What Is an Adverb Clause?

Adverb clauses are clauses that function as adverbs. Since they are dependent clauses, they must have a subordinating conjunction to connect them to the other clause. Subordinating conjunctions can be arranged according to the purpose of the clause they begin. Here are some examples of subordinating conjunctions:

Time: after, when, until, soon, before, once, while, as soon as, whenever, by the time Condition: if, whether or not, provided, in case, unless, even if, in the event Cause and effect: because, as, since, so, in order that, now that, inasmuch as Contrast: though, although, while, whereas, even though

Most of the time, an adverb clause will be separated from the other clause with a comma. Here are a few examples of sentences with and without commas:

Whether you like it or not, you have to go. (The adverb clause Whether you like it or not puts a condition on the action.) She enjoyed the party more than he did. (The adverb clause 'than he did' modifies the adverb more.)

Functions of Adverbs
Since adverb clauses function as adverbs, lets look at the functions of adverbs.

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. They tell why, when, where, how, how much, and how often an action occurs. They can begin a sentence that is a question, and give more information.

Here are some examples according to what the adverb is modifying:

Verbs: We eat pizza weekly. She watched the wild animal carefully. Adjectives: That is a very nice person. The dog is extremely hyperactive. Adverbs: She sings quite beautifully. My dog is almost always starving.

Examples of Adverb Clauses

Adverb clauses can modify by telling the place, time, cause, and purpose of an action. They can also show concession and condition. Basically they answer the questions: Where?, when?, why?, and under what conditions? Here are some examples with the adverb clause underlined:

Place: Wherever there is music, people will often dance. Lets go to the room where they asked us to wait. Time: After the chores are done, we will eat ice cream. When the clock strikes midnight, she has to leave.

Cause: She passed the course because she worked hard. Since he has long hair, he wears a ponytail. Purpose: So that he would not ruin the carpet, he took off his shoes. He ate vegetables in order to stay healthy. Concession: Even though you are 13, you cant go to that movie. Although you gave it your best, you did not win the match. Condition: If you save some money, you can buy a new game. Unless you hurry, you will be late for school.

Noun Clause
A noun clause is a group of words that include a subject and a verb, and it functions as a noun. A noun clause is a subordinate clause, which means it is not a complete statement. As a dependent clause, it must connect to an independent clause (main clause). Noun clauses usually begin with words such as how, that, what, whatever, when, where, which, who, whoever, and why. The most common word among them is that.

Examples of noun clause shown in bold. Why he said he would not get married, nobody knows. He told me that he had shot someone. You can go if you do not like being here. Ask him whether he has drunk from your glass or mine by mistake .

Noun clauses can be the subject, object, object of preposition, complement, etc. The noun clauses in the following examples are in bold. That the brothers are triplets is amazing. (Subject) We dont know what songs she often sings. (Object) The book is about where the dinosaurs laid their eggs. (Object of preposition) He is what we would call a misogynist. (Complement)

A noun clause has its own subject and verb. They know where I often fly my kites. The noun clause is where I often fly my kites with I being the subject of the noun clause, and fly is the verb.

A noun clause must have a word to connect the noun clause to the rest of the sentence. The connecting word (connector) comes before the subject and the verb of the noun clause. The following examples use the connecting words that, who, and when. Most people know that a spider has eight legs. The police were investigating who the serial killer was. I dont know when the birds built their nest in the roof.

Subjunctive in noun clauses We use subjective verbs in sentences to express or stress wishes, importance, or urgency. A subjunctive verb usually appears in a noun clause beginning with that, and it uses the simple form of a verb that does not have the present, past or future forms. The subjunctive verb is neither singular nor plural. The leader demands that we treat him like a god. We insisted that he honour the terms of the agreement. The father recommended that she not go to the cinema alone. It is important that everyone be told the truth. His mother suggested that he see/should see a doctor.

Adverbial Clause
The adverbial clause contains a subject and a verb. It adds extra information about the time, place, manner, etc to a sentence, and modifies the verb. As a dependent clause, it cannot stand on its own and must connect to the main clause or an independent clause to form a complete sentence. The adverbial clause may come before or after the main clause. When it comes before the main clause, a comma is used to separate the two clauses. When it comes after the main clause, no comma is necessary. The adverbial clause usually begins with a conjunction.

Examples of the adverbial clause He shook my hand before he died. He ate the whole, big pizza although he said he was not hungry. The wife now sleeps in another room because the husband snores loudly. Bill and I once fought bravely against each other when we were classmates.

