Adverbial clause
An adverbial clause is a dependent clause
that functions as an adverb; that is, the
entire clause modifies a verb, an adjective,
or another adverb. As with all clauses, it
contains a subject and predicate, although
the subject as well as the (predicate) verb
may sometimes be omitted and implied
(see below).[1]
An adverbial clause is commonly, but not
always, fronted by a subordinate
conjunction—sometimes called a trigger
word. (In the examples below the adverbial
clause is italicized and the subordinate
conjunction is bolded.)
Mary, the aspiring actress, became
upset as soon as she saw the casting
list.
(subject: she; predicate: saw the
casting list; the clause modifies the
verb became)
Peter Paul, the drama teacher, met with
Mary after she came to the next class.''
(explicit subject: she; predicate: came
to the next class.; predicate (verb):
came; the clause modifies the verb
met;)
He talked carefully in order to appear
fair.
He talked carefully in order .. [that 'he']
appear fair.
(implied subject, he, is omitted;
predicate (verb): appear; the clause
modifies the adverb carefully)
The little boy preferred fierce dinosaurs,
as [was] T rex.
(subject of the clause: T rex; predicate
of the clause: [was], implied; the
clause modifies the adjective fierce.)
According to Sidney Greenbaum and
Randolph Quirk, adverbial clauses function
mainly as adjuncts or disjuncts, which
parts also perform in a sentence as
adverbial phrases or as adverbial
prepositional phrases (Greenbaum and
Quirk,1990). Unlike clauses, phrases do
not contain a subject and predicate; they
are contrasted here:
We left the convention the day before.
(adverbial phrase; contains no subject
or predicate)
We left before the speeches.
(adverbial prepositional phrase;
contains no subject or predicate—and
no verb (action) is implied)
We left after the speeches ended.
(adverbial clause; contains subject
and predicate)
We left after the speeches.
or, (".. after the speeches [ended]")
(adverbial clause; contains subject
and predicate, but the verb 'ended' is
omitted and implied)
Types
Adverbial clauses are divided into several
groups according to the actions or senses
of their conjunctions:
Type of Common
Function
clause conjunctions
time Conjunctions These
answering the clauses:
question Say when
"when?", such something
as: when, happens by
before, after, referring to a
since, while, as, period or poi
as long as, till, of time, or to
until, etc.; another even
or the paired
(correlative)
conjunctions:
j
hardly...when,
scarcely...when,
barely...when,
no
sooner...than[2]
condition if, unless, lest Talk about a
possible or
counterfactu
situation and
its
consequence
in order to, so Indicate the
purpose that, in order purpose of a
that, in case action.
reason because, since, Indicate the
as, given reason for
something.
Make two
statements,
,
although, one of which
concession though, while, contrasts wit
but the other or
makes it see
surprising.
place Answering the Talk about th
question location or
"where?": position of
where, something.
wherever,
anywhere,
everywhere,
etc.
State
comparison
comparison as...as, than, as
a skill, size o
amount, etc.
manner Answering the Talk about
question, someone's
behavior or t
"how"?: as, like, way somethi
the way is done.
Indicate the
so...that,
results result(s) of a
such...that
act or event.
References
1. "Grammar Lesson - Reducing Adverb
Clauses - ELC" . ELC - English Language
Center. 2014-03-17. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
2. HARDLY, SCARCELY, BARELY, NO
SOONER
Further reading
Greenbaum, Sidney & Quirk, Randolph. A
Student's Grammar of the English Language.
Hong Kong: Longman Group (FE) Ltd, 1990.
Sinclair, John (editor-in-chief). Collins Cobuild
English Grammar. London and Glasgow:
William Collins Sons & Co ltd, 1990.
External links
Adverb Clause
How to Use Adverb Clauses
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