Misconstruing Conjunctive Adjuncts And Mood Adjuncts As Continuatives

Martin & Rose (2014: 142):

Instead of coming at the beginning of the clause, continuatives typically occur next to the finite verb within the clause. Finite verbs are the ones that express tense or modality (see Chapter 7, section 7.3, below). They are underlined as follows: is also, so was, even spoke, was only, still wanted, finally understand, were again…

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[1] To be clear, in SFL Theory, (genuine) continuatives are inherently thematic and thus occur at the beginning of a clause. Halliday & Matthiessen (2014: 109):

Those that are inherently thematic are the (textual) continuatives and conjunctions. As the language evolved, they have, as it were, migrated to the front of the clause and stayed there. Essentially they constitute a setting for the clause (continuative), or else they locate it in a specific logical-semantic relationship to another clause in the neighbourhood (conjunction). In either case, their thematic status comes as part of a package, along with their particular discursive force.

To be clear, the elements that typically occur next to the Finite verbal operator are mood Adjuncts, some of which Martin and Rose mistake for continuatives; see [4]. Halliday & Matthiessen (2014: 187):

These are so called because they are closely associated with the meanings enacted by the mood system: modality and temporality, and also intensity. This means that their neutral position in the clause is next to the Finite verbal operator, either just before it or just after it.

[2] To be clear, here Martin and Rose confuse the element of clause structure that realises tense or modality, the Finite verbal operator, with a finite form of a verb.

[3] To be clear, in SFL Theory, the items also, so, finally, again are not continuatives, but can serve as conjunctive Adjuncts that mark a textually cohesive relation the preceding discourse. The distribution of conjunctive Adjuncts in the clause is similar to that of interpersonal comment modal Adjuncts (Halliday & Matthiessen 2004: 157).

[4] To be clear, in SFL Theory, the items even, only, still are not continuatives, but can serve as  interpersonal mood Adjuncts of intensity (even, only) or temporality (still).