Download Adverb Clauses

I bought a book.
This sentence has the three basic elements
required of either a simple sentence or a
clause:
Subject = I
Verb = bought
Object = a book
While my mother drank her coffee,
I bought a book.
While my mother drank her coffee, I bought a book.
Now we have a two clause sentence, but these clauses are
not the same.
The original clause I bought a book can stand on its
own as a simple sentence. It expresses a complete
thought by itself. Therefore, it is called an independent
clause.
An independent clause is a S + V / O bject
or C omplement
or A dverbial
unit that expresses a complete thought and could stand
on its own as a simple sentence.
Whether you find an independent clause by itself as a
simple sentence or joined with other clauses, you will
be able to identify it because it:
 is a S+V/ unit that
 expresses a complete thought
While my mother drank her coffee, I
bought a book.
If we only consider the first clause,
while my
mother drank her coffee, we are left with a
question in our minds, “What happened while your
mother drank her coffee?!”
This clause can not stand on its own as a simple
sentence. It requires another clause to a complete its
meaning. Therefore, it is called an dependent clause.
A dependent clause is a S + V / O bject
or C omplement
or A dverbial
unit that does not express a complete thought and can
not stand on its own as a simple sentence.
A dependent clause must always be connected to an
independent clause. You will be able to identify it
because it:
 is a S+V/ unit that
 does not express a complete thought on its own
There are
3 different types of dependent clauses.
• Noun Clause (NC)
• Adjective Clause (AdjC)
• Adverb Clause (AdvC)
Subordinate clauses are a group of words that have a
subject (noun/pronoun) AND predicate (verb) but does
not convey a complete thought.
ALL complex and compound-complex sentences
have subordinate clauses.
Subordinate clauses have specific names, thus they have
specific functions. Basically, a subordinate clause will
always be a subordinate clause, but we will be naming
the subordinate clause as either adjective clause, adverb
clause, or noun clause.
Example: People are human beings, just like subordinate
clauses are groups of words, and just as people are male or
female, subordinate clauses are adjective clause, adverb
clause, or noun clauses.
Sentence examples:
1. The desert is a place where most
animals are not able to work.
2. Since I lost my lunch money, I can’t
eat today.
3. Where many kids play is a place where
pedophiles will linger.
• [S+V/] that acts like an adjective
• Example: The story [that[that
I am Ireading]
is sad.
am reading]
S
V
relative
pronoun
This entire clause acts like an
adjective, so it is an adjective
clause.
• AdjCs follow nouns
• Often start with relative pronouns
• but the relative pronoun can be omitted
• if the clause has another noun to serve as
the subject
•EX: The story [I am reading]is sad.



Relative pronouns introduce adjective clauses.
There are 9 relative pronouns, but 7 are quite common.
Most common Relative Pronouns:
who, whom, which, whomever, whose, what, that
-WHEN and WHERE can also be relative pronouns used to
introduce adjective clauses BUT are most often subordinatorsIT DEPENDS ON WHAT IT IS REFERRING TO.-
If you take the adjective clause out of your sentence,
your sentence will still be left with a main clause.
Examples: 1. Allison likes pathways where she can see
other people in case of an emergency.
Where can she see other people in an emergency?
2. Many people are often found where they should not be.
Where should they not be? – Q can’t be answered!
What happens when people are where they should not be?
An adjective clause describes/modifies a noun
or pronoun.
Modifies - means it refers to.
Just as an adjective modifies a noun or pronoun,
an adjective clause acts in the same way, except it is
a
group of words acting as an adjective would!
Example: 1. Thunderstorms, which are often quite
unpredictable, seem to arise when the
weather
forecast least expects them.
What is often quite unpredictable
Yep, thunderstorms is the noun that the underlined
adjective clause modifies.
ALL sentences that have an adjective clause
will be..
Complex = mc + sc
OR
Compound-Complex = mc + mc + sc

How do we know this?
An adjective clause names a specific
subordinate clause (SC)




(a) The man who looked pale was very sick.
(b) He was sitting in the emergency room that was
very crowded.
(c) The woman who you called will be here soon.
(d) He lived in chambers which had once belonged
to his deceased partner.



Adverb clauses are introduced by subordinators.
Very common subordinators are: although,
because, until, before, since, whenever, & after
When a subordinator/ adverb clause starts a
sentence, the clause is ALWAYS followed by a
comma
A group of words which contains a
subject and a finite verb that describes
or adds to the meaning of a verb, an
adjective and another adverb.
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.


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.


Every adverb clause begins with a
subordinate conjunction.
Some examples of subordinate conjunctions
would be when, since, before, although,
until…

Adverb clauses modify the main verb in the
sentence, adjectives and other adverbs.
…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)

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.

