Adverb ClausesSource: Bland, Susan Kesner. Grammar Sense 4. 2nd ed.

New York: Oxford University Press, 2012. Print.

Description:• Dependent clauses

• Modify the main clause—When? Where? How? Why?

• Include:

• Subordinator (because, wherever, by the time, once, as, until, since, etc.)

• Subject

• Verb

Adverb Clauses of Time

• When the action in the main clause occurs

• Subordinators:

• When, while, as, once, as soon as, until, before, after, since, by the time

• Examples:

• Once you have finished the exam, you are free to go.

• I was lonely for years until I met the woman of my dreams.

• I tripped and fell as I was running to catch the bus.

Adverb Clauses of Reason• Why the action in the main cause occurs

• Cause and effect

• Subordinators: • Because, since, as (formal)

• Examples: • We celebrated all night because we had finished

final exams. • Since I don’t have a phone, please contact me via

email. • As I have no money, I will not be joining you for the

downtown shopping trip.

Adverb Clauses of Contrast

• Show unexpected contrasts to the idea in the main clause

• Subordinators: • Even though, although, though (formal), while

• Examples: • Even though I am not feeling well, I am still

planning to attend the party. • Though I studied all night, I failed the exam this

morning. • I grew to love classical music, while my sister says

it gives her a headache.

Adverb Clauses of Place

• Where the action in the main clause occurs

• Subordinators:

• Wherever, where, anywhere, everywhere

• Examples:

• Wherever there is ice, there will be people playing hockey.

• We can go anywhere you want today.

• Everywhere you look, there are people in love.

Adverb Clauses of Purpose

• Show the reason for the action in the main clause

• Subordinators:

• So (that), in order that (formal)

• Examples: • Swimmers shave their arms and legs so that they can

glide through the water more quickly.

**Infinitives are commonly used to show purpose:

You should relax in order to get more sleep.

Punctuating Adverb Clauses

• When adverb clauses come after the main clause, you DO NOT need a comma:

• We will have finished eating by the time he gets here.

• When adverb clauses come before the main clause, you DO need a comma:

• By the time he gets here, we will have finished eating.