| 25.4.3 Modal Adverbs |
Modal adverbs express the way in which an action is executed. While adverbs of location and adverbs of time almost always are before a verb, modal adverbs are very often before an adjective or another adverb. There are two sciences that classify only for classification; one is economy the other grammar. No one actually knows whether all the classifications make any sense, but once classified the world seems to be in a better order. However, we separate the modal adverbs into three groups: The first one is the group of adverbs that can only be before an adjective or another adverb. The second one is the group in which we put all adverbs, which can be only before a verb. And last, but not least the group, in which we put those adverbs that can be before a verb or an adjective. But note! Many adverbs can be also adjectives. Here we speak only of adverbs. It happens quite often, that a word used as an adverb can only be before a verb, but it is also an adjective and can therefore be standing before a noun as well.
| Example | ||
| bestimmt as an adverb in connection with a verb | ||
| Er kommt bestimmt
nicht. |
 |
He surely does not come. |
| bestimmt as an adjective can be before a noun | ||
| Bestimmte Verhältnisse verhinderten jeden Fortschritt. | |
Certain circumstances prevented any progress. |
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