Grammatical determinants can be designated as modifiers. Among modifiers should also be listed such grammatical primary dependents as are part of predicative phrase. These include mode, tenses, aspects, and persons in so far as their 'signifiant' is not syntactically autonomous: in 'I’ll do it', 'I', '‘ll', and 'it' are modifiers. With the setting up of modifier as a specific type of monemes neatly distinguished from another type of grammatical element we have called functionals, we are definitely breaking with tradition. Stressing, as we have done, the syntactic autonomy of certain units or phrases, is, of course, nothing but pointing out a feature that sets apart adverbs and adverbial phrases in so far as they are used as verbal adjunts.
- Martinet (1962), a pag.51