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AdvancedAdjuncts
How Spanish, English and Chinese add optional information about time, place, manner, and reason.
Compare languages
Adjuncts are optional elements that modify the verb or sentence, adding information about time, place, manner, reason, or condition. All three languages use adverbials and prepositional phrases, but their position and marking differ.
Overview
Adjuncts are optional modifiers that add circumstantial information to a sentence.
- Spanish: Uses adverbs (-mente), prepositional phrases (en, a, con, por, para), and clauses. Position is relatively flexible.
- English: Uses adverbs (-ly), prepositional phrases, and clauses. Position varies by adjunct type.
- Chinese: Uses adverbial phrases (很…地), coverb phrases (在, 跟, 用), and clauses (因为…所以). Time adjuncts typically precede the verb.
Spanish
Time adjuncts
| Type | Expression | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Specific time | a las tres | Llegó a las tres. |
| Duration | durante dos horas | Estudió durante dos horas. |
| Frequency | todos los días | Viene todos los días. |
| Point in time | ayer, mañana | Llegó ayer. |
Place adjuncts
| Preposition | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| en | in/at (countries, cities) | en Madrid, en España |
| a | to (direction) | va a Madrid |
| de | from | es de Madrid |
| desde | from (starting point) | desde aquí |
| hasta | until/to | hasta mañana |
Manner adjuncts
- rápidamente (quickly)
- cuidadosamente (carefully)
- bien (well)
- mal (badly)
- así (like this)
- de prisa (in a hurry)
- con cuidado (with care)
Reason/cause
- Llegó tarde por la lluvia. (because of the rain)
- No vino a causa del tráfico. (due to traffic)
- Por vs para: por = cause/means; para = purpose/destination
Instrument/means
- Viajó en coche. (by car)
- Vino a pie. (on foot)
- Lo escribió con lápiz. (with pencil)
Accompaniment
- Vino con María. (with María)
English
Time adjuncts
| Type | Expression | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Specific time | at 3 o’clock | He arrived at 3. |
| Duration | for two hours | He stayed for two hours. |
| Frequency | every day | He comes every day. |
| Point in time | yesterday, tomorrow | He arrived yesterday. |
Note: For + duration, since + starting point, ago + past time.
Place adjuncts
| Preposition | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| in | large spaces, enclosed | in London, in the room |
| at | specific points | at the station, at home |
| on | surfaces | on the table, on the street |
| to | direction | to London |
| from | origin | from London |
| into | entering | into the room |
| out of | exiting | out of the room |
Manner adjuncts
- quickly (quick + -ly)
- carefully (careful + -ly)
- well (irregular)
- badly (irregular)
- fast (adjective = adverb)
- hard (adjective = adverb)
- in a hurry
- with care
Reason/cause
- He arrived late because of the rain.
- He stayed home due to illness.
- Because it rained, he stayed. (clause)
Instrument/means
- He came by car.
- He came on foot.
- He wrote it with a pencil.
Accompaniment
- He came with Maria.
Chinese
Time adjuncts
Time typically precedes the subject or verb:
- 昨天他来了。(Yesterday he came.)
- 他昨天来了。(He yesterday came. — also acceptable)
| Type | Expression | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Specific time | 三点钟 | 三点钟 |
| Duration | 两个小时 | 两个小时 |
| Frequency | 每天 | 每天 |
Place adjuncts
Coverb 在 for location:
- 他在北京。(He is in Beijing.)
