English help PLEASE

Question

We had met somewhat earlier than you think. What does the adverb somewhat modify? Verb adverb or adjective

Answer 1

In the sentence the adverb We had met somewhat earlier than you think, somewhat modifies the (comparative) adverb earlier.

 

The word earlier could also be used an adjective, e.g., We took the earlier bus where the adjective earlier modifies the noun bus, but in the sentence you gave earlier is clearly an adverb since it supplies the classic "adverby" information about the time that the action of the main verb in the sentence, met, took place.

Answer 2

The adverb somewhat modifies the adverb earlier.

Why?

Adverbs answer the questions:
How? (How what it earlier?)
Where? (Where was it earlier?)
When? (When was it earlier?)
To what extent? (To what was it earlier?)
Why? (Why was it earlier?)

In this question, somewhat answers to what extent it was earlier. A similar sentence would be "We met much earlier than you think."