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Adverbial Clauses

This section is an overview of adverbial clauses and their functions in sentences in English. Specifically, this section provides. . . a definition of adverbial clauses, a list of the different types of adverbial clauses in sentences in English, and example sentences to illustrate the different types.

Adverbial Clauses
An adverbial clause is a group of words
that functions as one unit; that has its own subject-verb combination, that adds condition, contrast, degree, location, manner, purpose, reason, or time to a sentence, that usually has a subordinator, and that may not stand alone as a complete sentence.

Adverbial Clauses may add. . .


condition, contrast, degree, location, manner, purpose, reason, or time,

to a sentence.

Adverbial Clauses
An adverbial clause may add a condition to a sentence: If you find her book, call her. The adverbial clause here, If you find her book, adds a condition to this sentence, so this is an adverbial clause of condition. The subject-verb combination of the adverbial clause is you find, and the subordinator is If, the most common subordinator in adverbial clauses of condition. The subject of the independent clause we understand as you, and the verb in the independent clause is call.

Adverbial Clauses
An adverbial clause may add contrast to a sentence: Although I studied hard for the test, I got a low score. The adverbial clause here, Although I studied hard for the test, adds contrast to this sentence, so this is an adverbial clause of contrast. Specifically, the adverbial clause here provides contrast to the action of the independent clause. The subject-verb combination of the adverbial clause is you found, and its subordinator is Although. As we shall see elsewhere, adverbial clauses of contrast may appear with other subordinators.

Adverbial Clauses
An adverbial clause may add degree to a sentence: She worked as hard as she could. The adverbial clause here, asas she could, adds degree to this sentence, so this is an adverbial clause of degree. The subject-verb combination of the adverbial clause here is she could, and the subordinator is asas. In this case the adverbial clause qualifies the adjective hard by specifying how hard the subject she worked, thereby adding degree to this sentence. Adverbial clauses of degree may appear with other subordinators, as we shall see elsewhere.

Adverbial Clauses
An adverbial clause may add location to a sentence: You should put it where it belongs. The adverbial clause here, where it belongs, adds a location to this sentence, so this is an adverbial clause of location. The subject-verb combination of the adverbial clause here is it belongs and the subordinator is where, the only subordinator that appears in adverbial clauses of location. The subject-verb combination of the independent clause here is You should put.

Adverbial Clauses
An adverbial clause may add manner to a sentence: He finished the work as she requested. The adverbial clause here, as she requested, adds manner to this sentence, so this is an adverbial clause of manner. The subject-verb combination of this adverbial clause is she requested, and the subordinator is as. In this case the adverbial clause qualifies the verb finished by specifying how He finished the work, thereby adding manner to this sentence. Adverbial clauses of manner may have other subordinators, as we shall see elsewhere.

Adverbial Clauses
An adverbial clause may add purpose to a sentence: He cleaned his room so that he could go out. The adverbial clause here, so that he could go out, adds a purpose to this sentence, so this is an adverbial clause of purpose. Specifically, the adverbial clause provides a purpose for the action of the independent clause. The subject-verb combination of the adverbial clause here is he could go, and the subordinator is so that. As we shall see elsewhere, adverbial clauses of purpose may have other subordinators.

Adverbial Clauses
An adverbial clause may add a reason to a sentence: He cleaned his room because he wanted to go out. The adverbial clause here, because he wanted to go out, adds a reason to this sentence, so this is an adverbial clause of reason. Specifically, this adverbial clause provides a reason for the action of the independent clause. The subject-verb combination of the adverbial clause here is he wanted, and the subordinator is because, probably the most common subordinator in adverbial clauses of reason. As we shall see elsewhere, however, adverbial clauses of reason may appear with other subordinators.

Adverbial Clauses
An adverbial clause may add time to a sentence: When he opened the door the cat ran out. The adverbial clause here, When he opened the door, adds a time reference to this sentence, so this is an adverbial clause of time. Specifically, this adverbial clause provides a time reference for the action of the independent clause. The subject-verb combination of this adverbial clause is he opened, and the subordinator is When, probably the most common subordinator in adverbial clauses of time. As we shall see elsewhere, however, adverbial clauses of time may have other subordinators.

Adverbial Clauses
As an overview of adverbial clauses, this section provides examples of adverbial clauses that add condition, contrast, degree, location, manner, purpose, reason, or time to sentences in English. Return to the previous page, Adverbial Clauses, to proceed to individual sections for in-depth explanations of the different kinds of adverbial clauses in English sentences and for information about the various subordinators that may appear in adverbial clauses in English sentences.
Adverbial Clauses

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