Scribd
Upload
2K views3 pages

Adverbial Clauses of Time

This document discusses adverbial clauses of time, including their categories, position within sentences, and sequence of tenses rules. Adverbial clauses of time can introduce parallel, anterior, or subsequent actions using different verb tenses. They can also be reduced to non-finite forms like participial phrases or infinitival phrases. Sequence of tenses rules dictate the appropriate verb forms to use based on whether the actions are parallel, anterior, or subsequent.

Uploaded by

Cristina-Raluca Ruşeţ
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
2K views3 pages

Adverbial Clauses of Time

This document discusses adverbial clauses of time, including their categories, position within sentences, and sequence of tenses rules. Adverbial clauses of time can introduce parallel, anterior, or subsequent actions using different verb tenses. They can also be reduced to non-finite forms like participial phrases or infinitival phrases. Sequence of tenses rules dictate the appropriate verb forms to use based on whether the actions are parallel, anterior, or subsequent.

Uploaded by

Cristina-Raluca Ruşeţ
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Adverbial clauses may be placed in various semantic categories such as place, time,

manner, etc. These categories may be related to those for adverbial phrases in general and for
prepositional phrases at the level of the simple sentence. Adverbial clauses are often
commutable with prepositional phrases. Compare:
Because the soloist was ill they cancelled the concert.
Because of the soloists illness they cancelled the concert.
Adverbial clauses, like adverbials in general, are capable of occurring in a final, initial or
medial position within the main clause (generally in that order of frequency).
Adverbial Clauses of Time
The adverbial clause of time discharges the same function as the adverbial modifier of
time at the level of the simple sentence.
Introductory elements
Adverbial clauses of time may be introduced by a number of connective adverbs and
conjunctions: after, as, before, once, since, till, until, when, whenever, whereas, while; as soon
as, as/so long as, directly (that), hardly...when, scarcely...when, no sooner...than.
e.g. When the cat is away the mice will play. (Proverb)
After she had finished her shopping she went to a snack-bar.
Buy your tickets as soon as you can.
He sang as he worked.
They ask for help whenever they need.
I was reading while my brother was watching TV.
So long as you are happy, I dont mind.
He recognized me directly he saw me.
You can go now (that) youve finished.
I will have done my homework by the time you come.
With till/until a dynamic verb in the main clause often has to be accompanied by a
negative word:
e.g. He didnt start to read until he was 10 years old. (in the negative sentence
not...until means the same as not...before).
Sequence of Tenses in Adverbial Clauses of Time
Adverbial clauses of time are subject to many constraints as part of the set of rules
called the sequence of tenses, which can be summarized as follows:
a) parallel (simultaneous) actions: the action of the verb in the temporal clause occurs at the
same time or during the action of the verb in the main clause. The parallel actions are
indicated by:
- the Present Tense or the Past Tense in the main clause followed by the same tense
Present or Past in the temporal clause,
e.g. He comes here when (ever) he likes.
When I have some days off I go to the mountains.
He came here when(ever) he felt like it.
And the Giants heart melted as he looked out of the window. (O.W.)
When I left for school this morning it was raining hard.
He was writing a letter when his friend rang him up.
- the Future Tense in the main clause is followed by the Present Tense in the temporal
clause:
e.g. I shall wait till the spring comes and then I shall pay him a visit. (O.W.)
You will change your tone when you hear what has happened. (G.B.S.)

He will come here when(ever) he thinks fit to do so.


