7 Adverb Clauses

Dance Lessons

Focus on Grammar 5
Part VII, Unit 18
By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells
Copyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
 Yes, you can dance!

Never feel like a stiff penguin

on the dance floor again…

… or worse, like a clumsy

monster.

We will teach you all the slick moves of tango and many other
dances. When you start dancing, your life will change forever!
 Adverb Clauses 1
Adverb clauses are dependent clauses. They answer
the questions how, when, where, or why.

We’re getting swing dance

lessons because we want to
look good on the dance floor!

I’m going to get swing dance

lessons when I’m big.
 Adverb Clauses 2
Adverb clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions
(also called subordinating adverbs).

Examples

because only if

although while

if when
 Adverb Clauses 3
A comma is necessary only if an adverb clause precedes a
main clause. Adverb clauses may precede or follow a main
clause.

No We’re signing up for dance lessons since

comma dancing is a great way to relieve stress.

Since dancing is a great way to relieve

Comma
,
stress we’re signing up for dance lessons.
 Be Careful!
In future time clauses, use will and be going to in the
main clause but not in the dependent clause.

Future

They are going to get tango lessons

because they want to stand out on
the dance floor!
Present
 Form sentences with main
Practice 1 clauses preceding and
following the adverb clauses.

II plan
plan to
to take
take dance
dance lessons.
lessons because I want to
Example: have more fun in my life. because
I want to have more fun in my life.
Because I want to have more fun in my life , I
plan to take dance lessons.
He will
1. He getsbe a happier
more person
enjoyment outif of
hehis
gets morelife.
social enjoyment out
if
of his social life.
He will be a happier person.
If he gets more enjoyment out of his social life , he will be
a happier person.

2. They are going to feel at ease dancing when they

They are going to feel at ease dancing. when
overcome their shyness.
They are going to overcome their shyness.
When they overcome their shyness , they are going to
feel at ease dancing.
 Adverb Clauses of Time
Adverb clauses of time answer the question when.
Subordinating conjunctions include: as soon as, once.

As soon as you start dancing salsa,

you burn about 10 calories a minute.

You won’t stop dancing once you feel

at ease with the tango steps.

As soon as and once express the idea that when

one event happens, another event happens too.
 Adverb Clauses of Place
Adverb clauses of place answer the question where.
Subordinating conjunctions include: where, wherever.

I look for parties where I can dance

and meet new people.

Wherever there is a dance party,

there is an opportunity to meet new
people.
 Adverb Clauses of Reason
Adverb clauses of reason answer the question why.
Subordinating conjunctions include: because, since.

I love to dance because

dancing is great exercise.

Since I need more exercise,

I signed up for a ballet class.
Adverb Clauses of Condition 1
Adverb clauses of condition answer the question under
what condition. Subordinating conjunctions include: if,
unless.

We won’t enjoy parties if we don’t become

better dancers.

We won’t enjoy parties unless we become

better dancers.

Unless here means “if we

don’t.”
Adverb Clauses of Condition 2
Other subordinating conjunctions include: even if and
only if.

Even if
means We’ll have fun at the party even if we
that the
condition don’t get to dance.
doesn’t
matter; We’ll have fun at the party only if we
the result get to dance.
will be
the same Only if means that only one
condition will produce the result.
 Adverb Clauses of Contrast
Adverb clauses of contrast point out two opposing ideas.
Subordinating conjunctions include: although, even if,
even though, though, whereas, while.

Robert signed them Whereas Rhonda

up for waltz lessons prefers salsa,
even though Rhonda Robert prefers the
wanted to learn waltz.
salsa.
 Combine the sentences with
Practice 2 the correct conjunctions.

class.
Example: She is taking a dance class because
She wants
she wants toto meet
meet new
new friends.
friends.
since
1. Unless
He takesheballroom dance every
takes ballroom dancesemester.
every once
He isn’t a, happy
semester he isn’tperson.
a happy person. unless

2. IfYou
youinclude
includewarm-up exercises, dancing
warm-upexercises. because
Dancing
won’t hurtwon’t
you. hurt you. even
though
I began
3. Since dancing
I began last year.
dancing I
last year , I feel if
feel happier
happier and healthier.
and healthier.
4. Dance
Dance will
will help
help you
you to
to be healthier., even though most
be healthier
Most people
people associate
associate dancedance onlyloud
only with withparties.
loud parties.
 References

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and

its licensors. All rights reserved.