Adverb Clauses

THE ACTION OCCURS

Adverb Clauses

HOW, WHEN, WHERE, WHY,AND UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS

Adverb Clause

A subordinate clause

A group of words that contains a subject and predicate that does not express a complete thought.

That modifies Tells how, when, where, why or under what condition the action occurs

A verb Action, state or relationship

is…

Look and See it, Listen and Hear it

Miss Marie talks about adverb clauses

Miss Marie teaches English in Canada, therefore her terminology is different.

Adverb clauses modify verbs only!They do not modify adjectives or adverbs.

Adverb phrases modify adjectives and adverbs.

The conjunction for linking the subordinate clause to the main clause is a Subordinating Conjunction, not a conjunctive

adverb. A conjunctive adverb is the type of adverb.Remember to adjust the volume and expand to full screen

What it does

• Tells– How

Two people can enjoy a movie, if they can agree on what movie to see.

How can two people enjoy a movie?

if they can agree on what movie to see

Note: Answers to the adverbial questions are sentence fragments.

What it does

• Tells– How– When

After we go to the store, we can have lunch.

When can we have lunch?

after we go to the store


What it does

• Tells– How– When– Where

Profanity is not acceptable where young children are playing.

Where is profanity not acceptable?

where young children are playing


What it does

• Tells– How– When– Where– Why

I am going to ask Sally to the prom because she is a pretty girl.

Why am I going to ask Sally to the prom?

because she is a pretty girl


What it does

• Tells– How– When– Where– Why– Under what conditions

If I get up late, Mom will drive me to school.

Under what condition will Mom drive me to school?

if I get up late


Linking the clauses

Subordinate clauses are linked to the main clause by Subordinating Conjunctions.

How When Where Why Under what conditions

since after while because unless

if before where although even if

in order that until where, wherever so that even though

whether when, whenever though provided that

as once thanas if while that

This is not an exhaustive list. Some of these words can be used to answer other adverbial questions. “Than” and “that” can answer adjectival questions.

How to find it

First find the verbs and the predicates.Second find the subjects.If the subject is preceded by a subordinate conjunction if

is a subordinate clause. If the subordinate clause answers an adverbial question (how, when, where, why or under what conditions), it is an adverb clause.

Because we will be building complex sentences, this class needs to understand and identify adverb clauses.




“Because” tells why

Look and See it, Listen and Hear it

What is an adverb clause

Just another explanation

Remember to adjust the volume and expand to full screen

After you watch this video, you may have a better understanding of adverb clauses.After you watch this video, you may have a better understanding of adverb clauses.

at the end at the beginning

How it works - Placement

because they spend a lot of time studying.

Students with good grades get into less trouble students with

good grades get into less trouble.

Because they spend a lot of time studying,

Note: Capital letters were changed because of standard sentence capitalization rules. Comma was added after the introductory subordinate clause.

Main Clause

Subordinate Clause

Subordinate Clause

Main Clause

Which order is better? End with the more important idea. This makes the reader remember it better.

Separation by Comma

Marcel is going to ask the new girl on a date if his brother lets him have the car.

If his brother lets him have the car, Marcel is going to ask the new girl on a date.

How it works -Punctuation

A comma is usually not used if the adverb clause is at the end of the sentence.

If an adverb clause begins a sentence, a comma is used after it.

If an adverb clause begins a sentence, a comma is used after it.

A comma is usually not used if the adverb clause is at the end of the sentence.

No Comma here Comma here

Example of Explication

He read the passage as if he had done it before.

Main clause: “He read the passage”Adverb clause: “as if he had done it before”

tells HOW the action was doneHow did he read the passage? as if he had done it before

Subordinate conjunction: “as if”No punctuation because the clause comes at the end of the

sentence.

Just for FunSubject

Subject

Predicate

Predicate

Subordinate

ConjunctionMain Clause

Subordinate Clauseor

Adverb Clause

Note: The subordinate (or dependent) clause is below the main (or independent) clause, even if it appears first in the sentence. The connector is attached to the predicate since it modifies the verb

Diagramming

Diagramming indicates parts of speech not word order of the sentence. It is a visual picture of the sentence structure.

Just for FunDiagramming

Diagramming indicates parts of speech not word order of the sentence. It is a visual picture of the sentence structure.

Whenever you read, I listen.

I

you

listen

read

Whenever

Main Clause

Subordinate Clauseor

Adverb Clause

Your TurnFind the adverb clause

What is the subject, predicate of each clause?

Which clause is the main, subordinate clause?

What is the subordinating conjunction?

What adverbial question is being asked?

When did Juan order the pizza?after he found out what everyone

wanted on it

Juan ordered pizza after he found out what everyone wanted on it.Juan ordered pizza after he found out what everyone wanted on it.Juan ordered pizza after he found out what everyone wanted on it.






When will I give you a call?when I get there

When I get there, I’ll give you a call.When I get there, I’ll give you a call.When I get there, I’ll give you a call.






When and where will we cheer for Bob?

as he crosses the finish line

We will cheer for Bob as he crosses the finish line.We will cheer for Bob as he crosses the finish line.We will cheer for Bob as he crosses the finish line.






Under what condition will you know how well you understand the material?if your teacher grades your assignment

If your teacher grades your assignments, you will know that you understand the material.



Note: “that you understand the material” is an adjective clause because it acts as the DO to “know”.






Why did she (Rachel) not go to sectionals?

When had Rachel broken her leg?

because Rachel had broken her leg

before the coach sent in the roster

Because Rachel had broken her leg before the coach sent in the roster, she did not go to sectionals.



Note: “before the coach sent in the roster” modifies the adverb clause “Before Rachel had broken her leg.”

See Note






When did Alex understand the material?

When could he not remember a thing?

while he was studying after he played video games all night

Note: two complex sentences connected by the conjunction “but.”

While he was studying, Alex understood the material, but he couldn’t remember a thing after he played video games all night.



Try this!

Learn 4 Good ExerciseAnswer all questions

Grammar Bytes ExerciseAnswer questions

1,2,3,9,10,16 & 17

References

O'Brien, E. (2011).Diagramming Clauses .Retrieved from http://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/diagramming-clauses.html

Royster, J. J., Lester, M., & Ligature, Inc. (1999). Writer’s choice: grammar and composition. New York: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill.

Simmons, R.L. (2011). The adverb clause. Retrieved from http:/www.chompchomp.com/ terms/adverbclause.htm.

Graphics credits

Photos: Barbara EnochGrammar Bytes: Simmons, Robin L. (2011) by permission at

<http://chompchomp.com/menu.htm>.Learn 4 Good: By permission (D. von Chamier, personal communication,

February 21, 2011)

Hyperlink credits

Adverb clause examples. Retrieved from: <http://www.learn4good.com/languages/evrd_grammar/adverb_clauses_ex.htm>

Rackham, M. (Writer). (2009). Advanced grammar: adverb clauses . Available from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylvCDgd4_fA

Selcke, Paul (Writer). (2009). What is an adverb clause? Available from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6bfbdqJPiY&NR=1&feature=fvwp

Simmons, Robin (2011) Commas – exercise 5. Retrieved from: <http://chompchomp.com/hotpotatoes/commas05a.htm>. Permission at: http://www.chompchomp.com/presentations.htm

Documents

Adverb Clauses