Adverb Clauses

Adverb Clauses Adverbs, adverb phrases, and adverb clauses Look at these sentences: I saw the movie yesterday. I saw the movie on Friday. I saw the movie before I left for Calgary. In the first sentence, yesterday is a one-word adverb, on Friday is an adverb phrase, and before I left for Calgary is an adverb clause. All of them answer the question When?, but the adverb clause has a subject ("I") and a full verb ("left"). It is introduced by "before", so it is a dependent clause. This means that it cannot stand alone: "Before I left for Calgary" would not be a full sentence. It needs a main clause ("I 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 Clauses There are many types of adverb clauses. Adverb clauses express when, why, opposition and conditions and are dependent clauses. This means that an adverb clause can not stand by itself - in other words, "When he went to New York." is not a complete sentence. It needs to be completed by an independent clause. Example: He went to the Guggenheim museum when he was in New York. Here are some examples: Type Place

Question Answered Where?

Time

When?

Cause

Why? (What caused this?)

Concession

Why is this unexpected?

Condition

Under what conditions?

Example Wherever there are computers, there is Microsoft software. After the fruit is harvested, it is sold at the market. I didn't call her because I'm shy. She took a computer course so that she could get a better job. Although Jay has a Master's degree, he works as a store clerk. If you save your money, you will be able to go to college.

As you can see from the examples above, most adverb clauses can be recognized because they are introduced by a particular word or phrase (such as "when", "so ajvilches. 6/ 2009 http://esl.about.com/library/grammar/blgr_adverbclauses.htm http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/advcls.htm http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv122.shtml http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ http://grammar.about.com/od/basicsentencegrammar/a/sbadvclauses.htm

that", etc.). These words and phrases are called subordinating conjunctions. Subordination conjunctions I. Time after as soon as as long as before once

until when whenever while

Examples: I fell asleep as soon as I lay down. We can leave whenever you're ready. II. Place where wherever Examples: I'll follow you wherever you go. Where there's smoke, there's fire. III. Cause because as since

so that in order that

Examples: I can't work well with because/ as/ since I don't like her very much. He’s staying on in Australia for nine more months so that/ in order that he can perfect his English. IV. Concession and Comparison though although even though as though

as just as whereas while

Examples: Though/ Although/ Even though his daughter tests his patience all the time, she remains the apple of his eye. She looked at me as though (= like) I had gone crazy. The situation is not so bad as you suggest. ajvilches. 6/ 2009 http://esl.about.com/library/grammar/blgr_adverbclauses.htm http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/advcls.htm http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv122.shtml http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ http://grammar.about.com/od/basicsentencegrammar/a/sbadvclauses.htm

She was crazy about him, whereas/ while for him it was just another affair. Just as I thought, our flight was delayed for 10 hours because of the terrible weather. V. Condition if even if in case

provided that unless

Examples: Even if I had time, I wouldn't do that. In case you see Anne, say hi to her for me. I'll let you throw a party at my place provided that you do me a favor. You can't get in unless you can prove you're over eighteen. Note: even if / even though Even though means despite the fact that and is a more emphatic version of though and although. Even if means whether or not and has to do with the conditions that may apply. Compare: 1. Even if I had two hours to spare for shopping, I wouldn't go out and buy a suit. This describes an unreal situation where we could substitute 'just supposing' for even if and say: just supposing I had two hours to spare for shopping, I still wouldn't go out and buy a suit. 2. Even though I had two hours to spare for shopping, I couldn't find the suit I wanted. The second example describes a real situation where the shopper spent two hours looking for a particular kind of suit, but couldn't find it. Punctuation When an adverb clause begins the sentence, use a comma to separate the two clauses. Example: As soon as he arrives, we will have some lunch. When the adverb clause finishes the sentence there is no need for a comma. Example: He gave me a call when he arrived in town.

ajvilches. 6/ 2009 http://esl.about.com/library/grammar/blgr_adverbclauses.htm http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/advcls.htm http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv122.shtml http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ http://grammar.about.com/od/basicsentencegrammar/a/sbadvclauses.htm