Could you answer the following question about sentences with adverbs?
Question: Do you accept the following sentences (a-e) in which adverbs are not in ordinary position?
(a) John kicked the door accidentally open.
(In such a context that the door accidentally became open as a result of John's kicking it)
(b) John kicked the door deliberately open.
(c) John kicked the door apparently open.
(d) The horses dragged the logs gradually smooth.
(In such a context that the logs gradually became smooth as a result of the horses' dragging it)
(e) The rock rolled itself naturally smooth.
(In such a context that the rock naturally became smooth by rolling)
That is all. I appreciate your help. Thank you very much!
No, I don't accept any of them. They all sound wrong to me because adverbs must be added (ad) to the predicator (verb). Ad + verb. Get it?
Hythloday, go feck off!
Yu, you need a bit of work, but you have the basics down.
In all of these sentences, the "-ly" words should not go where you put them. However, the meaning will change to what I think you had in mind, Yu.
I will try to correct the sentences that you have written:
a.) John accidentally kicked the door open.
b.) John deliberately kicked the door open.
c.) John apparently kicked the door open.
d.) The horses gradually dragged the logs smooth.*
e.) The rock naturally rolled itself smooth.**
These are what I would have said. So basically, you just need to work on you sentence structure a bit more.
* = I am pretty sure I know what you mean, but this sentence just sems awkward. Do you mean that the horses dragged some logs behind them which made the logs smooth?
** = Again, this sentence is a bit awkward like the previous one. Do you mean that the rock became smooth after being in the water for so long?
And do not mind Hythloday. He is a thorn in several peoples' sides. He is a very smart person, but can be rude and unforgiving.
Um, I meant "your" and "seems" from, "to work on you(r) sentence structure" and "just se(e)ms awkward."
Yu,
Your sentences have all got the adverb in front of the adjective. They all therefore sound wrong to me.
(a) John kicked the door accidentally open.
(b) John kicked the door deliberately open.
(c) John kicked the door apparently open.
(d) The horses dragged the logs gradually smooth.
(e) The rock rolled itself naturally smooth.
Clark has put the adverbs where they'd usually be put: in front of the verb. Thus Clark's sentences all sound fine to me.
(a) John accidentally kicked the door open.
(b) John deliberately kicked the door open.
(c) John apparently kicked the door open.
(d) The horses gradually dragged the logs smooth.
(e) The rock naturally rolled itself smooth.
Whilst your sentences do sound wrong I can understand what you'd be trying to say with them. However, the meanings that I understand them to have is no different to the meanings of Clark's more correct sounding sentences.
You could also have put the adverbs at the begining of the sentences.
(a) Accidentally John kicked the door open.
(b) Deliberately John kicked the door open.
(c) Apparently John kicked the door open.
(d) Gradually the horses dragged the logs smooth.
(e) Naturally the rock rolled itself smooth.
Also you could have put them at the end of the sentences.
(a) John kicked the door open accidentally.
(b) John kicked the door open deliberately.
(c) John kicked the door open apparently.
(d) The horses dragged the logs smooth gradually.
(e) The rock rolled itself smooth naturally.
Whether the sentence has the adverb at the begining, at the end or before the verb, it has the same meaning.
I thank all of you for replying! Your explanations were very detailed and clear, so I was able to grasp the use of adverbs. I greatly appreciate your kindness!
Clark,
Thank you very much for your kind reply!
I will answer your inquiries about my question.
>* = I am pretty sure I know what you mean, but this sentence just seems >awkward. Do you mean that the horses dragged some logs behind them >which made the logs smooth?
Yes, I do. I meant exactly what you said.
>** = Again, this sentence is a bit awkward like the previous one. Do you >mean that the rock became smooth after being in the water for so long?
What I meant is a bit different from what you said. I meant that the rock became smooth after rolling in the water/ on the ground.
Thank you very much for answering my question, Clark!