[Vocabulary] Today as a noun/adverb

[TitoBr]

Hello there!

According to Cambridge Dictionary 'today' may be used as a noun and an adverb. The question is that I cannot recognize when it is used as an adverb in these sentences. I'm trying to understand if it's used before or after the verb.

What's the date today?
He's going to ring you at some point today. (I believe this one is used as an adverb)
Today is even hotter than yesterday!
Is that today's paper? (This is a noun since the possessive case may be used with nouns indicating time, right?)

Thank you in advance,
Tito

 

[Matthew Wai]

Today is even hotter than yesterday!

'Today' is the subject, so it is a noun.

What's the date today?

It is an adverb.

Not a teacher.

 

[TitoBr]

I know that this sentence is wrong, but I can't explain why.

e.g. He needs to see today Dr. Lee.

Thanks in advance,
Tito

 

[TheParser]

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



"We do not usually put adverbs between a verb and its object." -- Michael Swan in Practical English Usage.

"He needs to see [verb] Dr. Lee [object] today."

 

[Esredux]

... I'm trying to understand if it's used before or after the verb...

How do you think it could help?