23 Grammar: Adverb Clauses

Cranes and building construction

What do you already know?

Read these sentences:

  • The United Nations has translated the UDHR. The document is available in more than 530 languages. The document is for all people. The document is for all places. 
  • Because the UDHR is for all people in all places, the United Nations has translated the document into more than 530 languages.

What is an adverb clause?

An adverb describes a verb or sometimes an adjective.

A clause is a group of words that contain a subject and adverb. There are two kinds of clauses: An independent clause is a complete idea. A dependent clause is not a complete idea.

An adverb clause is a dependent clause that describes a verb or sometimes an adjective. Interestingly, an adverb clause can come in many different places in a sentence.

Take another look

  • I read the article about refugees in the newspaper yesterday.
  • I read the article about refugees in the newspaper Sunday.
  • I read the article about refugees before classes started.

How do you make an adverb clause?

Adverb clauses are groups of words that work together to do the job of an adverb.

Adverb clauses are dependent clauses. This means they have a subject and a verb, but they do not express a complete idea by themselves.

Adverb clauses begin with a subordinating conjunction. Examples of subordinating conjunctions are: after, before, until, while, because, since, as, so that, in order that, if, unless, whether, though, although, even though, where.

What are the different kinds of adverb clauses?

This type of adverb clause ….  …. answers this kind of question …. … like this … … using one of these subordinating conjunctions …
Place Where? Wherever there is war, human rights are in jeopardy. wherever, where, anywhere
Time When? The UDHR was created after two world wars had happened. after, until, before, by the time, since, when, while, as long as, as soon as
Cause Why? What caused this? Human rights must be protected because everyone deserves dignity. because, since, as
Purpose What for? What was the reason for doing this? She took a geography course so that she could learn more about other countries. so that, in order that
Concession Why is this unexpected? (gives contrasting statements) Although some cultures do not believe in marriage equality, many countries in the world have made same-sex marriage legal. although, while, even though, even if,
Condition Under what conditions? If all countries adopted the UDHR, then there would be more peace in the world. if, unless
Manner How? We are thinking about concepts as we never have before. like, as

Try it

INSTRUCTIONS: Combine the sentences using an adverb clause.

  1. I was studying in the library from 8:00-8:30pm. At the same time, you were working at the restaurant.
  2. I don’t like to drive at night. I have trouble seeing well in the dark.
  3. My cat likes to sit there. It is warm.
  4. There are consequences for cheating. You will not pass the exam.
  5. It was late, so we read quickly. We read fast, but we couldn’t read faster.
  6. I want to learn to drive a car. I want to drive to school myself.
  7. My cat is small and thin. She eats a lot.

What are the punctuation rules for adverb clauses?

If the adverb clause comes at the beginning, then use a comma to separate it from the rest of the sentence.

Do not use a comma if the adverb clause comes at the end of the sentence.

(Did you notice that the two sentences above are both the rules and examples of the rules? Look again.)

Try it

INSTRUCTIONS: Add commas where necessary.

  1. Where there is smoke there is fire.
  2. I’ll believe it when I see it.
  3. Since it was a holiday the office was closed.
  4. I am studying English so that I can get a different job.
  5. Although my cat eats a lot of food she isn’t very large.
  6. I can get extra credit if I take my essay to a tutor.

What are reduced adverb clauses?

Sometimes you can reduce adverb clauses. That means you can make them shorter. This is common when the subject in the dependent adverb clause is the same as the subject in the independent clause, and when certain subordinating conjunctions are used.

Read these sentences:

  • When people are stressed, they exhibit symptoms such as high blood pressure and an accelerated heart rate.
  • When stressed, people exhibit symptoms such as high blood pressure and an accelerated heart rate.

In the first sentence, notice how the subject of both the independent clause (they) and the subject of the dependent clause (people) are the same. They is a pronoun that refers to people. Because of this, you can reduce the adverb clause. The second sentence shows the reduced adverb clause: When stressed, …

How do you reduce adverb clauses?

