CGEL¶

Clause¶

Head
Complements
Adjuncts: supplementals or modifiers

CGEL separation¶

Word:

Lexical = what the word is
Function = what it does in a sentence

Phrase/Clause:

Form = phrase type
Function = clause role
Scope: Phrase or clause
Semantic type = meaning (optional)

Examples¶

We were talking in the garden

Form: PP
Function: Adjunct
Semantic type: locative

She spoke with confidence.

Form: PP
Function: Adjunct
Semantic type: manner

They met after the lecture.

Form: PP
Function: Adjunct
Semantic type: temporal

Frankly, I disagree.

Form: AdvP
Function: Adjunct
Semantic type: stance

In CGEL, predicator and predicate are not the same thing, and only predicator is a core syntactic function.

Predicator (CGEL)¶

A function in clause structure.

Realised by a VP.
Its head is the lexical verb (or copular verb in copular clauses).
It is the element that licenses complements and determines clause type.

She has never previously flown a plane.

Predicator = the VP headed by flown
has = auxiliary inside the predicator

Why not predicate?¶

Predicate → informal, semantic, non-constituent

Predicator → formal CGEL function realised by the VP

Predicate:

Not a formal constituent or function in CGEL syntax.
Used loosely in traditional grammar to mean: “everything except the subject”, or “what is said about the subject”

CGEL avoids it because it conflates structure and meaning.

Constituent¶

In CGEL, the term “constituent-level” refers to anything that applies to, modifies, or concerns a single constituent within a clause or phrase, rather than the clause as a whole.

It’s an important distinction when analyzing adjuncts, modifiers, or focus elements.

Definition¶

A constituent is a syntactic unit that behaves as a single unit within a sentence. It can be:

A word (John, quickly)
A phrase (the big dog, very quickly)
Sometimes a clause (that she left early)

Constituents have functions in the clause, like subject, object, complement, adjunct, or modifier.

Constituent-level¶

Meaning: Something that operates at the level of an individual constituent rather than affecting the entire clause or sentence.

Scope is limited to the constituent it attaches to.

Contrast with clause-level¶

Clause-level elements affect the entire clause/proposition (e.g., sentence adverbs like fortunately, frankly).

Constituent-level elements affect only a part of the clause (e.g., only modifying “students” in Only students passed).

Words¶

End with -ive, adjective, determinative, demonstrative: category, class of words
Ends with -er, determiner, modifier: function

Adverbial, adjectival, nominal or the lack of¶

CGEL approach¶

Reanalysis of traditional "subordination conjunctions"

Function labels must Be category-neutral¶

In CGEL’s system of clause structure, function terms (Subject, Predicator, Object, Complement, Adjunct) are strictly category-neutral.

Calling a clause function “Adverbial” inappropriately ties a functional position to a specific lexical class (adverb).

Crucially, Preposition Phrases (PPs)—not Adverb Phrases (AdvPs)—are the most primary, widespread, and structurally versatile fillers of adjunct slots.

Naming the function “adverbial” falsely implies that the adverb is the canonical or default realization.

Elimination of “adverbial clauses” via preposition Reanalysis¶

A major reason “adverbial” is discarded at the clausal level is CGEL’s reanalysis of traditional “subordinating conjunctions” (because, although, if, when, after, before).

CGEL categorizes these words as prepositions that take clausal complements:

because he was late

Traditional view: Subordinate “adverbial clause” of reason.

CGEL view: [because he was late] PP (Head: Preposition because + Complement: finite content clause) functioning as a Reason Adjunct.

{important Without “subordinating conjunctions” introducing “adverbial clauses,” the concept of an “adverbial clause” entirely dissolves

The Systematic Ban on -ial Hybrid Labels

CGEL systematically eliminates all -ial hybrid terms because they blur category and function across the entire grammar:

“Nominal clause” Split into content clause, fused relative, or relative clause.
“Adjectival clause”: Relative clause (functioning as modifier in NP).
“Adverbial clause / phrase”: PP, AdvP, or NP (functioning as adjunct or supplement).

CGEL Pros¶

Form vs. function conflation¶

Traditional grammar uses -ial suffix terms (adverbial, nominal, adjectival) to describe functions that resemble specific categories.

This creates conceptual confusion by suggesting that when a Preposition Phrase (PP) or Noun Phrase (NP) modifies a verb, it somehow “acts like an adverb.”

Categorially, a phrase remains what its head dictates:

in the morning is (PP)

last night (NP)

surprisingly (AdvP)

To CGEL, none of these phrases “become adverbs” or “adverbials” when modifying a predicate; they are distinct categories serving a shared structural function

Replacing “Adverbial” with Structural Functions¶

Instead of using a blanket category-derived label, functional positions are explicitly distinguished:

Adjunct: Optional, element integrated at the clause or VP level. This replaces the vast majority of traditional “adverbial modifiers” (e.g., temporal, spatial, manner, or degree adjuncts).
Modifier: Optional element operating within phrase-level structures (e.g., an AdvP modifying an AdjP or PP).
Supplement: Non-integrated, parenthetical elements setting up a separate message (traditionally split between “disjuncts” and “conjuncts”).

Precision in Classification¶

[Category] functioning as [Function]

By ditching “adverbial,” every phrase in a clause receives a two-part analysis: [Category] functioning as [Function].

She left on Tuesday. (PP functioning as temporal adjunct)

She left yesterday. (NP functioning as temporal adjunct)

She left quickly. (AdvP functioning as manner adjunct)

This avoids treating the adverb as the “default” or primary category of modification, giving PPs, NPs, and subordinate clauses their proper structural status.

CGEL function and category by traditional terms summary¶

Traditional Term	CGEL Category (Form)	CGEL Function
Adverbial (Clause Element)	PP, AdvP, NP, or Clause	Adjunct or Supplement
Adverbial Clause (because…)	PP (Prep + Clause complement)	Adjunct
Adverbial Phrase (in the morning)	PP	Adjunct
Adverbial Phrase (very quickly)	AdvP	Adjunct or Modifier