Adverb Clauses

An adverb may be a single word such as quickly, here or yesterday (see the page Adverbs), or a phrase such as the day before yesterday or to see my mother (see the page Adverb Phrases). However, adverbs can also be clauses, containing a subject and a full verb. This page will e plain the basic types of adverb clauses (sometimes called !adverbial clauses!) and how to recogni"e them.

Adverbs, adverb phrases, and adverb clauses

#oo$ at these sentences% & saw the movie yesterday. & saw the movie on Friday. & saw the movie before I left for Calgary. &n the first sentence, 'yesterday( is a one)word adverb, 'on *riday( is an adverb phrase, and 'before & left for +algary( is an adverb clause. All of them answer the ,uestion '-hen.(, but the adverb clause has a subject ('&() and a full verb ('left(). &t is introduced by 'before(, so it is a dependent clause. This means that it cannot stand alone% '/efore & left for +algary( would not be a full sentence. &t needs a main clause ('& saw the movie(). An adverb clause, then, is a dependent clause that does the same job as an adverb or an adverb phrase.

Types of adverb clause

There are many types of adverb clauses. Here are some e amples of the most common types%

Type

Question answered

Example

Place Time +ause

-here. -hen. -hy. (-hat caused this.)

-herever there are computers, there is 0icrosoft software. After the fruit is harvested, it is sold at the mar$et. & didn1t call her because &1m shy.

Type

Question answered

Example

Purpose +oncessio n +ondition

-hy. (-hat was the reason 2he too$ a computer course so that for doing this.) she could get a better job. -hy is this une pected. 4nder what conditions. Although 3ay has a 0aster1s degree, he wor$s as a store cler$. &f you save your money, you will be able to go to college.

As you can see from the e amples above, most adverb clauses can be recogni"ed because they are introduced by a particular word or phrase (such as !when! and !so that!). These words and phrases are called subordinating con unctions, and there are many of them, including these% after, before, until, while, because, since, as, so that, in order that, if, unless, whether, though, although, even though, where -hen you are sure that you understand the lesson, you can continue with the e ercises.

5. 6ou should give the iron time to heat up 77777777 you iron your clothes.

A. /. +. 8.

although so that before because

5. 6ou should give the iron time to heat up 77777777 you iron your clothes.

+orrect9 This is a time clause. a. b. c! d. although so that before because

:. 6ou may get malaria 77777777 you are bitten by a mos,uito.

a. before b. c. d. though so that if

:. 6ou may get malaria 77777777 you are bitten by a mos,uito.

+orrect9 This is a condition clause. A. before /. +. "! though so that if

;. 77777777 the dolphin lives in the sea, it is not a fish < it1s a mammal.

A. /. +. 8.

whether after so that although

;. 77777777 the dolphin lives in the sea, it is not a fish < it1s a mammal.

+orrect9 This is a concession clause. a. b. c. d! whether after so that although

=. The five)cent coin loo$s very +anadian 77777777 it has a picture of a beaver on it.

a. b. c. d.

though before so that since

=. The five)cent coin loo$s very +anadian 77777777 it has a picture of a beaver on it.

+orrect9 This is a reason clause. A. /. +. "! though before so that since

>. Hoc$ey players wear lots of protective clothing 77777777 they don1t get hurt.

A. /. +.

after in order that because

8. though

>. Hoc$ey players wear lots of protective clothing 77777777 they don1t get hurt.

+orrect9 This is a clause of purpose.

a. after b! in order that c. because d. though