![\"\"](\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/files\/2012\/03\/othello-and-iago.png\" "\\"Othello")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
What is an adverbial phrase?\u00a0 What is an adverbial clause?\u00a0 What's the difference between them?\u00a0 Do they have to contain adverbs?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
An\u00a0adverb\u00a0is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.\u00a0 We can form a boatload of adverbs by taking adjectives and adding the suffix \"-ly\" (e.g. \"joyously\", \"readily\", \"magnanimously\", \"bouncingly\" etc.)\u00a0 Other common single word adverbs include \"very\", \"too\", \"well\", \"now\", \"then\", \"here\", \"there\" etc.<\/p>\n
A\u00a0phrase\u00a0can be either a prepositional phrase (preposition + noun-object) or a participial phrase (participle form of a verb, with possible a direct object and\/or adverb).\u00a0 If it modifies a verb, an adjective, or adverb, then it's an adverbial phrase.<\/p>\n
The independent clause of the sentence \u2013 main subject and main verb \u2014 will not be an adverbial clause.\u00a0 A\u00a0dependent\u00a0(a.k.a.subordinate)\u00a0clausealso has its own subject and verb, and if it modifies a verb, an adjective, or adverb, then it's an adverbial clause.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
1) He drives\u00a0like a maniac.<\/p>\n
The prepositional phrase \"like a maniac\" is an adverbial phrase.\u00a0 It modifies the verb \"drives\" \u2014it describes\u00a0how\u00a0he drives.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
2) He walks\u00a0dragging his left foot.<\/p>\n
The participial phrase \"dragging his left foot\" is an adverbial phrase.\u00a0 It modifies the verb \"walks\" \u2014it describes\u00a0how\u00a0he walks.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
3) He is scornful\u00a0with no mercy.<\/p>\n
The prepositional phrase \"with no mercy\" is an adverbial phrase.\u00a0 It modifies the adjective \"scornful\" \u2014 it describes\u00a0how\u00a0scornful.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
4) She sings\u00a0when she sees the Sun in the morning.<\/p>\n
The dependent clause \"when she see the Sun in the morning\" is an adverbial clause.\u00a0 It modifies the verb \"sings\" \u2014 it describes\u00a0when\u00a0she sings.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
5) She is so happy\u00a0that she skips everywhere.<\/p>\n
The dependent clause \"that she skips everywhere\" is an adverbial clause.\u00a0 It modifies the adjective \"happy\" \u2014 it describes\u00a0how\u00a0happy.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Notice that sentences #1-4 contain phrases & clauses that act like adverbs, by they themselves do not contain an adverb.\u00a0 The adverbial clause in sentence #5 happens to contain the adverb \"everywhere.\"\u00a0 An adverbial phrase may or may not contain an adverb itself.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
First of all, adverbial phrases are one of the marks of sophisticated writing.\u00a0 I guarantee the GMAT Sentence Correction section you see will be littered with them, so it's good to be well acquainted with them beforehand.\u00a0 Also, the more comfortable you are with adverbial phrase, the more likely you are to use them in your own writing, including in the Analytical Writing Assessment of the GMAT; a well-chosen adverbial phrase will give that sentence a touch of sophistication, which can only help your AWA performance.<\/p>\n
For free, here's a practice GMAT SC question, involving these ideas:\u00a0https:\/\/gmat.magoosh.com\/questions\/1164<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n