There is something in English called an "adverbial objective." It is a noun that answers an adverb question.
...I will see you tomorrow.
"Tomorrow" is a noun that in this sentence is answering "when," an adverb question. Since part of speech is determined solely by usage, "tomorrow" is being used as an adverb and therefore is an adverb in this sentence, though its nature is to be a noun.
...He spent 20 minutes.
"Minutes," along with "20," tells how long, making "minutes" an adverb, though it is a noun by nature.
"A while" falls into this category.
...We spent a while with her.
"A while," a noun and an article by nature, combine to answer an adverb question, "how long."
Anybody up for a good, old-fashioned grammar class online this winter and spring??? Let me know. Happy punctuating! Margie
...I will see you tomorrow.
"Tomorrow" is a noun that in this sentence is answering "when," an adverb question. Since part of speech is determined solely by usage, "tomorrow" is being used as an adverb and therefore is an adverb in this sentence, though its nature is to be a noun.
...He spent 20 minutes.
"Minutes," along with "20," tells how long, making "minutes" an adverb, though it is a noun by nature.
"A while" falls into this category.
...We spent a while with her.
"A while," a noun and an article by nature, combine to answer an adverb question, "how long."
Anybody up for a good, old-fashioned grammar class online this winter and spring??? Let me know. Happy punctuating! Margie