adverbial clause 一問：）

He should speak as loudly as his mother. ( ~ adverb phrase)

To 發問者: Nga Yee
I am afraid that most of 回答者 are mixing “clause” up with “phrase”.

From Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary:
A phrase is a group of words without a finite verb.
A clause is a group of words that include a subject and a verb, and forms a sentence, or part of a sentence.

When a phrase modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb, it is an adverb phrase.
There is NO finite verb in an adverb phrase.

Examples of adverb phrase:
She sang with enthusiasm. (~ modifies the verb, “sang”)
That coffee is good to the last drop. (~ modifies the adjective, “good”)
We drop the ice cream slowly into the punch. (~ modifies the adverb, “slowly”)

Difference between adverb clause and adverb phrase:

Before holding the Olympics, the organizers must make many preparations. ( ~ adverb phrase)

Before they hold the Olympics, the organizers must make many preparations. (~ adverb clause)

“Before they hold the Olympics” ~ adverb clause (It is also called a subordinate clause.)
“the organizers must make many preparations” ~ main clause

He should speak-----as softly as---------- her mapo!!!

Adverb is a word that adds more information about action,manner,degree to a verb.
He should speak (as loudly as ) his mother.---adv.cl. of comparison.
He should speak( loudly)------------adv of manner to verb speak
----when compared with his mother in manner/degree.

2012-10-02 20:01:26 補充：
Amenment:-adv.phr.

He should speak as loudly as his mother.

adverbial clause or adverb tell us more about an action- how does he speak in this sentence.

remember the rule so you know how to do it next time.

He should speak louder/ loudly = adverb in this senternce