Pure and simple - an adverbial phrase.

Question

Until now, people have rarely gotten into trouble for sharing music files, but the Recording Industry Association of America has begun to file the first of many lawsuits against people who swap songs on the Internet. As a result, those people who continue to steal will face the possibility of disciplinary action, as well they should. Downloading music files is just like plagiarizing someone's ideas without acknowledging where you get them. It's stealing, pure and simple.
[Source: Reading for Results Ninth Edition by Laraine Flemming]
I'd like to know here how an adjectival phrase "pure and simple" can be used as an adverbial phrase.
Thank you in advance for your help.

Wilpeter · Accepted Answer

The action of the verb, to steal, is ‘stealing’ – an uncountable noun.  “Pure and Simple” the basic meaning without making it complicated.  Sometimes “Plain and Simple” is used.  It is an idiom.

CalifJim · Answer

park sang joonI'd like to know here how an adjectival phrase "pure and simple" can be used as an adverbial phrase.

It's a matter of tradition, I suppose. At some point in history it may have been It's purely and simply stealing, but, perhaps for emphasis and for a more clever and interesting way of saying it, somebody changed it to It's stealing, pure and simple. (It doesn't have to be 'stealing', by the way.)

Another way of adding similar emphasis is It's stealing, and that's all there is to it.

CJ

Park sang joon · Answer

Thank you wilpter and Mr.Jim, for your very helpfulanswer.

It look like wilpter says "pure and simple" modifies the gerund "stealing."

At some point in history it may have been It's purely and simply stealing, but, perhaps for emphasis and for a more clever and interesting way of saying it, somebody changed it to It's stealing, pure and simple.

I'd like to know by any chance if I can interpret "pure and simple" as "being pure and simple."

CalifJim · Answer

park sang joonIt look like wilpter says "pure and simple" modifies the gerund "stealing."

I'd say it's a sentential adverb; it modifies the whole sentence "It's stealing".

park sang joonI'd like to know by any chance if I can interpret "pure and simple" as "being pure and simple."

No. Absolutely not. I'm not sure how you arrived at that possibility.

CJ

Wilpeter · Answer

CalifJimI'd say it's a sentential adverb; it modifies the whole sentence "It's stealing"

Thank you, CalifJim. While I hadn't heard of them, I've now learned that 'frankly, happily, hopefully, luckily, and thankfully all fall into that category.

Pure and simple - an adverbial phrase.

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