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
- so that
CONCESSION/
CONTRAST
- although
- even though
- though
-> in spite of the fact that
STRONG
CONTRAST
- whereas
- while
-> direct opposition
- while
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
- I felt very tired so I slept until midnight without eating.
-> Feeling very tired, I slept until midnight without eating. - She was fired after the accident, so she had to look another job.
-> Fired after the accident, she had to look another job. - Because nobody has anything else to say, the meeting was closed.
-> Nobody having anything else to say, the meeting was closed. - 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.