{{Short description|Germanic language construct}}

A '''pronominal adverb''' is a type of adverb containing a pronominal element.

When used with respect to the Germanic languages, it refers to an adverb formed in replacement of a preposition and a pronoun by turning the former into a prepositional adverb and the latter into a locative adverb, joined together in reverse order. For example:

* For that → therefor (not therefore)<!-- The spelling "therefor" without the 'e' is correct for this usage, please do not change --><ref>{{cite web |date=2011-11-08 |title=Lesson of the Week - Therefore vs. Therefor |url=http://www.translegal.com/legal-english-lessons/therefore-vs-therefor |access-date=2016-10-28 |website=Translegal.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113220205/http://www.translegal.com/legal-english-lessons/therefore-vs-therefor |archive-date=2011-11-13 }}</ref> * In that → therein * By this → hereby * To this → hereto * In which → wherein

==Usage in English== {{unreferenced section|date=March 2024}} In modern English, pronominal adverbs are most commonly encountered in literary registers or in legal usage. They are used frequently by lawyers and drafters of legal documents primarily as a way of avoiding the repetition of names of things in the document (or sometimes as a self-reference to the document itself). For this reason, pronominal adverbs are often seen as a type of legal jargon.

==Usage in Dutch== In Dutch, pronominal adverbs are very common and are almost mandatory in many situations; neglecting to use them often makes a phrase sound unnatural to native speakers. Dutch maintains a three-way distinction of reference in its demonstrative pronouns, with pronouns for things close by and far away, and a third pronoun that is unspecific for distance. This distinction is faithfully reflected in the use of pronominal adverbs, and other pronouns also often have a corresponding adverbial form.<ref>Joop van der Horst (2008) ''Geschiedenis van de Nederlandse syntaxis'', Deel 1: 272-277</ref>

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Pronoun ! Pronoun + "met" ! Meaning ! Adverb ! Adverb + "met" ! Meaning |- | dat | met dat | with that | daar | daarmee | therewith |- | dit | met dit | with this | hier | hiermee | herewith |- | het | met het (very rare) | with it | er | ermee | therewith (unspecific) |- | wat | met wat | with what | waar | waarmee | wherewith |- | alles | met alles | with everything | overal | overal mee | everywhere with |- | iets | met iets | with something | ergens | ergens mee | somewhere with |- | niets | met niets | with nothing | nergens | nergens mee | nowhere with |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{wti}}

{{lexical categories|state=collapsed}}

Category:Adverbs by type

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