Chapter XXXV: Adverbial Noun Phrases

=134.= We have learned that a frequent modifier of a verb is a prepositional phrase telling the place or time of an action; as, “So off we go in the cool, clear morning.”

Sometimes a noun, or a group of words of which a noun is the base word, takes the place of this prepositional phrase; as, “_Last summer_ the apple trees bore no fruit.”

The words _last summer_ tell time, and modify the predicate _bore no fruit_, but there is no preposition in this group of words. _Summer_ is a noun modified by the adjective _last_. Such a group of words we call an =adverbial noun phrase=. The noun used as base word we call an =adverbial noun=.

=135.= An adverbial noun phrase tells not only time and place, but it often answers such questions as _how far?_ _how long?_ _how much?_ as, “We walked _the whole distance_ before sunset.” “She stayed in London _ten days_.” “One orange weighed _twelve ounces_.”

=Summary.=—An =adverbial noun phrase= is a group of words of which a noun is the base word, that tells the time or place of an action, or how long, how far, or how much.

An adverbial noun phrase modifies a verb.

An =adverbial noun= is always in the objective case.

=Exercise.=—Select the adverbial noun phrases and the nouns used as base words. Tell what the phrases modify, and what questions they answer. (Notice that these phrases often modify more of the predicate than just the verb.) Analyze sentences 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10.

1. He followed her to school one day.

2. Each boy who failed to report himself was fined one cent.

3. Elizabeth Eliza went home directly.

4. Morning, noon, and night, Dame Van Winkle’s tongue was
incessantly going.

5. His keen, sonorous, passionate cry rang strangely on the
night, three times.

6. The trail was an easy one this time.

7. There the wild plum each summer fruited abundantly; and
there a sturdy brotherhood of beeches each autumn lavished
their treasure of three-cornered nuts.

8. I worked a whole week to get the traps properly set out.

9. The next instant the panther received a smart blow on the
top of his head.

10. Kala Nag, the elephant, stood ten fair feet at the shoulder.

11. Ere the cow had gone twenty-five yards, Lobo was upon her.

12. The next morning Mrs. Peterkin began by taking out the
things that were already in her trunk.