Kinds of Adverb Clauses

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Kinds of Adverb Clauses :



You have learnt that an adverb clause does the work of an adverb.
It modifies a verb, an adjective or an adverb in another clause.

Adverb clauses are of many kinds.

1. Adverb Clauses of time
2. Adverb Clauses of place
3. Adverb Clauses of purpose
4. Adverb Clauses of result
5. Adverb Clauses of reason
6. Adverb Clauses of condition
7. Adverb Clauses of manner
8. Adverb Clauses of degree
9. Adverb Clauses of concession

Adverb Clauses of time answer the question when!

These are introduced by conjunctions like….

1. after
2. as
3. as soon as
4. before
5. since
6. till
7. until
8. when
9. whenever
10. while

1. I will phone you when he comes.
2. I found your diary after you had left the house.
3. Don’t get off the bus till it stops.
4. I will speak to you as soon as I come back.

Adverb Clauses of place answer the question where?

They are chiefly introduced by WHERE & WHEREVER.

1. Put it back where you found it.
2. You may sit wherever you like.

Adverb Clauses of purpose answer the question for what purpose!

These are usually expressed by so that + may/might or will/would/should + plain infinitive.

In conversational style, can/could is also used and the THAT in so that is often left out.

1. Let the dog loose so that it may have a run.
2. I hit the boy so that he would never climb trees again.
3. We’ve come early so that we won’t miss the trailer.
4. I picked him a little food so that he wouldn’t get hungry.
5. Bring it closer so that I can see it better.

The use of IN ORDER THAT or THAT (instead of SO THAT) is more formal. The construction with THAT alone is rare in modem English.

1. They died in order that we might be free.

Clauses introduced by IN CASE (used as in the example below) or LEST are also sometimes called clauses of purpose. LEST is only found in literary English and is usually followed by SHOULD.

1. Take the umbrella in case it rains (because perhaps it will rain).
2. I obeyed her lest (for fear that) she should be angry.

Adverb Clauses of result answer the question with what result?

These are generally introduced the conjunctions THAT, SO THAT (or SO).

THAT follows SO or SUCH in the main clause.
THAT may be left out in spoken English.

1. The box was so heavy that I couldn’t lift it.
2. His behaviour was such that everybody disliked him.
3. We heard nothing more of him, so that we thought him to be dead.

Adverb Clauses of reason answer the question why?

These are introduced by the conjunctions BEAUSE, AS & SINCE.

1. We have cancelled the match because it is raining.
2. As he was ill he was absent.
3. Since I have no money, I can’t buy it.

Adverb Clauses of condition answer the question under what conditions?
They are chiefly introduced by IF & UNLESS.

1. If you bring this ticket, you’ll get it free.
2. I won’t write unless he writes first (if he doesn’t write first).

Adverb Clauses of manner answer the question HOW?

These are generally introduced by AS.

1. He did as I told him.
2. We reap as we sow.

Adverb Clauses of degree answers the question to what degree or extent?

These are generally introduced by AS or THAN.

1. She isn’t so clever as you think.
2. He is younger than he looks.

Adverb Clauses of concession answer the question even though what?

These are introduced by THOUGH, ALTHOUGH, EVEN THOUGH & EVEN IF.

1. Though he is poor, he is neatly dressed.
2. Even though it’s hard work, I enjoy it.
3. Although he has a car, he often goes to the office on foot.
4. I won't fail to come even if it rains.

Kinds of Adverb Clauses

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