Usage of this adverb

Question

Hi there.I have a question about an adverb and its usage.Here is the sentence:Passing on knowledge to others was once thoughtto be a uniquely human ability, but several species areproving otherwise.What's the function of this adverb in this sentence?modifier, intensifier or something else?Thank you.

Philip · Accepted Answer

I think it serves both to modify human and to itensify.

Anonymous · Answer

You mean an adverb can modify a noun? I'm so confused now.

Anonymous · Answer

AnonymousHi there.I have a question about an adverb and its usage.Here is the sentence:Passing on knowledge to others was once thoughtto be a uniquely human ability, but several species areproving otherwise.What's the function of this adverb in this sentence?modifier, intensifier or something else?Thank you.

The noun phrase (NP) "a uniquely human ability" can be divided this way:

ability is the head of the phrase;

uniquely human is the adjective phrase (AjP) which functions as premodifier (of the head) in the NP;

a is a determiner which functions as premodifier (of the head) in the NP.

Now, we can divide the AjP where the adjective "human" is the head of the adjective phrase and the adverb "uniquely" is premodifier (of the head) in the AjP.

Anonymous · Answer

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BillJ · Answer

Anonymousa is a determiner which functions as premodifier (of the head) in the NP.

Not quite. The indefinite article "a" is a determinative functioning as determiner, not a premodifier.

The adverb "uniquely" modifies the adjective "human".

BillJ

Usage of this adverb

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