The adverbial clause performs different functions. For example, it shows the time, place, etc that something happens. Clauses of time These clauses show when something happens. Conjunctions used include after, as, as long as, as soon as, before, since, so long as, until, when, whenever, while Look left and right before you cross the road. When she heard the news, she wept tears of joy.

Clauses of place These clauses show where something is or happens. Conjunctions used include anywhere, everywhere, where, wherever. Why do you follow me wherever I go? That is the farm where I saw a lot of scorpions.

Clauses of manner These clauses show the way something is done. Conjunctions used include as, like As I have said a hundred times, put the cap back on the pen when finished using. He treats his dog like his own brother.

Clauses of purpose These clauses show the purpose of doing something. Conjunctions used include so that, in order that/to

I hold my pet cat up so that everyone can see it. He added salt in order to make the soup taste good, but the soup became too salty.

Clauses of reason These clauses show why something happens. Conjunctions used include as, because, now that, since As we are both tired, we agreed to stop playing. She got stung because she went too close to the wasps nest.

Clauses of condition These clauses show a possible situation. Conjunctions used include even if, if, in the event that, in case, only if, unless If he were not such a heavy smoker, he would be alive today. Im going to take away your television unless you pay me back the money.

Clauses of contrast These clauses show clear differences: this thing is exactly the opposite of that thing. Conjunctions used include whereas, while The wife is fat and short, while the husband is skinny and tall. Why good people die young, whereas bad ones live longer?

The adverbial clause usually comes at the end of the sentence. It can also come at the beginning. I shall not go to the library with you unless you learn to keep quiet. Unless you learn to keep quiet, I shall not go to the library with you. The little girl shot her fathers face with a water pistol while he was asleep. While her father was asleep, the little girl shot his face with a water pistol.

Topic: Adjective Clauses

Adjective clause? Santa Claus? Arent they the same? Well. Um. No, they arent the same. Lets begin with Santa Claus. Hes the chubby old man that lives at the North Pole. Now, lets talk about adjective clauses. Adjective clauses are adjectives. However, they look like sentences because they have verbs and nouns. Take a look at the following sentences with adjectives. I love my new watch. George gave me a leather wallet. Elvis Presley was a famous singer. She just bought a blue car. All of the words in red are adjectives. They are describing the nouns (the words in blue). Here are some more examples: I just bought the you recommended book. Frank is the taught me how to cook chef. Snowmobiles are you can ride on the snow cars. Notice that these adjectives have verbs (recommended, taught, and ride). In fact, these adjectives look like small sentences! In some languages, this grammar is correct. In English, however, the above 3 sentences are INCORRECT! The problem is that when the adjective has a verb (and looks like a small sentence), it canNOT be before the noun. When the adjective has a verb (like the above examples), they are placed AFTER the noun. In addition, these types of adjectives are called adjective clauses. As we said above, adjective clauses are adjectives, but they look like sentences because they have verbs and nouns. Because they look like sentences, put the adjective clause after the noun. Like these: I just bought the book you recommended. Frank is the chef taught me how to cook.

Snowmobiles are cars you can ride on the snow. THERE IS STILL A PROBLEM. When you use adjective clauses, you often need a word that connects the noun with the adjective clause. The word acts like glue and keeps the noun and the adjective clause together. This word is called the relative pronoun. For our purposes, lets call it the RP (relative pronoun). So, here are the rules: If the NOUN is a person thing Using these rules, we get: I just bought the book which you recommended. -ORI just bought the book that you recommended. Frank is the chef who taught me how to cook. -ORFrank is the chef that taught me how to cook. Snowmobiles are cars which you can ride on the snow. -ORSnowmobiles are cars that you can ride on the snow. Who, which, and that are just three RPs. There are more RPs (whom, whose), but they will be discussed in a later lesson. Sometimes, you dont need the RP. A good rule to remember: If the word after the RP is a verb, you must have the RP there. If the word after the RP is not a verb, you probably dont need it. Example: I just bought the book that you recommended. The word after the RP is you. You is not a verb. Therefore, the following sentence is then the RP is who or that which or that

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also correct. I just bought the book you recommended. When the noun is a proper name (and begins with a capital letter), do NOT use that. Winston Churchill, who was the prime minister of England, is considered one of the greatest leaders of the 20th Century. Winston Churchill, that was the prime minister of England, is considered one of the greatest leaders of the 20th Century.

