Questions about example sentences with, and the definition and usage of "Adverbial"

A: We have to say something like “...in a friendly way/fashion”
He answered her question in a calm and friendly way.

A: (noun): a word or phrase functioning as a major clause constituent and typically expressing place ( in the garden ), time ( in May ), or manner ( in a strange way ).

(adjective): relating to or functioning as an adverb or adverbial.

A: These are examples: "Seldom" do I go to parties, because I don't like crowds. "Never" have I seen stars in the sky.

A: With is followed by a noun (not a gerund). It is used to describe:
1)The tool you use to do something.
2) The manner in which you do something.
I hit him with a pillow.
He whipped the cream with a fork.
She drew a line with a pencil.
He answered with great solemnity.
She replied with alacrity.
He returned with his head hung low.

By is followed by 1) a gerund, 2) a noun. It is used to describe how you do something.
I got out of trouble by pretending to be asleep.
I made her laugh by pulling a funny face.
We figured out where to go by looking at a map.
She came by bus/ car/ bike/ hovercraft

A: Adverbial phrase

A: The first sentence actually makes more sense for me. If you want to use the second one :

"I am not overly confident right now. At all."

sounds more natural for me~

A: “By the time” = “by the time that”

We normally just drop “that”

A: After she almost died, she was afraid to swim there.

The timeline would be:
she almost died - > she was afraid

"She almost died" - this happened first, AFTER that came the fear, so that's why we use after in the sentence. :)

A: An adverbial is a word or phrase functioning as a major clause constituent
1) adverbials of manner
to say how something happens or how smtg is done:
The baby slept “contentedly”
2) adverbials of place
to say where something happens:
David was studying “in the library”.
3) adverbials of time
to say when or how often something happens:
The exam will take place “in June”.