A multifactorial approach to adverb placement: assumptions, facts, and problems

This paper discusses several data concerning the distribution of adverbs, primarily focusing on data from European Portuguese. It is defended that a proper understanding of the behavior of adverbs must take into account several factors that do not necessarily converge. In particular, it is argued that the following variables must be taken into account: inherent vs non-inherent meaning of the adverb, categorical status, domains of modification, and weight of each adverb. Adverbs are treated as adjuncts, and the constraints on adjunction sites are derived from the variables discussed # 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.