An adverb phrase is a group of words, two or more, that act as an adverb. An adverb phrase modifies a verb, adverb or adjective.  It must be distinguished from an adverb clause (about which we have a separate blog in the section on “Phrases and Clauses”.) The adverb clause also modifies verbs, adverb and adjectives but it includes a subject and a verb. The function of an adverb phrase is to explain ‘where’, ‘why’, ‘how’ and ‘when.’ Essentially the adverb phrase is describing the manner in which the verb functions, modifying it just as an adverb does.

examples of the adverb phrase

Adverb phrases using where
On board the plane
In the classroom
Under the tree
Around the world
Over the hill
Into the unknown
At 3 pm

Adverb Phrases using how
With sincere apologies
In pain
Without a thought
To calm them down

Adverb Phrases using why
So that I know
To understand better
For this recipe

Adverb Phrases using when
By the end of the day
Around midnight
In a minute
Only afterwards
Since yesterday

An adverb phrase is a group of words, two or more, that act as an adverb.  The adverb phrase can be used in any position in a sentence. The function of an adverb phrase is to explain ‘where’, ‘why’, ‘how’ and ‘when.’