- 他到了北京。(He arrived in Beijing. — 到 = to/arrive)
Manner adjuncts
- 很快地跑 (run quickly — 地 marks adverb)
- 慢慢地走 (walk slowly)
Reason/cause
因为…所以:
- 因为下雨，所以他迟到了。
Instrument/means
- 坐车 (by car — 坐 = sit/ride)
- 用笔写 (write with pen — 用 = use)
Accompaniment
- 和玛丽一起 (together with María)
Comparison at a glance
| Adjunct type | Spanish | English | Chinese |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Flexible position | Flexible position | Usually before S/V |
| Place | en, a, de | in, at, on, to | 在, 到 |
| Manner | -mente, con + N | -ly, with + N | 地, reduplication |
| Reason | por, a causa de | because of, due to | 因为…所以 |
| Means | en, con | by, with | 坐, 用 |
| Accompaniment | con | with | 和…一起 |
| Condition | si | if | 如果…就 |
| Concession | a pesar de | despite | 尽管…还是 |
Examples
In Context
| Spanish | English | Chinese |
|---|---|---|
| Llegó ayer. | He arrived yesterday. | 他昨天来了。 |
| Ella corre rápidamente. | She runs quickly. | 她跑得很快。 |
| Por la lluvia, se quedó. | Because of the rain, he stayed. | 因为下雨，所以他没去。 |
Common mistakes
-
English speakers learning Spanish: Llegó para la lluvia → Llegó por la lluvia (por = cause)
-
Spanish speakers learning English: He arrived quicklyly → He arrived quickly (just one -ly)
-
English speakers learning Chinese: 他来了昨天 → 他昨天来了 (time before verb)
-
Chinese speakers learning English: He by car came → He came by car (English PP follows verb)
Related topics
- Adverbs: How adverbs function
- Prepositions: How prepositions work
- Temporal Clauses: How time clauses work
- Subordination: How subordinate clauses work
Examples
Yesterday he arrived (time)
Ayer llegó / Llegó ayer (flexible position)
He arrived quickly (manner)
Llegó rápidamente (-mente adverb)
He arrived in Madrid (place)
Llegó a Madrid (a + city) / en Madrid (en + country)
He arrived because of the rain (reason)
Llegó tarde por la lluvia (por = cause)
He arrived with Maria (accompaniment)
Llegó con María (con = with)
He arrived by car (means)
Llegó en coche (en = by)
If it rains, he won't arrive (condition)
Si llueve, no llegará
He arrived despite the rain (concession)
Llegó a pesar de la lluvia
Examples
Yesterday he arrived (time)
Yesterday he arrived / He arrived yesterday (flexible)
He arrived quickly (manner)
He arrived quickly (-ly adverb)
He arrived in Madrid (place)
He arrived in Madrid (preposition depends on verb)
He arrived because of the rain (reason)
He arrived late because of the rain
He arrived with Maria (accompaniment)
He arrived with Maria
He arrived by car (means)
He arrived by car
If it rains, he won't arrive (condition)
If it rains, he won't arrive
He arrived despite the rain (concession)
He arrived despite the rain
Examples
Yesterday he arrived (time)
昨天他来了 (time usually before subject/verb)
He arrived quickly (manner)
他很快地来了 (很...地)
He arrived in Madrid (place)
他到了马德里 (到 = arrive-at)
He arrived because of the rain (reason)
因为下雨，他迟到了 (因为)
He arrived with Maria (accompaniment)
他和玛丽一起来的 (和...一起)
He arrived by car (means)
他坐车来的 (坐 + vehicle)
If it rains, he won't arrive (condition)
如果下雨，他就不来 (如果...就...)
He arrived despite the rain (concession)
尽管下雨，他还是来了 (尽管)
Comparison at a glance
| Grammar concepts | Spanish | English | Chinese |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yesterday he arrived (time) | Ayer llegó / Llegó ayer (flexible position) | Yesterday he arrived / He arrived yesterday (flexible) | 昨天他来了 (time usually before subject/verb) |
| He arrived quickly (manner) | Llegó rápidamente (-mente adverb) | He arrived quickly (-ly adverb) | 他很快地来了 (很...地) |
| He arrived in Madrid (place) | Llegó a Madrid (a + city) / en Madrid (en + country) | He arrived in Madrid (preposition depends on verb) | 他到了马德里 (到 = arrive-at) |
| He arrived because of the rain (reason) | Llegó tarde por la lluvia (por = cause) | He arrived late because of the rain | 因为下雨，他迟到了 (因为) |
| He arrived with Maria (accompaniment) | Llegó con María (con = with) | He arrived with Maria | 他和玛丽一起来的 (和...一起) |
