Group And Word Classes

Matthiessen (1995: 638):

Verbal groups are groups of verbs, nominal groups are groups of nominals, and adverbial groups are groups of adverbials.

Blogger Comments:

To be clear, there are exceptions to this generalisation, such as verbs serving as Epithets and Classifiers in nominal groups, adverbs serving as Submodifiers in nominal groups, and adjectives (nominals) serving as the Event in verbal groups. Halliday & Matthiessen (2014: 427n):

Certain adjectives can serve as Event in a verbal group in a hypotactic verbal group complex, e.g. (conation: potentiality:) be able/apt/prone/likely → to do; (modulation: time: frequency:) be wont → to do; (modulation: manner: quality:) be wise/right/wrong → to do; (projection:) be willing/keen/eager → to do; be afraid/scared → to do.