In the article within the framework of theory of actual division the information characteristics of adverbial determinants in English popular science text are considered. The declarative sentences from the articles of the journal "Scientific American" with the purpose of identifying the communicative functions of various adverbial elements are studied. The author grounds the interpretation of the function of adverbial determinant as a communicative unit which is formed by means of hidden predication and carries the background information concerning the situation described in the sentence.