Introduction
— A
complex sentence contains one
independent clause and one (or more) dependent clause(s).
— In
complex sentence, one idea is generally more important than the other one. One
important idea is placed in the independent clause, and the less important idea
is placed in the dependent clause.
— There
are three kinds of dependent clauses: adverb, adjective, and noun.
— Since
the adverbial clause is a dependent clause, it cannot stand alone. It must be
combined with an independent clause to form complex sentence.
— An
adverbial clause can come either before or after an independent clause.
— If
it comes before an independent clause, a comma is placed after it.
Example:
— Because
scientists are interested in the planets, they send spacecraft to orbit
them.
Adverbial Clauses
— An
adverbial clause is a dependent clause introduced by an adverbial subordinator.
— It
is used to modify the verb of the independent clause and tells when (time), where (place), why (reason), for
what purpose, how, how long, or how far. It is also used to show contrast:
concession (unexpected result) and direct opposition.
Types of Adverbial Clauses
— Time
— Place
— Distance/Frequency
— Manner
— Reason
— Result
— Purpose
— Concession
(unexpected result)
— Contrast
(direct opposition)
Time
|
SUBORDINATORS
|
MEANING
|
EXAMPLE
|
|
When
|
At point in
time/short duration
|
•
When people had to hunt for food,
they had continuous moderate exercise.
•
People were eating a lot of protein while
they were living on farms.
•
After people moved to urban areas,
they had less protein in their diet.
•
Our eating
habits changed as soon as food processing methods improved.
|
|
Whenever
|
At any time
|
|
|
While
|
At the same
time/longer duration
|
|
|
As soon as
|
Immediately at or
instantly after the time that
|
|
|
After
|
Following the time
that
|
|
|
Since
|
From that
time/moment
|
|
|
As
|
While/when
|
|
|
Before
|
Earlier than the
time when
|
|
|
until
|
Up to the time of
|
|
SUBORDINATORS
|
MEANING
|
EXAMPLE
|
|
Where
|
A definite place
|
•
Most
people prefer to shop where they can be sure of quality.
•
I
usually stop for lunch anywhere that is handy.
•
Everywhere I shop, I use my credit cards.
•
Consumers usually prefer to do business
wherever credit cards are accepted.
|
|
Anywhere
|
Anyplace
|
|
|
Wherever
|
Anyplace
|
|
|
everywhere
|
everyplace
|
Place
Distance and Frequency
|
SUBORDINATORS
|
MEANING
|
EXAMPLE
|
|
As + adverb +as
|
comparison
|
• Pat jogs on the beach as far as she can.
• She jogs on the beach as often as she can.
|
— Adverbial
clause of distance answers the question “HOW FAR?”
— Adverbial
clause of frequency answers the question
“HOW OFTEN?”
Manner
— Adverbial
clause of manner answer s the question “HOW?”
|
SUBORDINATORS
|
MEANING
|
EXAMPLE
|
|
As
|
In
the way or manner that/ like
|
•
The
demonstrators left as the police had ordered.
•
Kathleen spoke as if (as though) she were an
authority on the subject.
|
|
As
if
|
||
|
As
though
|
Result
— An
adverbial result clause expresses the result of what is stated in the
independent clause.
|
SUBORDINATORS
|
MEANING
|
EXAMPLE
|
|
So + adjective + that
|
With the result that
|
She is so beautiful that many boys admire her so much.
The cost of education is rising so rapidly that students
are looking for ways to cut costs.
The library is such a big place that I couldn’t find the
book I needed.
There is always so
much noise in the dormitory that I can’t study there.
|
|
So + adverb + that
|
||
|
Such a(n) + noun phrase + that
|
||
|
So much/many/little/few + noun phrase + that
|
