Adverbial Clause

Adverbial Clause 1
What is an adverbial clause?
An adverbial clause is a type of dependent clause, or subordinate clause, that functions as an adverb within a
clause/sentence. An adverbial clause is paired with independent clause to form complex sentences. An adverbial
clause often begins with a subordinating conjunction and contains a subject and its predicate. For example:
1. When I got home, I felt tired.
2. If the weather is nice tomorrow, I might do the gardening.
3. Jack bought an expensive car although he didn’t have any money.
Each adverbial clause contains a subordinating conjunction (when, if, although) and contains a subject (I, the
weather, and he) and its predicate (got home, is nice tomorrow, didn’t have any money).

Adverbial clause can be positioned before the main clause or after the main clause.
- When I got home, I felt tired.
- I felt tired when I go home.
When the adverbial clause is positioned at the front, a comma separates the adverbial clause and the independent
clause. When it is positioned behind the independent clause, no comma is required.

Exercise 1
Underline the adverbial clauses and circle the subordinating conjunction.
1. As soon as I heard the news, I called my family.
2. Since the investigation began, the police have made very little progress.
3. Whenever you’re ready, call me.
4. I wanted to go on a beach holiday whereas my wife wanted to go camping.
5. I bought an umbrella in case it rained.
6. Unless you know what to do, you shouldn’t go hiking alone.
7. I want to get married when I find a good job.
8. Money doesn’t make you happy even if you had millions of dollars.
9. I’m going to go camping whether you like it or not.
10. The reporters continued to take photos even though they were warned not to.
11. Since the new manager arrived, the team have begun to pick up wins.
12. Seeing as Jack wanted to play outside, Jack’s mother decided to take her children to the park.
13. The family moved to a new house because they were expecting another child.
14. While his parents wanted him to pursue a career in medicine, David wanted to become a dancer.
15. The YouTube video was taken down after many people complained of its content.
Adverbial Clause 2
Different types of adverbial clauses

Adverbial clauses can be categorized into various meaning and use and the categorization is based on the meaning
of subordinating conjunctions.

Category Subordinating conjunctions Sample Sentence

Time When, Before, After, As soon as, Before I go to work, I read the newspaper
Once, Till, Since
I worked on my paper till my parents arrived

Place Where, Wherever I put the glasses where you told me to

You can sit wherever you want to.

Manner As, As if, As though, How, He told me as if he won the prize.

However, and Like
You should bake the cake how I did it

Reason As, Because, In case, Seeing, Seeing Since I failed the test, I felt miserable
as, Seeing that, Since
We should cancel the trip seeing as you’re feeling sick

Purpose So, So that, In order that I quit my job so that I could start my own business.

In order that Jack can study for the test, his parents
took him to a library

Result So…that, such…that I shouted so much that my throat feels sore

He was such a kind person that everybody loved him.

Concession Although, Even though, Even if, Although he got an A, David wasn’t happy
However, Though, While, Whereas,
Even if you don’t like, you should say hi to him.
No matter what/who/where
I wanted to relax while Jack wanted to play sports.

Comparison As, Than She can run as fast as he can.

Daniel can cook better than my mother can.

Conditional If, Unless, Provided that, As long as, David will quit smoking as long as you quit chocolate
So long as, On condition that
Provided that you quit chocolate, I will quit smoking.
Exercise 2
Fill in the blanks with appropriate subordinating conjunctions from the word bank.
Example: The man sold his car so that he could use the money to buy his mom a present.

As if If Where Unless Such…that

Even though Before So that Whereas In case

1. _______________ the weather is nice tomorrow, we should go to the park.

2. I enjoy slow, calm music _______________ my brother enjoys loud music.
3. _______________ Jack failed the test, he didn’t seem unhappy.
4. The teacher was _________ a strict teacher _________ her students always did homework for her class.
5. _______________ Jack went to bed, he decided to write down the ideas in his head for a new business.
6. Daniel always acts _______________ he’s the smartest person in the room. It really annoys me!
7. I bought a bag of charcoal for the barbecue _______________ we didn’t have any.
8. I was sat _______________ the teacher couldn’t see me cheating.
9. She visited the clinic _______________ she could get treatment for her bad back.
10. I couldn’t play outside _______________ I cleaned my room.

Exercise 3.
Fill in the blanks to complete the adverbial clauses.
1. The neighbours called the police after ________________________________________________________.

2. Even though ____________________________________________, Jack went jogging in the morning.

3. Seeing as _____________________________________________________, you shouldn’t go to work.

4. Jack can play golf as well as ___________________________________________________________.

5. Provided that _____________________________________________, we will go ahead with the plan.

6. I decided to teach English abroad because __________________________________________________.

7. Once _____________________________________________________, I decided to quit my job.

8. My friend is such a generous guy that ______________________________________________________

9. No matter what ________________________________________________, I will never forgive him.

10. As soon as ________________________________________, we stopped watching the movie.

 Answer Key
Exercise 1 Exercise 3
1. As soon as I heard the news, I called my family. - Answers may vary
2. Since the investigation began, the police have
made very little progress.
3. Whenever you’re ready, call me.
4. I wanted to go on a beach holiday whereas my
wife wanted to go camping.
5. I bought an umbrella in case it rained.
6. Unless you know what to do, you shouldn’t go
hiking alone.
7. I want to get married when I find a good job.
8. Money doesn’t make you happy even if you
had millions of dollars.
9. I’m going to go camping whether you like it or
not.
10. The reporters continued to take photos even
though they were warned not to.
11. Since the new manager arrived, the team have
begun to pick up wins.
12. Seeing as Jack wanted to play outside, Jack’s
mother decided to take her children to the park.
13. The family moved to a new house because they
were expecting another child.
14. While his parents wanted him to pursue a career
in medicine, David wanted to become a dancer.
15. The YouTube video was taken down after many
people complained of its content.

Exercise 2
1. If
2. Whereas
3. Even though
4. Such…that
5. Before
6. As if
7. In case
8. Where
9. So that
10. Unless