B1 (Intermediate)Lesson 8: Sentence Architecture
Adjuncts add circumstances such as time, place, cause, or manner. Apposition renames a noun, and vocative directly addresses someone.
Adjuncts add circumstances
Apposition renames or explains a noun
Vocative addresses someone directly
Set off vocatives and explanatory apposition; identifying apposition has no commas
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adjuncts around the clause / noun + apposition / vocative + clause
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These elements make sentences richer and more natural. They also explain a large part of comma placement in normal prose.
Adjuncts are optional elements that add information like time, place, cause, or manner: "hoje", "aqui", "com calma".
Apposition renames or explains a noun: "Ana, minha vizinha, chegou".
Vocative addresses a person directly: "Pedro, fecha a porta".
Vocatives and explanatory apposition are set off, normally with commas; apposition that identifies a noun is not set off.
Adjuncts are flexible in position and often move to the front for discourse reasons.
Vocative is not the subject of the clause, even when it appears first.
| Portuguese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hoje eu trabalho em casa. | Today I work at home. |
| Em São Paulo, tudo parece longe. | In Sao Paulo everything seems far away. |
| Ana, minha vizinha, chegou cedo. | Ana, my neighbor, arrived early. |
| Pedro, fecha a porta. | Pedro, close the door. |
| Com muita calma, ela respondeu. | With great calm, she answered. |
| Com calma, ela respondeu. | Calmly, she answered. |
| Aqui tudo fecha cedo. | Here everything closes early. |
Not every fronted phrase needs a comma, but many longer adjuncts do.
Vocative is outside the subject-predicate core even when it stands first.
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