ADVERBIAL CLAUSES

Definition:
❖A dependent clause introduced by an adverbial subordinator
❖Used to modify the verb of the independent clause ➔ functioning as an adverb
❖Many types: time, place, manner, condition, etc.

TIME

  • After: following the time that...
  • As: while then...
  • As soon as: immediately at or instantly after the time that…
  • Before: earlier than the time when…
  • Since: from that time/moment
  • Until: up to the time of…
  • When: a point in time/short duration
  • Whenever: at any time
  • While: longer duration of time

Tense sequence with adverbial clauses of time

❖To talk about past or present ➔ use the same
tense as in the independent clause
Ex: I normally look after the children while she’s
practicing.

❖To talk about future ➔ use present
Ex: Wait here until you are ready to go.

I don't know when she will come-> Object-> noun clause I don't know the time when she will come-> adj clause
Tell me when she comes-> adverbial clause

❖To talk about an action completed before another described in the independent clause ➔ use simple or perfect verb forms
Ex: As soon as you see(have no distance)/ have seen(have a certain distance) her, come and tell me.

PLACE

  • Anywhere, everywhere, wherever> any place
    • Where: a definite place

DISTANCE/ FREQUENCY

As+ verb+ as: make a comparison

MANNER

  • As: in the way/manner that/ like...
  • As if/as though

REASON

  • For: coordinator
    • As: at the beginning of the sentence
  • Since: at the beginning of the sentence
  • Because: for the reason that

RESULT

  • phrase+ that
    • so+ adj+ that
  • so+ adv+ that
  • such a(n) (+adj) +n
    -> with the result that

PURPOSE

  • in order that
    • so that
      -> for the good of

CONCESSION/
CONTRAST

  • although
    • even though
  • though
    -> in spite of the fact that

STRONG
CONTRAST

  • whereas
    • while
      -> direct opposition

CONDITION

  • As long as
    • If
  • provided/providing
  • unless
  • whether
    -> under the condition that...

Reducing adverbial clauses

❖ Retain BEFORE
Ex: A student should consider some factors BEFORE choosing a major.
❖ Retain SINCE when it refers to time
Ex: SINCE moving to the U.S., Carlos has not been back home.
❖ Delete AS when it refers to time
Ex: Getting used to the way of life here, he became less homesick.
❖ Delete all subordinators referring to reason
❖ Retain AFTER, WHEN and WHILE when the reduced form follows the independent clause
Ex: WHILE preparing for the TOEFL, he lived with a family.

Reducing complex sentence

Complex sentence with adj clause

  • Relative pronoun as subject
    • Using V-ing(active) or past participle(passive)

Complex sentence with adverbial clause

  • 2 clauses having the same subject
    • Retaining or omitting the adverbial subordinator
    • Using V-ing(active) or past participle(passive)

Complex-> simple sentence

  1. I felt very tired so I slept until midnight without eating.
    -> Feeling very tired, I slept until midnight without eating.
  2. She was fired after the accident, so she had to look another job.
    -> Fired after the accident, she had to look another job.
  3. Because nobody has anything else to say, the meeting was closed.
    -> Nobody having anything else to say, the meeting was closed.
  4. After all the money had been spent, we began to look for work.
    -> All the money having been spent, we began to look for work.

Simple-> complex sentence

  • Cleft sentence
    It(be) ... that
    Ex: It was won the WC that England did in 1996
  • Pseudo-cleft
    Ex: What surprises me is that what England did in 1996 was win the WC, you don't remember.