13. Adverbial Clauses

Adverbial Clauses

Which sentence has an Adverbial Clause?

Keep hitting the gong until I tell you to stop.

Keep hitting the gong hourly.

Easy Example of an Adverbial Clause

Keep hitting the gong until I tell you to stop.

Keep hitting the gong hourly.

In the two examples above, the adverbial clause and the normal adverb both tell us when the gong is to be hit. Therefore, they are both adverbs of time.

Multiple Choice

An adverbial clause is a group of words that plays the role of an adverb. Like all clauses, an adverbial clause contains a subject and a verb.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Select the one with an adverbial clause:

• When the team is ready, jump into the water.

• Jump into the water on the whistle.

Multiple Choice

Select the one with a true statement:

• An adverbial clause must contain a verb.

• An adverbial clause is an independent clause.

Adverbs of Time (When?)

• An adverb of time states when something happens or how often.

• An adverb of time often starts with one of the following subordinating conjunctions: after, as, as long as, as soon as, before, no sooner than, since, until, when, or while.

Here are some examples:

• After the game has finished, the king and pawn go into the same box. (Italian Proverb)

• I stopped believing in Santa Claus when my mother took me to see him in a department store, and he asked for my autograph. (Actress Shirley Temple)

• As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live. (Writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

Multiple Choice

Select the one with an adverb of time:

• As soon as one project is finished, I like to go straight on to something else.

• The future is as bright as your faith.

Multiple Choice

Select the one with an adverb of time:

• When the top is brown, take the cake out the oven.

• If the top is brown, take the cake out the oven.

Multiple Choice

Select the one with an adverb of time:

• Although I love jam on scones, I cannot eat it on toast.

• When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Adverbs of Place (Where?)

• An adverb of place states where something happens.

• An adverb of place often starts with a preposition (e.g., "in," "on," "near") or one of the following subordinating conjunctions: anywhere, everywhere, where, or wherever.

Here are some examples:

• Anywhere the struggle is great, the level of ingenuity and inventiveness is high. (Economist Eleni Zaude Gabre-Madhin)

• I am not afraid of the pen, the scaffold, or the sword. I will tell the truth wherever I please. (Lobbyist Mother Jones)

Adverbs of Reason (Why?)

• An adverb of reason offers a reason for the main idea.

• An adverb of reason often starts with one of the following subordinating conjunctions: as, because, given, or since.

Here are some examples:

• I don't have a bank account, because I don't know my mother's maiden name. (Comedian Paula Poundstone)

• Since you are like no other being ever created since the beginning of time, you are incomparable. (Journalist Brenda Ueland)

Adverbs of Condition (If, Then)

• An adverb of condition states the condition for the main idea to come into effect.

• An adverb of condition often starts with if or unless.

Here are some examples:

• If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts. (Physicist Albert Einstein)

• If the English language made any sense, a catastrophe would be an apostrophe with fur. (Author Doug Larson)

• If all the rich people in the world divided up their money among themselves, there wouldn't be enough to go around. (Novelist Christina Stead)

Multiple Choice

Select the one with an adverb of condition:

• Remember to call when you get home.

• If you pay your bills on time, you will have a better credit score.

Adverbs of Concession (In spite Of)

• An adverb of concession offers a statement that contrasts with the main idea.

• An adverb of concession often starts with one of the following subordinating conjunctions: though, although, even though, while, whereas, or even if.

Here are some examples:

• Although golf was originally restricted to wealthy, overweight Protestants, today it's open to anybody who owns hideous clothing. (Author Dave Barry)

• A loud voice cannot compete with a clear voice, even if it's a whisper. (Author Barry Neil Kaufman)

Structure

Though/ although/ even though + S + V (adverb clause of concession), + S + V (main clause)

In spite of/ despite + noun/ noun phrase, + S + V

In spite of/ despite + the fact that + S + V, + S + V

Multiple Choice

A fronted adverbial clause is usually offset with a comma.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

A post-positioned adverbial clause is usually offset with a comma.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

If a post-positioned adverbial clause is essential (i.e., restrictive), it must be preceded by a comma.

• True

• False

Properties of an Adverbial Clause

• An adverbial clause is an adjunct. This means it can be removed without the sentence being grammatically wrong.

• An adverbial clause is a dependent clause. This means it cannot stand alone as a meaningful sentence in its own right.

• An adverbial clause usually starts with a subordinating conjunction (e.g., "although," "because," "if," "until," "when")

• An adverbial clause contains a subject and a verb. (This is what makes it a clause as opposed to a phrase.)

Multiple Choice

You should shut off your computer______you finish work.

• Before

• When

• After

• Because

Multiple Choice

It will be a whole month________it arrives.

• Before

• When

• After

• Because

Multiple Choice

_________ we don't know the answer, we should ask the teacher for help.

• Since

• While

• Although

• If

Key Points

If your adverbial clause is fronted, use a comma.

Don't use a comma if your adverbial clause is at the back unless you think it helps.