Linguist Forum

Specializations => Semantics and Pragmatics => Topic started by: nima_persia on April 07, 2015, 02:57:00 PM

Title: nearby as an adjective VS. as an adverb
Post by: nima_persia on April 07, 2015, 02:57:00 PM

 1. "We slept at a nearby motel."
 2. "We slept at a motel nearby."
 3, "We slept at a motel which/that was nearby."

 Having taken into account the nearby at number 2 is an adverb, and at number 3 is just an adjective, so, could you tell me what is/are the difference(s) between 2 and 3 semantically?

 Thanks in advance

Title: Re: nearby as an adjective VS. as an adverb
Post by: freknu on April 08, 2015, 03:26:46 AM

(1) and (3) mean the same thing — only expressed differently — a motel that is near your location; "nearby" modifies "motel".

(2) means that you slept at a motel, and that you slept nearby; "nearby" modifies "slept".

[we slept at a motel] + [we slept nearby] > [we slept] ([at a motel] + [nearby])

Title: Re: nearby as an adjective VS. as an adverb
Post by: nima_persia on April 08, 2015, 12:22:20 PM

 Thank you so much.