8.3 GRAMMAR: Using Adverb Clauses
The last kind of clause that we will study in this course is the adverb clause. Like the adjective clause, the adverb clause is also a great tool for adding specific supporting detail. It allows you to combine short sentences to improve not only the accuracy, but also the rhythm and flow of your writing. More importantly, adverb clauses really help you to demonstrate the relationships among ideas.
A CLOSER LOOK
A clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb.
A clause can be independent. That means it has a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete idea. A simple sentence is an independent clause.
A clause can be dependent. That means it has a subject and a verb, but it does not express a complete idea. It must be attached to an independent clause to make sense.
An adverb clause is a dependent clause. It works like an adverb. It has a subject and a verb, but it does not express a complete idea.
Adverb clauses tell when something happened, why it happened, in spite of what happened, where it happened, how it happened, or a condition under which it happened.
An adverb clause may come before the main clause, after the main clause or between the subject and verb of the main clause.
The punctuation depends on the position of the adverb clause. When the adverb clause come BEFORE the main clause, a comma is used at the end of the adverb clause. Generally no comma is used when the adverb clause comes AFTER the main clause. When the adverb clause comes WITHIN the main clause (between the subject and verb), two commas are used.
Adverb clauses always begin with a subordinating conjunction. The subordinating conjunction expresses relationships of time, place, condition, contrast, cause, manner, purpose. Some of the subordinating conjunctions, such as as and after, are identical to prepositions. Unlike prepositions, however, they must be followed by complete clauses.
Here are some examples of subordinating conjunctions and their uses:
| Type | Use | Subordinating Conjunctions |
|---|---|---|
| Condition | to describe what must happen first so that another thing can happen | if, even if, unless, when, in case, in the event that, provided that |
| Reason | to describe the cause of an action in the main clause | because, since, as, now that, because of |
| Contrast | to describe opposite information to something in the main clause | while, although, whereas |
| Concession | to describe unexpected or surprising information relative to the main clause | although, though, even though |
| Result | to show what happens after the action of the main clause happens | so, so … that (so much that, so many that, so few that, so adjective or adverb that), such (a/an) noun that |
| Purpose | to describe why something happens | so, so that |
| Time | to describe when the action of the adverb clause happens in relation to the action of the main clause | after, as soon as, before, when, while, until, whenever, as, once, by the time, since |
| Manner | to describe how or in what way something in the main clause happens | as, as though, as if |
Watch this video to learn more:
Practice
Now practice with this exercise; it is not graded, and you may repeat it as many times as you wish:
Reducing adverb clauses
You can shorten only time clauses and reason clauses.
You can shorten them only if the subject is the same in both the independent and the dependent clauses.
For example:
- Normal: After I left home, I began to appreciate my family. (notice how “I” is the subject in both clauses)
- Reduced: After leaving home, I began to appreciate my family.
- Normal: Since I was the oldest child in my family, I often had to take care of my younger siblings.
- Reduced: Being the oldest child in my family, I often had to take care of my younger siblings.
- Normal: Before he came to the U.S., he received a lot of advice from his parents.
- Reduced: Before coming to the U.S., he received a lot of advice from his parents.
- Normal: While he was singing, the man started to cry.
- Reduced: While singing, the man started to cry.
Rules for reducing adverb clauses
- Delete the subject.
- Change the verb (if it is an active verb) to a gerund.
If the verb is in a continuous tense, delete the “be” verb and leave the gerund.
If the verb is passive, delete the “be” verb and leave the participle. - Use the same rules for commas.
- Delete any reason words: because, since, as. However, be careful, because since can also be a time adverb, and if it is used as such, you keep it.
Practice
Now practice with this exercise; it is not graded, and you may repeat it as many times as you wish:
QUIZ
1. Rewrite the following sentence using a reduced adverb clause: I sent you a text after I returned home.
2. What is the adverb clause in the following sentence: For an aging athlete, he is a major competitor since he won the triathlon in the last Olympics.
- for an aging athlete
- he is a major competitor
- since he won the triathlon
- in the last Olympics
3. By itself, an adverb clause is a __________________.
- comma splice
- fragment
- complete sentence
- independent clause
4. Adverb clauses always begin with a subordinating conjunction.
- True
- False
5. I will save your seat __________________ the movie starts.
- until
- whereas
- as if
- so that
6. Rewrite the following sentence using a reduced adverb clause: After she was given the award, my daughter posted a picture to Facebook with the trophy.
7. Rewrite the following sentence using a reduced adverb clause: After she finished her degree, Lanna got a job in Hollywood.
8. You can shorten adverb clauses only if the subject is the same in both the independent clause and the dependent clause.
- True
- False
9. Which of the following words are subordinating conjunctions?
- in, on, at, over, under, through
- first, next, then, finally
- although, because, even though, after, when
- for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
10. Which of the following sentences uses an adverb clause correctly?
- If he asks where I am then tell him.
- I read the book that the teacher recommended.
- Juan, who speaks Spanish, sits next to me at school.
- We haven’t had much snow yet even though it is the middle of winter.
Optional: Where to get more information
If you want more instruction and examples about adverb clauses, try these links:
Video from: Benn, Adam.“Learn English Grammar: The Adverb Clause.” www.youtube.com, 3 Apr. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkooLJ9MWVE. Accessed 30 Dec. 2021.