Not all adverb clauses can be reduced. Only adverb clauses of time, cause, and concession can be reduced.

1. To reduce an adverb clause with the verb to be, delete the subject and the to be verb.

  • When people are stressed, they exhibit symptoms such as high blood pressure and an accelerated heart rate.
  • When stressed, people exhibit symptoms such as high blood pressure and an accelerated heart rate. 
  • Although he was old, he thought he still looked handsome.
  • Although old, he thought he still looked handsome.

2. To reduce an adverb clause of time or concession with a verb other than to be, omit the subject and change the verb to -ing form (or keep the noun or adjective).

  • While people sleep, they dream four to six times each night.
  • While sleeping, people dream four to six times each night.
  • Although they drink coffee every day, my parents still sleep well every night
  • Although drinking coffee every day, my parents still sleep well every night.

3. To reduce an adverb clause of cause, omit since or because and the subject, and change the verb to the -ing form.

  • Because the students had read the lab manual, they were able to reproduce their professor’s results.
  • Having read the lab manual, the students were able to reproduce their professor’s results. 
  • Since they were cold, my sisters wore sweaters.
  • Being cold, my sisters wore sweaters.

Try it

INSTRUCTIONS: Reduce the adverb clause. One sentence cannot be reduced.

  1. While she was walking, she saw the most beautiful house.
  2. Although he was awake, he didn’t hear the doorbell.
  3. My cat meows a lot when it is hungry.
  4. Because she is tired, Mel won’t want to talk with me on the phone
  5. Since Eugene was late, I ate dinner without him.

What are some common errors writers make with adverb clauses?

Here’s one …

  • Incorrect: I often get sleepy although I work very hard.
  • Correct: I often get sleepy when I work very hard.

Choose the subordinating conjunction that means what you want to say.

Here’s another …

  • Incorrect: I didn’t know that person, I said hello anyway.
  • Correct: Although I didn’t know that person, I said hello anyway.

Without a conjunction, we have a comma splice.

Here’s another …

  • Incorrect: Because I was sick with COVID I decided to stay home. I didn’t go to school, because I didn’t want anyone else to get sick too.
  • Correct: Because I was sick with COVID, I decided to stay home. I didn’t go to school because I didn’t want anyone else to get sick too.

Use a comma after an adverb clause that comes at the beginning of a sentence. Don’t use a comma before an adverb clause that comes at the end of a sentence.

Here’s one more …

  • Incorrect: Before coming home from vacation, their dog ran away. 
  • Correct: Before the neighbors came come from vacation, their dog ran away.

Remember that we can reduce an adverb clause only if the subjects of both the adverb clause and the main clause are the same.

Practice

Quiz

INSTRUCTIONS: Read each pair of sentences. Then use the subordinating conjunction to join the two sentences into one complete sentence. You may change the order of information, but remember to delete any repeated or unnecessary words when the sentences are combined. Check also for appropriate capitalization and punctuation.

  1. We all have the right to work together in peace. We defend our rights. (in order that)
  2. We can all ask for the law to help us. We are not treated fairly. (when)
  3. Copyright is a special law that protects one’s own artistic creations and writings. Others cannot make copies without permission. (because)
  4. People say we did a bad thing. We have the right to show it is not true. (when)
  5. They are “rights.” They are things you are allowed to be, to do or to have. (because)
  6. There must be proper order. We can all enjoy rights and freedoms in our own country and all over the world. (so that)
  7. Nobody should be blamed for doing something. It is proven. (until)
  8. We are frightened of being badly treated in our own country We all have the right to run away to another country to be safe. (if)
  9. Some dictionaries define the word right as “a privilege.” Human rights are something more basic. (while)
  10. These rights have meaning there. They have little meaning anywhere. (unless)

Optional

Watch this video for more information about adverb clauses:

 

 

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