The Adverb Clause

• How? •To what

• Where? extent?
• When? •Under what
• Why? condition?
Where can you find an adverb?
• Adverbs modify:

VERBS, ADJECTIVES, and other ADVERBS

 …therefore you can find them:
• Nearly anywhere in the sentence…
• However, they are usually near the verb, adjective or
adverb they modify (but not always)

Examples:

• He can run fast.

(tells: how he can run)
• She really likes soccer.
(tells: to what extent, she likes…)
 More Examples:
• They can swim really quickly.
(modifies the adverb quickly. It answers – How quickly?)

• He is not enjoying this activity.

(Just remember the word not is always an adverb.)

• She is always late for class.

(The words always, never, sometimes, rarely, etc.
are also adverbs)
 Adverbs answer where…
Your book is here.

Your pencil is there.

The birds are flying high.

The plane is flying by.

 Adverbs answer when…
He came home late.

She woke early.

They are performing now.

She will do her homework later.

 Unlike an adverb or an adverb
phrase, an adverb clause has a
subject and a verb
ADVERB:
They will leave soon.

ADVERB PHRASE:
They will leave (in a few minutes).

ADVERB CLAUSE: S V
They will leave when they are ready.
 Definition…
• An adverb clause is a subordinate
(dependent clause) that modifies a verb,
an adjective, or an adverb.

• Like an adverb an adverb clause tells

where, when, how, why, to what extent or
under what condition.
Adverb Clauses can also be found
nearly anywhere in the sentence…
…beginning, middle or end…
EXAMPLES:
• You may sit wherever you wish.
(modifies the verb sit and tells where)

• When spring sets in, many students go crazy.

(modifies the verb go and tells when)

• Sammy and Alexandra look as though they have some

exciting news for us.
(modifies the verb look, telling how S. and A. look)
 More examples…
• Happy because she made an A, Maia hurried to
phone her mom.
(modifies the adjective Happy, telling why Maia was happy.)

• Will can climb higher than I can.

(modifies the adverb higher, telling to what extent or how
much higher Will can climb)

• If it does not rain tomorrow, we will go to the

beach for class.
(modifies the verb will go, telling under what condition we will
go to the beach.)
 COMMA RULES…

• When an adverb clause begins a

sentence, it is followed by a comma.

,
 Subordinating Conjunctions:

• An adverb clause is introduced by a

subordinating conjunction—a word that
shows the relationship between the
adverb clause and the word or words that
the clause modifies.
 Common Subordinating
Conjunctions:
after as though since when

although because so that whenever

as before than where

as if how though wherever

as long as if unless whether

as soon as in order that until while

 NOTE!
• The words after, as, before, since, and until
are also commonly used as prepositions.

Example:
PREPOSITION:
(After lunch) we’ll finish building the rocket.

SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION:
After you wash the dishes, you can make the bed.
 SUBORDINATE (DEPENDENT)
CLAUSES:

Adjective Clause Adverb Clause Noun Clause

Relative Relative Subordinating

Pronoun Adverb Conjunction