What are "adverbial clauses"?
Adverbial clauses are subordinate clauses which act as an adverbial part of another clause ( of main clause). They can answer such questions as "When?", "Why?", "If what?", and "What for?"
1. Conjunctions which begin the clause
Let's see some conjunctions which begin adverbial clauses below.
| Meaning | Conjunctions which begin the clause |
|---|---|
| Time | after, as, before, once, since, until, when, whenever, while |
| Condition | if, unless |
| Contrast | although, whereas, while |
| Reason and cause | as, because, since |
| Place | where, wherever |
Let's see examples below:
You can go when we finish the mettings. (clause of time)
She can't enter if you don't open the door. ( conditional clause)
Although he is too old, his skills are still amazing. (clause of contrast)
I bought a new laptop because the old one was broken. (clause of reason and cause)
"Where will you visit this weekend?" "I'll go wherever my wife likes." (clause of place)
| Meaning | Conjunctions which begin the clause |
|---|---|
| Time | as soon as, immediately (that), now (that) |
| Condition | in case, provided (that), so long as |
| Contrast | even though |
| Reason and cause | seeing (that) |
In addition, adverbial clauses express some less important meanings.
| Meaning | Conjunctions which begin the clause |
|---|---|
| Purpose | in order that, in order to, so as to, so that (all formal) |
| Result | so that, so ... that, such ... that |
| Comparison of manner | as, as if, as though |
| Proportion | as ... (so), the ... the |
Example:
My friend left early (so as) to catch the bus. (clause of purpose)
All studuents didn't talk to their teacher, so that he became angry. (clause of result)
He takes care of this child as if he were his father. (clause of comparison of manner)
The more you are angry, the more you hurt yourself. (clause of proportion)
2. Position of adverbial clauses
Usually, adverbial clauses go at the end of the main clause (like most examples above). Most types of adverbial clauses (except result clauses) can also be used in front position. Example:
1. When his parents divorced in 1985, young Tom was only 10 years old.
OR
2. Young Tom was only 10 years old when his parents divorced in 1985.
3. Nonfinite adverbial clauses
In addtion to the finite clauses above, nonfinite clauses can also act as adverbials.
3.1. To-infinitive clause : to + verb
Exmaple: Farmers are working hard to increase rice production. ( = ... in order to improve ... ) (clause of purpose)
3.2. -ING clause: Verb-ing
Example: Being a father, I have to be responsible for my children's education. ( = because I am a father ...) (clause of reason and cause).
3.3. Past Participle clause: Verb-ed
Considered as a whole, it wasn't a happy birthday for her.
3.4. Reduced clauses
Some participle clauses are like finite clauses, except that the subject and finite verb are omitted. In these reduced clauses, the conjunction when or after, etc., comes before a participle.
3.4.1. -ING clauses: conjunction + verb-ing
Example: After leaving university, he worked in a bank. ( = ... after he left ... )
3.4.2. Past participle clause: conjunction + (adverb) + verb-ed
Example: If (carefully) written, this essay will get a good score. ( = if it is (carefully) written )
4. Verbless adverbial clauses
"Reduced clauses" can also have no verb.
Example: Old cars are very valuable when in good condition. ( = ... when they are in good condition).
We hope this article helps. If you have any quetions, just leave a comment below.
No comments:
Post a Comment