What is an Adverb Clause?

Adverb Clause
An adverb clause is a dependent clause that functions as an adverb. Learn all about
what an adverb clause is, how you can write them, and when they are taught to
students in the classroom.

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'Adverb Clause'

What is an Adverb Clause?

An adverb clause (or adverbial clause) is a clause that works as an adverb in a
sentence. Its role is to show the reader place, time, condition, degree, and so on, by
answering questions like 'where?', 'when?', 'how?', and 'why?'. In other words, it works in
the same way as a single adverb, except its structured as a clause.

An adverb clause is a group of words that function as an adverb in a sentence. Adverb

clauses can be used to add detail to your writing and explain how or why things
happen.

Like all types of clauses, an adverb clause has a subject and a verb. However, an adverb
clause is a dependent clause. This means that it can never be a sentence on its own.
Specifically, an adverb clause is a modifier that modifies the independent clause.
Different parts of the adverb clause include:

The subject: This is the person, place, idea, or thing that a sentence is
about. It’s the noun that's doing' something in a clause or sentence.

The predicate: This is where the action is in your sentence. It tells us what
the subject does and is often a verb, but it can also be a verb phrase: a verb
plus its objects or modifiers.

The dependent 'marker' word/subordinating conjunctions: Dependent

marker words (also called subordinating conjunctions) is a word that adds
details like time or context. Most adverbial clauses start with a
subordinating conjunction.

The object: This is the word affected by the verb or preposition in a

sentence, usually nouns or pronouns that answer questions like 'who,' 'what,'
'where,' and 'when?'.

What introduces an Adverb Clause?

Adverbial clauses are introduced by special words called subordinating conjunctions.
Subordinating conjunctions link adverb clauses with the word in the independent
clause that the adverb clause is modifying.

Adverb Clause examples

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 Adverb clause examples in the middle of sentences:

My sister, when she is angry, will turn red in the face.

Elephants, although they are large, are not predators.

Chocolate, because it has a low melting point, can be difficult to bake with.

Adverb clause examples at the end of sentences:

Give us a call when you get back from your trip.

We need to find the bar where they asked us to wait.

The fireworks show will start after the sun goes down.

Frank ran the race as though his life depended on it.

We can swim in the pool as soon as you put on sunscreen.

What are the types of adverb clause?

Place

These adverbial clauses answer the question of 'where?'.

You can drop by for a visitwhere we’re staying for the summer.

Time:

These adverb clauses answer the question of 'when?'.

When the clock strikes midnight, she has to leave.

Reason

These adverb clauses answer the question 'why?'.

Since he has long hair, he wears a ponytail.

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 Purpose

These adverb clauses also answer the question 'why?'

So that he wouldn't ruin the carpet, he took off his shoes.

Condition

These adverb clauses answer the question 'how?'.

If you don't hurry, you will be late for school.

Adverb clauses of concession:

These adverb clauses answer the question 'how?' in a more indirect way.

Although they gave it their best effort, they didn't win the match.

Writing adverb clause examples: Adverb clause sentence starters

If your students are ready to start writing adverb clauses themselves, why not try some
sentence starters to help them along? This list of sentence openers give your students
the opportunity to complete the sentence by adding an adverb clause. For example:

Even when I’m sick...

When you have finished working...

Whenever you like...

Wherever we prefer...

Since I returned from our holiday...

Before leaving school...

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 Common mistakes with Adverb Clauses
Adverb clauses can sometimes be tricky to use, so it's important to be aware of the
common mistakes. This way, you can avoid making the mistakes in the first place.

One of the most common mistakes made with adverb clauses is treating them as if
they're independent. It's important to remember that adverb clauses are a subordinate
(dependent) clause. This means they don't make sense on their own. They need to be
connected to a main clause using a subordinating conjunction. Never treat an adverb
clause as if it's a sentence on its own.

Similar to this, the main clause should still be able to make sense if you remove the
adverb clause. The adverb clause is something 'extra' that offers more detail to the
already existing sentence. So, the clause you're adding to needs to be independent.

Adverb clauses always begin with a subordinating conjunction. When you're connecting
the adverb clause with a main clause, don't forget to use the conjunction to link them
together. Otherwise, they'll be two, unlinked clauses, and the adverb clause still won't
make sense.

Just like all other clauses, an adverb clause must contain both a subject and a verb. If
you forget the verb, it's not a clause: it's a phrase.

When are Adverb Clauses taught in the classroom?

Students will learn about lots of different types of clauses and their uses in the
classroom. In Year 1, children are expected to write sentences with two clauses joined
by the word 'and.'

In Year 2, children start learning about subordination and coordination and need to
start using a main clause and subordinate clause (a complex sentence), joined by
'when,' 'if,' 'that' or 'because.'

In Years 3 to 6, children are expected to continue to use a range of simple, compound

and complex sentences, however their connectives need to become more
sophisticated, for example: 'because,' 'although,' 'therefore,' 'meanwhile' and so on.

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 They may be tested on these in the KS2 SATs Grammar, punctuation and spelling test
at the end of Year 6.

How can I teach Adverb Clauses?

We have lots of different resources and teaching materials that can support your pupils
in learning to identify and use adverbial clauses and phrases to improve pupils'
grammar skills in the classroom. All of our resources and teaching aids have been
designed by real and experienced teachers with your pupils and teachers in mind to
support different learning styles and preferences. Check out a few different types of
resources and activities to support your teaching of adverb clauses and phrases.

Quizzes: Interactive English exercises like this Identifying an Adverbial

PowerPoint Quiz are great to use with your entire English class to help them
distinguish the adverbial phrases within a sentence.

Posters: Posters such as this Adverbial Phrases Poster is a great way to

begin building your sentence clauses working wall or display and are
brilliant for visual learners.

Teaching packs: Our teaching packs are perfect for stress-free lesson
planning. For example, try this Adverbs, Adverbial Phrases, Fronted
Adverbials Lesson Teaching Pack to vastly improve your KS2 classes
confidence and abilities in completing great writing tasks when it comes to
adverbs, adverbials and fronted adverbials.

Adverb clause example exercise:

Here are some sentences with adverb clauses. Challenge your students to see if they
can identify the adverbial clause:

Because he loved her, he didn't believe she was having an affair.

Frank ran the race as though his life depended on it.

We can swim in the pool as soon as you put on sunscreen.

I never knew how wonderful life could be until I met you.

You need to remain calmeven if everyone else panics.

Once they saw the car coming, the birds flew away from the road.

Elephants,although they are large, are not predators.

Chocolate,because it has a low melting point, can be difficult to bake with.

Although she has a business degree, she is working as a retail clerk.

Adverbial Educational Video

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