If it does not rain tomorrow, we will go to the
beach for class.
(modifies the adverb higher, telling to what extent or
how much higher Will can climb)
(modifies the verb will go, telling under what condition
we will go to the beach.)
◦ After he raised his rifle to his shoulder, he
squeezed the trigger immediately.
◦ The student left the room before the bell rang.
◦ He enjoys camping in the woods more than you
do



Adverb clauses must have a subject and a
verb.
The first word in an adverb clause is the
subordinate conjunction.
If the sentence begins with an adverb
clause, use a comma after it.
1.
Time
5.
Result
2.
Reason
6.
Purpose
3.
Concession
7.
Place
4.
Contrast
8.
Manner
These clauses are introduced by when,
when, whenever, while, as, before, after,
till, until, since and as soon as,

When he arrives, he will tell us the truth.

Mary was dancing while John was singing.

The train left as we arrived.

I will stay with you until your mother comes
home.

After he had got the money, he left home
immediately.
(For more examples, pls. refer to the grammar notes.)

These clauses are introduced by because,
since, for and as, etc.

I was late because I could not catch the bus.

Since I was late, I took a taxi.

The manager dismissed Mary, for she was very lazy.

As the weather was bad, we cancelled the picnic.

Examples:

Everyone should see that film as it is very famous.

Since I have not see King Kong yet, I will try to get a
video of it.

We like horror films because we enjoy being scared a
little.

Examples:

Thanks to the music, the film is very exciting.


The Alien films are frightening because of the terrible
monsters.
The Phantom is frightening on account of the terrible
defects in his face.
These clauses are introduced by though,
although, even though, no matter how , no
matter what and as, etc.

Although he is small, he is very strong.

No matter how smart they are, they are
required to do the revision.

No matter what the doctor did, the girl was
still dead.

These clauses are introduced by whereas and
while

We took the train whereas Pete drove.

While Tom is a good math student, Pam does
well in English.
These clauses are always linked with so that,
so + adj. / adv. + that and such + a + noun
+ that, etc.

Tom was so weak that he could not
run.

It was such a strange story that no
one believed it.
These clauses are always linked with so that, in
order that, for fear that, in case, etc.

He arrived earlier, so that he would not be late.

They brought a lot of food for fear that they
would be hungry during the trip.

She brought the credit card in case she did not
have enough cash.
These clauses are introduced by where and
wherever.

Nobody knows where he has been to.

He travels wherever he likes.
These clauses are introduced by as, as if and as
though.

Please do as I have told you.

* He cries as if he were mad.

* He speaks as though he were the boss.
* The subjunctive is used after as if and as though.
A phrase is a group of words that doesn’t
contain a subject and verb.
A noun phrase is used as the subject or
object in a sentence.

This book was published last year.
phrase/subject)

I read this book.
(noun phrase/object)
(noun


A noun clause can be a subject, a predicate
nominative, a direct object, an indirect object,
or an object of a preposition.
It can come at the beginning, middle, or end
of a sentence.
 Which
coat to choose is Mohammad’s
dilemma. [subject]
 The issue is how long should we wait.
[predicate nominative]
 Give what you can to this worthy cause.
[direct object]
 Please send whoever is interested this
questionnaire. [indirect object]
 Please help yourself to whatever you need.
[object of preposition]








How
If
That
What
Whatever
When
Where
Whether







Which
Who
Whoever
Whom
Whomever
Whose
Why
 An
overuse of noun clauses can make your
writing sound stuffy and stilted.
 Original:
Whatever the grade may be is not
the issue.
 Less formal, less wordy: The grade is not the
issue.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
You know that you’re the fastest runner on
the team.
Whoever wins tomorrow’s race will compete
in the county meet.
A better long jumper is what we need most
on this team.
Coach Lazdowski certainly knows when she
can get the maximum effort out of us.
What she does with this team is quite
impressive.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Why Jimmy didn’t try out for the team is
beyond me.
Why can’t we just make whoever is qualified
part of this team?
Only the individual involved can decide
whether he or she will try out for a team.
Please give whoever tries out next year lots
of encouragement.
Sometimes, the problem is deciding which of
two teams to join.

Noun clauses can be introduced by words
that are also called subordinators AND
relative pronouns (this can get tricky)
Words in green- introduce noun clauses ONLY
Words in blue – introduce noun & adj clauses
Words in black – introduce noun & adv clauses
How, however, if, that, what, whatever, when,
where, whether, which, whichever, who,
whom,
whoever, whomever, whose, & why
• NCs can begin with “that”
• “that” is a subordinating conjunction that
• joins it to an IC
• makes the clause it begins depend on the
IC to complete its meaning.
• “that” is often omitted by native speakers:
• Example:
thinkthat
Spiderman
is the
bestbest
superhero.
I Ithink
Spiderman
is the
superhero.
A noun clause has a subject and verb. It is used as
the subject or object in a sentence.
A noun clause is a dependent clause that works like
a noun. You can find it as a subject or object.
noun clause

I read what she wrote.
noun clause

What she wrote is interesting.
Wh- clauses begin with words like who, what, how,
whenever, which, etc.







I need to explain what a noun clause is.
noun clause
I don't know where Mary lives.
Tell me how old she is.
First, you need to explain what a noun clause is.
What is a noun clause?
Where does Mary live?
How old is she?
questions