.
Traditional grammar analyses "much" as an adverb, while modern grammar takes it as a determinative. In the latter, "very much" is a DP (determinative phrase) functioning as a modifier in clause structure.
"Much" is one of just four determinatives that do enter into the system of grade, inflectionally ("much ~ more~ most"), and it is gr
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