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Guest Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
Part of Speech--"Also"
"Jack threw the ball. I also threw the ball." In this quotation, "also" seems to intensify the pronoun "I." If it were operating in its usual capacity as an adverb, the effect would be to say that I threw the ball in addition to some prior action of mine (e.g., "I hit the ball. I also threw the ball.")
Since in the first quotation the "also" intensifies the pronoun, is this a case of an adverb operating adjectivally?
Since in the first quotation the "also" intensifies the pronoun, is this a case of an adverb operating adjectivally?
Top answer
"Also" is what some authors call a "focusing adjunct" (rather than an "intensifier"). When it appears between the subject and the predicate (as it does in "I also threw the ball"), it can usually focus on more than one parf ot the sentence, and the part focused is marked easily in actual speech by means of intonation. In writing we can only hope the context will help us understand where the focus is.
- "Also" is what some authors call a "focusing adjunct" (rather than an "intensifier").
- When it appears between the subject and the predicate (as it does in "I also threw the ball"), it can usually focus on more than one parf ot the sentence, and the part focused is marked easily in actual speech by means of intonation.
- In writing we can only hope the context will help us understand where the focus is.
- " If we say: - "I ALSO threw the ball", it will mean that someone else did too.
- - "I also THREW the ball" --> I threw the ball in addition to something else I did with respect to the ball (for example, I kicked it).
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5 Answers
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"Also" is what some authors call a "focusing adjunct" (rather than an "intensifier").
When it appears between the subject and the predicate (as it does in "I also threw the ball"), it can usually focus on more than one parf ot the sentence, and the part focused is marked easily in actual speech by means of intonation. In writing we can only hope the context will help us understand where the
When it appears between the subject and the predicate (as it does in "I also threw the ball"), it can usually focus on more than one parf ot the sentence, and the part focused is marked easily in actual speech by means of intonation. In writing we can only hope the context will help us understand where the
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Thank you for your response.
I'm still left with the question: If "also" FOCUSES on the subject ("Jack threw the ball. I ALSO threw the ball."), and "also" is still an adverb, then what word is "also" MODIFYING here? Since adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, then how is "also" able to emphasize the subject here?
Practically speaking, if I wanted to diagram t
I'm still left with the question: If "also" FOCUSES on the subject ("Jack threw the ball. I ALSO threw the ball."), and "also" is still an adverb, then what word is "also" MODIFYING here? Since adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, then how is "also" able to emphasize the subject here?
Practically speaking, if I wanted to diagram t
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You would put it under "threw". I is not a verb or adjective or another adverb.
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Adverbs modify verbs, so also modifies threw, in the sentence, I also threw the ball.
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As Miriam stated, 'also' is definitely an adverb describing threw. You may replace 'also' in your sentence with other adverbs like often, slowly, rarely, randomly, quickly etc. Even though it may appear that it is enhancing The pronoun I, It is not using any adjective modifications which answer the questions: what kind, which one, how much or whose. Adjectives are the only part of speech that
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