Focus Adjuncts¶
In The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (CGEL), a focus adjunct is a syntactic function, not a lexical category.
Focus adjuncts are usually realized by adverbs or adverbial phrases, and their defining property is that they associate with a focused constituent in a sentence. They do not generally function as clause-level adverbials.
Category vs Function¶
Category (lexical class): what kind of word it is (adverb, noun, verb, etc.)
Function: the role it plays in a clause or phrase (focus adjunct, degree modifier, adverbial, complement, etc.)
A focus adjunct is a function. Most focus adjuncts are adverbs, but they are not adverbials, because they do not modify the clause; they modify or associate with a focused constituent.
What a focus adjunct can modify¶
Focus adjuncts can associate with:
Scope / Modified Element |
Example |
Effect / Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
Subject NP |
Only John left the room. |
Restricts the subject |
Object NP |
John invited only Mary. |
Restricts the object |
Prepositional Phrase (PP) |
He sat only on the left. |
Restricts location |
VP / Predicate |
John only wanted to help. |
Restricts the action |
Adjective / AdjP |
She is particularly tall. |
Highlights a property |
Entire clause |
Above all, be honest. |
Emphasizes the whole proposition |
What matters is the focus association, not the grammatical category of the modified constituent.
Key Properties¶
Optional / adjunct status: focus adjuncts are not required by the verb or predicate.
Scope-sensitive: meaning can change depending on which constituent is in focus.
Category vs function: focus adjuncts are typically adverbs (lexical category) but their function is focus-association, not clause modification.
Information-structural role: focus adjuncts signal selection, restriction, or emphasis on the focused element.
Contrast With Degree Modifiers¶
Property |
Focus Adjunct |
Degree Modifier |
|---|---|---|
Head modified |
NP, PP, VP, sometimes clause |
Adj, Adv, VP |
Function |
Selects or restricts focused constituent |
Scales or measures the head |
Example |
John only invited Mary |
John is virtually finished |
Summary¶
Focus adjunct = CGEL function that associates with a focused constituent
Mostly realized by adverbs or adverbial phrases
Not the same as a clause-level adverbial
Signals restriction, selection, or emphasis, depending on placement and focus
Focus adjuncts are a prime example of how CGEL separates lexical category (adverb) from syntactic function (focus adjunct).