副词短语由“介词+名词／代词／动名词”组成，可以表示时间（time）、状况（manner）、原因（reason）、地点（place）、方法（means）、让步（concession）等。例如：　
　　1. He came at two o'clock.（时间）
　　2. Ramat spoke in a loud voice.（状况）
　　3. Some failed because of being sluggish.（原因）
　　4. The picnickers arrived at the beach.（地点）
　　5. The cook cut with a sharp knife.（方法）
　　6. Jason turned up in spite of the rain.（让步）

　　如果不用短语，可以用副词表示“时间、状况、地点”，还有“程度”（degree）和频率（frequency）等。例如：　
　　7. I have heard something like that before.（时间）
　　8. The soldiers fought bravely.（状况）
　　9. Go there, please!（地点）
　　10. I quite understand your problem.（程度）
　　11. Some students often talk in class.（频率）

　　除了副词和副词短语之外，另一种常见的动词修饰语，就是副词分句，可以表示“时间、条件、地点、让步、目的、结果、比较”等。例如：　
　　12. After he had watched the football match on TV, he went to bed.（时间）
　　13. Helen got the job because she was the best candidate.（原因）
　　14. If it rains, you had better stay at home to study（条件）
　　15. Sit wherever you like.（地点）
　　16. Some people are happy though they are not rich.（让步）
　　17. We eat so that we may live.（目的）
　　18. Tom drove so fast that he had an accident.（结果）
　　19. This year's profits are smaller than they were last year.（比较）

　　副词、副词短语与副词分句是三种主要的动词修饰语。此外，名词短语、动名词、不定式动词及短语，甚至形容词也可以修饰动词。例如：　
　　20. He came a long way.（名词短语）
　　21. Who is the boy who came running?（动名词）
　　22. You must try to play some outdoor games.（不定式动词短语）
　　23. For lack of rain, the pool went dry.（形容词）

　　20.-23.的动词修饰语较固定，副词、副词短语以及副词分句修饰动词时，位置则灵活些，可以在句子前面或后面；有时还可以在中间，如：　
　　24. You may, if you want, come to the meeting as usual.

　　如果句子中有不只一个副词时，通常可以这样排列：状况+地方+时间，如：　
　　25. I saw Joelle walk quickly there yesterday.
　　26. Can you speak loudly on the platform tomorrow?

　　如果句子中同时有副词、副词短语和副词分句，那么最短的最先出现，最长的（通常是副词分句）最后才出来，或者移至主句之前，如：

　　27.a. They went directly to the hotel after the plane had arrived.
 　　　b. After the plane had arrived, they went directly to the hotel.

　　28.a. David wants to see you personally in his office if you don't mind.
 　　　b. If you don't mind, David wants to see you personally in his office.