Adjunct (grammar) - Semantic Function

Semantic Function

Adjuncts can be categorized in terms of the functional meaning that they contribute the phrase, clause, or sentence in which they appear. The following list of the semantic functions is by no means exhaustive, but it does include most of the semantic functions of adjuncts identified in the literature on adjuncts:

Causal - Causal adjuncts establish the reason for, or purpose of, an action or state.

The ladder collapsed because it was old. (reason)

She went out to buy some bread. (purpose)

Concessive - Concessive adjuncts establish contrary circumstances.

Lorna went out although it was raining.

Conditional - Conditional adjuncts establish the condition in which an action occurs or state holds.

I would go to Paris, if I had the money.

Consecutive - Consecutive adjuncts establish an effect or result.

It rained so hard that the streets flooded.

Instrumental - Instrumental adjuncts establish the instrument used to accomplish an action.

Mr. Bibby wrote the letter with a pencil.

Locative - Locative adjuncts establish where, to where, or from where a state or action happened or existed.

She sat on the table. (locative)

Measure - Measure adjuncts establish the measure of the action, state, or quality that they modify

I am completely finished.

That is mostly true.

We want to stay in part.

Modal - Modal adjuncts establish the extent to which the speaker views the action or state as (im)probable.

They probably left.

In any case, we didn't do it.

That is perhaps possible.

Modicative - Modicative adjuncts establish how the action happened or the state existed.

He ran with difficulty. (manner)

He stood in silence. (state)

He helped me with my homework. (limiting)

Temporal - Temporal adjuncts establish when, how long, or how frequent the action or state happened or existed.

He arrived yesterday. (time point)

He stayed for two weeks. (duration)

She drinks in that bar every day. (frequency)