| He arrived by car (means) | Llegó en coche (en = by) | He arrived by car | 他坐车来的 (坐 + vehicle) |
| If it rains, he won't arrive (condition) | Si llueve, no llegará | If it rains, he won't arrive | 如果下雨，他就不来 (如果...就...) |
| He arrived despite the rain (concession) | Llegó a pesar de la lluvia | He arrived despite the rain | 尽管下雨，他还是来了 (尽管) |
Select at least one language to view comparisons
Side-by-side comparison
| Grammar concepts | Spanish | English | Chinese |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yesterday he arrived (time) | Ayer llegó / Llegó ayer (flexible position) | Yesterday he arrived / He arrived yesterday (flexible) | 昨天他来了 (time usually before subject/verb) |
| He arrived quickly (manner) | Llegó rápidamente (-mente adverb) | He arrived quickly (-ly adverb) | 他很快地来了 (很...地) |
| He arrived in Madrid (place) | Llegó a Madrid (a + city) / en Madrid (en + country) | He arrived in Madrid (preposition depends on verb) | 他到了马德里 (到 = arrive-at) |
| He arrived because of the rain (reason) | Llegó tarde por la lluvia (por = cause) | He arrived late because of the rain | 因为下雨，他迟到了 (因为) |
| He arrived with Maria (accompaniment) | Llegó con María (con = with) | He arrived with Maria | 他和玛丽一起来的 (和...一起) |
| He arrived by car (means) | Llegó en coche (en = by) | He arrived by car | 他坐车来的 (坐 + vehicle) |
| If it rains, he won't arrive (condition) | Si llueve, no llegará | If it rains, he won't arrive | 如果下雨，他就不来 (如果...就...) |
| He arrived despite the rain (concession) | Llegó a pesar de la lluvia | He arrived despite the rain | 尽管下雨，他还是来了 (尽管) |
Select at least one language to view comparisons
Examples in context
Yesterday he arrived (time)
Spanish
Ayer llegó / Llegó ayer (flexible position)
English
Yesterday he arrived / He arrived yesterday (flexible)
Chinese
昨天他来了 (time usually before subject/verb)
He arrived quickly (manner)
Spanish
Llegó rápidamente (-mente adverb)
English
He arrived quickly (-ly adverb)
Chinese
他很快地来了 (很...地)
He arrived in Madrid (place)
Spanish
Llegó a Madrid (a + city) / en Madrid (en + country)
English
He arrived in Madrid (preposition depends on verb)
Chinese
他到了马德里 (到 = arrive-at)
He arrived because of the rain (reason)
Spanish
Llegó tarde por la lluvia (por = cause)
English
He arrived late because of the rain
Chinese
因为下雨，他迟到了 (因为)
He arrived with Maria (accompaniment)
Spanish
Llegó con María (con = with)
English
He arrived with Maria
Chinese
他和玛丽一起来的 (和...一起)
He arrived by car (means)
Spanish
Llegó en coche (en = by)
English
He arrived by car
Chinese
他坐车来的 (坐 + vehicle)
If it rains, he won't arrive (condition)
Spanish
Si llueve, no llegará
English
If it rains, he won't arrive
Chinese
如果下雨，他就不来 (如果...就...)
He arrived despite the rain (concession)
Spanish
Llegó a pesar de la lluvia
English
He arrived despite the rain
Chinese
尽管下雨，他还是来了 (尽管)
Select at least one language to view comparisons
Key Takeaways
Spanish: Uses adverbs (-mente), prepositional phrases (en, a, con, por, para), and clauses. Position is relatively flexible.
English: Uses adverbs (-ly), prepositional phrases, and clauses. Position varies by adjunct type.
Chinese: Uses adverbial phrases (很...地), coverb phrases (在, 跟, 用), and clauses (因为...所以). Time adjuncts typically precede t
Key concepts compared: Yesterday he arrived (time), He arrived quickly (manner), He arrived in Madrid (place).
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Chinese typically place time expressions at the beginning of a sentence?
How do Spanish and English differ in placing manner adverbs?
What makes the distinction between por and para so difficult for non-Spanish speakers?
References
- Nueva gramática de la lengua española — Real Academia Española / Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española, 2010
- The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language — Huddleston & Pullum, Cambridge University Press, 2002
- A Comprehensive Grammar of the Modern Chinese Language — Li & Thompson, 1981
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Last updated: June 4, 2026