3 Things to Know About the Adverbial Element in a Clause

1) An adverb usually adds information about the situation, such as the time of an action or its frequency. 

2) The adverbial is different from other elements in several respects.

a) There can be several instances in one clause. For example:

I arrived via plane / on Wednesday / in the sun / wearing flip flops / eating chips / .....

b) Adverbials are most common at the end of a clause, but they can be used is several possible positions. For example:

(Twice) he (twice) asked me (twice).

c) Adverbials express a wide range of meanings, such as manner, space, and time. For example:

Fred remained quietly / at the library / all day.

                       (manner) (space)          (time)

d) Adverbials perform several roles in a clause.

i) Adding information - He ran quickly.

ii) Linking clauses together - The plane was full, however, I found a seat.

iii) Some comment about what is being expressed - Frankly, I think you look ridiculous. 

e) When adverbials relate specifically to the meaning of the verb, they are said to MODIFY the verb. 

3) Several things can be adverbs.

a) Adverb phrases - They ran quickly. 

b) Prepositional phrases - We cartwheeled through the garden.  

c) Nouns and noun phrases - That boy rang my bell today.

d) Some subordinate clauses - The women screamed when they saw the monster.

The Object Element of a Clause

The object element usually follows the subject and verb in a clause. There are two types of object:

Direct Object

This is usually a person or thing directly affected by the action expressed in the verb:

The fat woman ate a cake. 

       (S)             (V)  (O)d 

I saw Jane.

(S) (V) (O)d

Indirect Object

The indirect object usually refers to an animate being that is the recipient of the action. There is usually a direct object in these clauses also. The indirect object usually comes before the direct object. 

She gave the cat some water. 

(S)    (V)    (O)i        (O)d

I told her my plans.

(S)(V)(O)i   (O)d

What can be an Object?

Noun phrases, including single nouns:

I saw John. We've found a new car.

Pronouns:

John saw me. Now hear this. He did what?

Some subordinate clauses:

John said I'd been foolish.

The Subject Element of a Clause

In statements, the subject element usually appears before the verb:

Snow fell hard.

And after the first verb in questions:

Is she really going to wear that?

In third person present tense, the subject controls whether the verb is singular or plural:

He sees you.       They see you. 

The subject also controls how certain objects and complements are formed:

I slapped myself. He slapped himself. They slapped themselves. 

Amy's my friend. Amy and Holly are my friends. 

What Can be a Subject?

Noun phrases, including single nouns:

James ran fast. The bus was on time. Steak, ale, and cake are available. 

Pronouns:

I like pumas. That interests me. Who owns this?

Some subordinate clauses:

What she did was out of order. Where you live doesn't count. 

When you string a list of nouns together, they form one subject in the clause, rather than separating them out. For example:

Amy, Alina, and John were laughing. 

            (S)                     (V)      (C)

This isn't S + S + S + V + C, but rather S + V + C

Exclamations

These express the extent to which speakers are impressed or aroused by something. The are often short sentences or even one word. Although, they can take the form of major sentences too. 

Their first element begins with what or how, and is followed by a subject and verb, in that order. For example:

What an awful night that was!

What a masterpiece you've made!

How swell she is!

They can offer appear in a reduced form.

What an awful night!

What a masterpiece!

How swell!

Both sets of examples are said to have an exclamative structure. 

It's rare to find an exclamative with the subject and verb inverted, but they do exist. For example:

How often have I cursed that terrible day!

Directives

Directives are sentences which instruct someone to do something. To call them commands is misleading, because commands are one type of directive. 

Here are some examples:

Commanding - Sit down now!

Inviting - Have a drink with me tonight. 

Warning - Mind where you tread.

Pleading - Help me.

Advising - Take the medicine.

Requesting - Open the door, please.

Expressing good wishes - Have a nice day.

In all of these cases, the verb is in it's basic form, with no endings, and there is usually no subject element present. Sentences structured in this way are called imperatives. It is typical for a directive sentence to have an imperative structure. 

Some directives do not use the basic pattern. 

They allow a subject with strong stress - You be quiet! Nobody move! Everyone go!

They begin with let followed by a subject - Let me see. Let us pray. Let's go.

They begin with do or don't - Do come in. Don't laugh. Do not answer. 

Statements

A statement is a sentence whose purpose is primarily to convey information. It usually has two criteria:

1) The clause contains a subject. 

2) The subject precedes the verb. 

These sentences are said to have a declarative structure. 

In conversation, the subject is often omitted from a declarative sentence:

Looks like snow. Told you so. Beg pardon. 

There are a very few cases where the subject follows a verb. This happens when the clause begins with words like 'hardly' and 'scarcely', which express a negative meaning. 

Hardly had he left, when the heavens opened.