[Grammar] Identifying Adverbial phrase and Adjectival phrase

[jasonkhlim]

Hello guys.
I am trying to identify adverbial and adjectival.

1. ''I was in college with my best friends.''
with my best friends = adverbial phrase?

2. ''She has got what it takes to make a good doctor.''
to make a good doctor = adverbial phrase?

3. ''He is going to be in jail.''
be in jail = adverbial phrase?

4. ''Please come up with an idea to finish this drawing.''
to finish this drawing = adjectival phrase?
Could it be an adverbial phrase?

5. ''A meeting will be held with our clients.''
with our clients = adverbial phrase?

6. ''We need only a piece of paper for each group.''
a piece of paper = adjective phrase
for each group = .adverbial phrase?

7 ''He blamed me for not being more successful.''
'' for not being more successful'' = adverbial phrase?
​

 

[MikeNewYork]

I agree with 1, 2, and 3.

I would call 4 an adjectival phrase. It modiifies the noun "idea".

With 5, I could go either way. It could be "a meeting with our clients" or ''held with our clients."

In 6, "piece of paper" is neither. It is a noun phrase acting as the direct object of "need". I would call "for each group" adjectival.

I would say adverbial for 7.

These differentiations can be very tricky and often are not absolutely clear

 

[TheParser]

6. ''We need only a piece of paper for each group.''

for each group = .adverbial phrase?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello, Jason:

I find that sometimes it is helpful to make up a similar sentence for analysis.

Let's work with: "We need a computer for each student."

In my opinion, the question would probably be: "What do we need for each student?" Answer: A computer.

In my opinion, the passive would probably be: "What is needed for each student?" Answer: A computer.

Therefore, I agree with you that "for each student" is an adverbial prepositional phrase that modifies the verb "need."

*****

Compare: "The goal of our school is a computer for each student." I would feel comfortable calling "for each student" an adjectival prepositional phrase that modifies the noun "a computer." Question: What is the goal of our school? Answer: A computer for each student. (As you know, the verb "is" is a linking verb in those sentences. As some people might put it, it is something like the symbol =.)

 

[jasonkhlim]

Thanks guys. Thanks for replying me and the explanation.
This is what I was looking for. Really appreciate it!:-D

I have another last question.
"I need to ask my friend for help."

Friend for help = Adjectival phrase, right?

 

[MikeNewYork]

No. "My friend" is a noun phrase acting as the indirect object of "to ask".

 

[Matthew Wai]

I think 'for help' is an adverbial prepositional phrase modifying 'ask'.