Mood Adjuncts
Mood Adjuncts are “closely associated with the meanings construed by the mood system: modality and temporality, and also intensity” (H & M, p.126). The neutral position for mood Adjuncts is next to the Finite, although they may also function as Theme (temporality and modality have a strong tendency for this) or as Afterthought:
- usually they don’t open before ten (thematic)
- they usually don’t open before ten (neutral)
- they don’t usually open before ten (neutral)
- they don’t open before ten usually (afterthought)
The difference between 2. and 3. is also systematic – try replacing usually with always to see the difference. Adjuncts of modality are closely related to the system of modality construed by the Finite operator. The important difference is, however, that whereas the system of modality through the Finite is subjective, where it is “the speaker’s own judgement on which the validity of the proposition is made to rest” (H & M, p.150), Adjuncts are construed as being objective and “represent different types of assessment of the proposition or proposal” (H & M, p.126). Thus we can compare It must be a pen(implicit-subjective) with It is certainly a pen (implicit-objective).
Adjuncts of temporality “relate either (i) to the time itself, which may be near or remote, past or future, relative to the speaker-now [for example, eventually/soon or once/just]; or (ii) to an expectation, positive or negative, with regard to the time at issue [for example,still/already or no longer/ not yet]” (H & M, p.127-8). In special cases where Adjuncts of modality and temporality are ‘negative’, the order of Subject and Finite is typically (in certain registers) reversed, such as Never before have fans been promised such a feast of speed (H & M, p.127).
Adjuncts of intensity fall into two classes: (i) degree, which may be total (totally, utterly), high (quite, almost) or low (scarcely, hardly) or (ii) counterexpectancy, which may be either exceeding (even, actually) or limiting (just, simply) (H & M, p.127-9). Adjuncts of intensity cannot be thematic.
Comment Adjuncts
Comment Adjuncts “express the speaker’s attitude either to the proposition as a whole or to the particular speech function” (H & M, p.129).
1) Propositional (ideational) type – occur only with declarative clauses and, as with mood Adjuncts, may appear in the thematic, neutral or afterthought positions. Propositional type comment Adjuncts are located “according to their significance for the textual organisation of the clause…[and] are strongly associated with the boundary between information units” (H & M, p.129). The difference between these and circumstances of manner can often be difficult for learners (compare: wisely, he didn’t act with he didn’t act wisely).
2) Speech functional (interpersonal) type – may occur with either declarative clauses, which express the speaker’s angle (Frankly, I was surprised.), or with interrogative, which express the listener’s angle (Frankly, were you surprised?). They are more likely to be restricted to initial or final position. This type also falls into two sub-types: qualified, which can be followed by speaking as in generally speaking, and unqualified, which cannot be followed by speaking.
The comment Adjunct network and examples can be found here.
Vocatives and Expletives
Vocatives and expletives, such as What do you want, darling and God, that’s terrific are “features of dialogue, especially casual conversation where they often occur one after the other and together reinforce the ‘you-and-me’ dimension of the meaning” (H & M, p.134). These two, outside the Mood and Residue structure, are often overlooked in EFL classes and are one reason why many EFL dialogues can seem somewhat flat and impersonal. One easy activity I use in class to reinforce their importance is just to get students using each other’s names when doing any kind of drill. Instead of just What time do you get up? the students should instead try to use:
- What time do you get up, Takashi?
- At about 6 o’clock.
- Wow, that’s early!
- I know! How about you, Junko?