CORRECT

INCORRECT

Some adjective clauses are necessary in the sentence; some adjective clauses are not necessary, but they are used just to give extra information. When the adjective clause is NOT necessary, use commas. When the adjective clause IS necessary, dont use commas. Example: Wine that is made in southern Italy is very expensive. Here, the adjective clause (that is made in southern Italy) is necessary because if you take it out, the meaning of the sentence completely changes. Take a look: Wine is very expensive. You can see that the first sentence is specifically saying that wine from southern Italy is expensive. However, when you take out the adjective clause, the meaning becomes ALL wine is expensive. The meaning of these two sentences is very different. The difference is completely dependent on the adjective clause. Therefore, the adjective clause is NECESSARY. As a result, do not use commas. In addition, when the adjective clause is not necessary at all (it just adds extra information), that is usually not used. CORRECT INCORRECT The president of the company, who is a Harvard graduate, plans on retiring at the end of the month. The president of the company, that is a Harvard graduate, plans on retiring at the end of the month.

Lastly, do not include the noun or use a pronoun that refers to the noun you are describing.

Example: The concert was loud. I went to it. CORRECT INCORRECT The concert that I went to was loud. The concert that I went to it was loud.

The noun being described is concert. It refers to concert. Therefore, it is not used in the adjective clause (I went to). Quiz Time Directions: Put the two sentences together to create one sentence by making an adjective clause. Note: There may be more than one answer. 1. I love movies. Movies are exciting. 2. Do you have a dog? The dog is large with white fur. 3. She is the lady. The lady helped me find the magazine I was looking for. 4. Mount Everest is very dangerous to climb. Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. 5. Cars are very efficient. The cars run on electricity. 6. Dr. Jones writes books. Dr. Jones is a retired university professor. 7. This is the ring. My mother gave me the ring for my wedding. 8. New York's Long Island has a booming real estate market. Long Island is shaped like a fish. 9. The manager is from Brazil. She is in my office. 10. The music is rock and roll. I listen to the music.
2001 Advanced Learning Center and 2001 MyEnglishTeacher.net. All rights reserved.

1. I love movies. Movies are exciting. Answers: I love movies that are exciting.

I love movies which are exciting. 2. Do you have a dog? The dog is large with white fur. Answers: Do you have a dog that is large with white fur? Do you have a dog which is large with white fur? 3. She is the lady. The lady helped me find the magazine I was looking for. Answers: She is the lady who helped me find the magazine I was looking for. She is the lady that helped me find the magazine I was looking for. 4. Mount Everest is very dangerous to climb. Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. Answer: Mount Everest, which is the highest mountain in the world, is very dangerous to climb. 5. Cars are very efficient. The cars run on electricity. Answers: Cars which run on electricity are very efficient. Cars that run on electricity are very efficient. 6. Dr. Jones writes books. Dr. Jones is a retired university professor. Answer: Dr. Jones, who is a retired university professor, writes books. 7. This is the ring. My mother gave me the ring for my wedding. Answers: This is the ring that my mother gave me for my wedding. This is the ring which my mother gave me for my wedding. This is the ring my mother gave me for my wedding. 8. New York's Long Island has a booming real estate market. Long Island is shaped like a fish. Answer: New York's Long Island, which is shaped like a fish, has a booming real estate market. 9. The manager is from Brazil. She is in my office.

Answers: The manager who is in my office is from Brazil. The manager that is in my office is from Brazil. 10. The music is rock and roll. I listen to the music. Answers: The music that I listen to is rock and roll. The music which I listen to is rock and roll. The music I listen to is rock and roll.

Rules to Remember!
1
Adjective clauses are adjectives. However, they look like sentences because they have verbs and nouns. Adjective clauses are placed AFTER the noun they are describing. Example: The music that I listen to is rock and roll. When you use adjective clauses, you often need a word that connects the noun with the adjective clause. The word acts like glue and keeps the noun and the adjective clause together. This word is called the relative pronoun. When the noun is a person, use that or who. When the noun is a thing, use that or which. Example: Cars which run on electricity are very efficient. Sometimes, you dont need the RP. A good rule to remember: If the word after the RP is a verb, you must have the RP there. If the word after the RP is not a verb, you probably dont need it. Example: I just bought the book that you recommended. The word after the RP is you. You is not a verb. Therefore, the following sentence is also correct. I just bought the book you recommended.

When the noun is a proper name (and begins with a capital letter), do NOT use that. Example: Mount Everest, which is the highest mountain in the world, is very dangerous to climb. Some adjective clauses are necessary in the sentence; some adjective clauses are not necessary, but they are used just to give extra information. When the adjective clause is NOT necessary, use commas. When the adjective clause IS necessary, dont use commas. In addition, when the adjective clause is not necessary at all (it just adds extra information), that is usually not used. Example: New York's Long Island, which is shaped like a fish, has a booming real estate market. Do not include the noun or use a pronoun that refers to the noun you are describing. Example: The speech was too long. My friend gave it. The speech which my friend gave was too long. (no it.)

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