the Future in the Past is followed by the Past Tense in the temporal clause, e.g.
He said he would come when he could.
I told you I would call on you when I had some spare time.
b) Anterior (Prior) actions: the action of the verb of the temporal clause takes place before
that of the main clause. Anterior actions are indicated by:
- the Present or the Future Tense in the main clause is followed by the Present Perfect in
the temporal clause,
e.g. You cannot stay here after what you have just said about my future husband.
(G.B.S.)
You will speak when I have done.
Well go to the pictures when we have finished our work.
- the Past Tense in the main clause is followed by the Past Perfect in the temporal
clause,
e.g. The children were sent to bed when they had finished
their meal. (J.Al.)
When he had sealed and stamped the envelope he went back to the window.
(J.G.)
After they had bought their tickets they entered the opera-hall and looked for
their seats.
The Past Tense may be used instead of the Past Perfect in temporal clauses introduced by
after, till, until if anteriority results from the context:
e.g. He didnt leave until he (had) received a definite answer.
He rang up all his friends after he (had) returned from his trip.
After the Romans had gone/went away from Britain, the Anglo-Saxons crossed
the North Sea and landed there.
- the Future in the Past is followed by the Past Perfect in temporal clauses, e.g.
He promised he would come as soon as he had finished his work.
I told him that I would leave as soon as I had got my diploma.
- the Present Perfect in the main clause is followed by the Past Tense in temporal
clauses introduced by since:
e.g. They have moved house three times since they got married.
I have been walking to work since my car broke down.
I havent seen him since he left school.
When the two actions are parallel, the Present Perfect is employed in temporal clauses,
e.g. Ive lost a hundred and forty at cards since Ive been down here. (W.M.T.)
We have made many friends since we have lived here.
c) Subsequent actions: the action of the verb of the temporal clause takes place after that of
the main clause. Subsequent actions are indicated by:
- the Past Tense or the Past Perfect in the main clause is followed by the Past Tense in
the temporal clause. The time relation is indicated by the conjunctions till, until,
before, when:
e.g. The film began/had begun before I reached the cinema-hall.
He left / had left before I came.
When I got to the conference, the lecturer had already been speaking for an hour.
- the Past Perfect in the main clause is followed by the Past Tense in the temporal
clause. The rule is applied in sentences containing the correlatives hardly...when,
scarcely...when, no sooner...than (the adverbs hardly, scarcely, no sooner may be
placed in front position with subject-auxiliary inversion):
-

MAIN CLAUSE
Hardly
+ Past Perfect...
Scarcely + Past Perfect...
No sooner + Past Perfect...

TEMPORAL CLAUSE
when + Past Tense
when + Past Tense
than + Past Tense

e.g. Theyd hardly got on the train when it started.


Jim had no sooner posted the letter than he remembered he hadnt stamped it.
I had scarcely replaced the receiver when the telephone rang again.
Hardly had they started the engine when it began to rain.
They had no sooner got there, than the phone rang.
No sooner had they got there than the phone rang.
Reduction of Adverbial Clauses of Time to Non-Finite Forms
a) a participial phrase: the Adverbial Clause of Time may be reduced to a participial phrase
when the subject of the main clause is co-referential with that of the subordinate clause:
e.g. Turning the corner, the lorry hit the tree.
Having done my homework, I went to the cinema.
Abbreviated ing forms may follow the conjunctions when(ever), while, e.g.
He does a lot of reading when travelling by train.
While waiting at the dentists I read a whole short story.
b) a gerundial phrase introduced by the prepositions after, before, on, in, e.g.
When we opened the door we saw him. (On) opening the door we saw him.
While I was trying to open the door I burst the key. In trying to open the door I
burst the key.
I switched off the lights before going to bed.
After Johns/his passing all his exams, his friends came to celebrate.
c) a past participle preceded by after, before, once, since, when:
e.g. Once published, the book caused a remarkable stir.
Some dogs become vicious when chained up.
d) an infinitival phrase:
e.g. She grew up to be a successful actress.
I awoke one morning to find the house in an uproar.
The sentences could be paraphrased by switching the relationship of subordination and
using a when-clause: When I awoke one morning I found the house in an uproar. The
restriction of infinitival phrases to final position suggests an analogy between these clauses
called clauses of outcome and Clauses of Result which they resemble in meaning.
e) Verbless clauses: In a clause of the type Subject + Be + Adverbial/ Predicative, the Subject
+ be can be deleted to form a verbless clause:
e.g. While still at school he wrote his first novel.
When in doubt, leave out.

You might also like