Adverbial clause

An adverbial clause is a clause that functions as an adverb. In other words, it contains a subject (explicit or implied) and a predicate, and it modifies a verb.

• I saw Joe when I went to the store. (explicit subject I)
• He sat quietly in order to appear polite. (implied subject he)

According to Sidney Greenbaum and Randolph Quirk, adverbial clauses function mainly as adjuncts or disjuncts. In these functions they are like adverbial phrases, but due to their potentiality for greater explicitness, they are more often like prepositional phrases (Greenbaum and Quirk,1990):

• We left after the speeches ended. (Is it an adverbial clause, adverbial phrase, or prepositional phrase?)
• We left after the end of the speeches.(Is it an adverbial clause, adverbial phrase, or prepositional phrase?)

Contrast adverbial clauses with adverbial phrases, which do not contain a clause.

• I like to fly kites for fun.

Kinds of adverbial clauses

kind of clause: time clauses

common conjunctions: when, before, after, since, while, as, as long as, until,till, etc. (conjunctions that answer the question "when?"); hardly, scarcely, no sooner, etc.

function: These clauses are used to say when something happens by referring to a period of time or to another event.

example: Her father died when she was young.

kind of clause: conditional clauses

common conjunctions: if, unless

function: These clauses are used to talk about a possible situation and its consequences.

example: If they lose weight during an illness, they soon regain it afterwards.

kind of clause: purpose clauses

common conjunctions: in order to, so that, in order that

function: These clauses are used to indicate the purpose of an action.

example: They had to take some of his land so that they could extend the churchyard.

kind of clause: reason clauses

common conjunctions: because, since, as, given

function: These clauses are used to indicate the reason for something.

example: I couldn't feel anger against him because I liked him too much.

kind of clause: result clauses

common conjunctions: so..that

function: These clauses are used to indicate the result of something.

example: My suitcase had become so damaged on the journey home that the lid would not stay closed.

kind of clause: concessive clauses

common conjunctions: although, though, while

function: These clauses are used to make two statements, one of which contrasts with the other or makes it seem surprising.

example: I used to read a lot although I don't get much time for books now.

kind of clause: place clauses

common conjunctions: where, wherever, anywhere, everywhere, etc. (conjunctions that answer the question "where?")

function: These clauses are used to talk about the location or position of something.

example: He said he was happy where he was.

kind of clause: clauses of manner

common conjunctions: as, like, the way

function:  These clauses are used to talk about someone's behaviour or the way something is done.

example: I was never allowed to do things the way I wanted to do them.

kind of clause: clauses of exclamation

common conjunctions: what a(an), how, such, so

function: Exclamations are used to express anger, fear, shock, surprise etc. They always take an exclamation mark (!).

example: What horrible news! How fast she types! You lucky man!

source:
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