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Old 31-May-2004, 10:36
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Default Re: A noun as an adverb

Quote:
Originally Posted by pdh0224
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeNewYork
Quote:
Originally Posted by pdh0224
Dear teacher,


My name is Brian. While writting my stuff, I had a question.

"We continuously walked miles."

=> 'miles' is a noun functions as an adverb in the sentence.

If I want to add information about 'miles', Is it modified by

an adjective or an adverb?
In my opinion "miles" is a noun in that sentence. It functions as the object of "walked". The verb "walk" has a transitive use and this is an example of it taking an object. If you wanted to modify "miles" you would use an adjective. I'm not sure "continuously" adds anything to the sentence, however. :wink:
I disagree with you. I believe 'miles' is not a noun in the sentence, becuase an objective of 'walk' could be a way , a road , and something like that. That is, we can't walk 'miles'. 'miles' shows us not where they walk but how long they walk. It means it is an adverb.
What do you think?

All the best, :)
Hello Brian,

Mike's response make a lot of sense. :D

Try looking at it in this way,

1. We walked (for) miles along the road.
2. We walked along the road for miles.

Where did you walk? Along the road. (Adverb)
What did you walk? Miles (Plural noun, Object)

3. We continuously walked (a great deal of ) miles.

In 3. the phrase 'a great deal of' has been omitted. 'miles' functions as a noun, with or without its modification 'a great deal of'.

All the best,
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