The usage of "rarely",normally an adverb, acting as adjective - Help explain

[Man_From_India]

The usage of "rarely",normally an adverb, acting as adjective - Help explain

I have always known that "rarely" is an adverb, and all the dictionaries sates that it's only an adverb and nothing else. But the following examples is making me confused about the usage of "rarely" as an adverb.

1. It is rarely that police arrest people without adequate suspicion.
2. Things are rarely as they seem.

 

[Roman55]

Re: The usage of "rarely",normally an adverb, acting as adjective - Help explain

I am not a teacher.

1. doesn't work. "It is rare...", not "It is rarely..."
There is no problem with 2.

 

[Tdol]

Re: The usage of "rarely",normally an adverb, acting as adjective - Help explain

What makes you identify it as an adjective in #2?

 

[Man_From_India]

Re: The usage of "rarely",normally an adverb, acting as adjective - Help explain

Tdol, that is what my confusion is, it's adverb in both cases, where there should be an adjective.

 

[Tdol]

Re: The usage of "rarely",normally an adverb, acting as adjective - Help explain

What do you think it's modifying?

 

[Man_From_India]

Re: The usage of "rarely",normally an adverb, acting as adjective - Help explain

I think it is modifying the verb of subordinate clause "arrest" (in case of first example)

 

[Tdol]

Re: The usage of "rarely",normally an adverb, acting as adjective - Help explain

I agree with Roman55 that the first should be rare.