ABSTRACT

In this chapter I look more closely at the distinction between complements and modifiers in the Verb Phrase.

We have already encountered PPs functioning as modifiers in VP. Examples are:

[1] Old Sam sunbathed

[2] Max spotted those wildcats

As mentioned, since these PPs are optional and can occur with almost any verb, they cannot be used to sub-categorise the verb. In other words, they are not functioning as complements. They give additional, though not grammatically essential, information. When a constituent functions within a VP as the PPs in [1] and [2] are functioning, it is said to function as an adjunct adverbial (or simply, adjunct).