references for Grammar Glossary entry: “disjunct”

• The following sections of A Comprehensive Grammar of The English Language (Randolph Quirk, Sidney Greenbaum, Geoffrey Leech, Jan Svartik, Longman, London & New York, 1985) were consulted in preparing this entry:

• Introduction (Adverbials)

§ 8.1,  478

• Disjuncts

§§ 8.121-8.123   612-615

• Style disjuncts

§§ 8.124-1.125   815-818

• Content disjuncts

§§ 8.127-8.129   505-510

• Syntactic features of disjuncts

§§ 8.130-8.138   627-631

further notes:

1. As the authors of CGEL point out in §8.121, (to paraphrase) adjuncts cannot be made the focus of a cleft sentence; cannot be the basis of contrast in alternative interrogation or negation; cannot be focussed by focussing subjuncts; and cannot come within the scope of predication of pro-forms or ellipsis. In these ways disjuncts are similar to subjuncts.

2. In § 8.123, p 615, of CGEL there is a diagram illustrating the four-fold organization of disjuncts.

3. Here are some examples of single-word disjuncts of style (manner type) given by the authors of CGEL: candidly, seriously, strictly, briefly, confidentially, bluntly, frankly, roughly, simply. (All these words could also be used as adjuncts, and frequently are.) (&167; 8.124, p 615)

4. Here are some examples of single-word disjuncts of style (manner type) given by the authors of CGEL: literally, metaphorically, strictly, personally. (All these words could also be used as adjuncts, and frequently are.) (&167; 8.124, p 616)

5. Here are some examples of single-word disjuncts of content (degree of truth type) given by the authors of CGEL: admittedly, certainly, definitely, indeed, surely, undeniably, unquestionably, clearly, obviously, plainly, allegedly, arguably, perhaps, possibly, presumably, supposedly. (&167; 8.127, p 616)

6. Here are some examples of single-word disjuncts of content (value judgment type) given by the authors of CGEL: rightly, wrongly, cleverly, foolishly, prudently, reasonably, wisely, amazingly, incredibly, ironically, remarkably, annoyingly, regrettably, fortunately, unhappily, luckily, tragically, amusingly, hopefully, preferably, significantly. (&167; 8.127, pp 621-622) (According to some, “hopefully” should not be used as a disjunct but the authors of CGEL are unsympathetic to this idea and argue their case persuaively. (cf. &167; 8.129, note b., p 626)