definition of adverb

Question

1. I was looking at my teenager friend's Collins/cobuild Compact English Learner's Dictionary for the word "adverb" and it had this definition.

In grammar, an adverb is a word such as 'slowly' or 'very' which adds information about time, place , or manner.

My questions is why aren't there any articles for the words "place" and "manner"?

Siggy · Accepted Answer

BelieverIn grammar, an adverb is a word such as 'slowly' or 'very' which adds information about time, place , or manner.

My questions is why aren't there any articles for the words "place" and "manner"?

I think the general answer is that in this sentence, the words time, place, and manner are being used as non-specific, uncountable nouns. When a noun is non-specific, it is being used to refer to something in general rather than particular: tiger is specific; manner is non-specific. When a noun is being used as uncountable, it means you can't say things like one manner, two manners, three manners, and so on.

The general rule is IF a noun is non-specific AND uncountable THEN there is no article.

Note: some nouns can exist as exist as specific and non-specific, as well as countable and non-countable. You have to determine in what sense the noun is being used.

Siggy

Goodman · Answer

Siggy
Believer
In grammar, an adverb is a word such as 'slowly' or 'very' which adds information about time, place , or manner.

My questions is why aren't there any articles for the words "place" and "manner"?

I think the general answer is that in this sentence, the words time, place, and manner are being used as non-specific, uncountable nouns. When a noun is non-specific, it is being used to refer to something in general rather than particular: tiger is specific; manner is non-specific. When a noun is being used as uncountable, it means you can't say things like one manner, two manners, three manners, and so on.

The general rule is IF a noun is non-specific AND uncountable THEN there is no article.

Note: some nouns can exist as exist as specific and non-specific, as well as countable and non-countable. You have to determine in what sense the noun is being used.
Siggy

Echoing to Siggy's comment, I have a couple of examples to show just that.

The increasing costs of books, college tuition, food and transportation can put extra financial stress on parents. The red items are expressed in a general statement and thus require no article.

Pets, drinking, barefoot and unruly behavior are not allowed in this mall. Same reason.

If you have a dog, you can't enter the mall unless it's a guide dog . - In this sentence, an article "a" is needed.

Hope that helps.

Believer · Answer

Thank you.

I am not too familiar with nouns being categorized with the terms "specific" and "non-specific" but I think I know what you mean generally. If you can expand your explanation, I will appreciate it. My dictionary seems to list the words "place" and "manner" as countable nouns and to me, the very basic rule is that one has to have an article in front. Taking your educated words for the word "manner" being an uncountable and non-specific in nature, does it mean my dictionary came short of mentioning the whole?

definition of adverb

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