Adverb Clause
Compiled by Anis Batho
Gaining your Knowledge
Gaining your Knowledge
What?
As its name
suggests, and
adverb clause is a
clause that is used
as an adverb.
Wh
y?
They went to school by bike.
Ho
w?
He move out to a new apartment.
Where?
To answer these questions
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•
•
•
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How?
Where?
When?
Why?
What condition?
Our sales increased recently.
Our sales increased when we lowered
our price.
Both the adverb clause in sentence b and
the adverb recently in sentence a tell (
where, when, or how) about the verb
increased.
a. Our farm begins here.
b. Our farm begins where the road turns.
The adverb clause in sentence b does the
same job as the adverb here in sentence a.
Both tell (where, when, how) about the verb
begins.
a. Mr. Cruz spoke seriously.
b. Mr. Cruz spoke as if he meant
business.
Both the adverb clause in sentence b and the
adverb seriously in sentence a tell (when,
where, how) about the verb spoke.
We moved because our house was too small.
Besides telling when, where, and how about
verbs, as adverbs can do, adverb clauses can
also tell why.
Verny went to school although he had a bad
cold.
The adverb clause also tells under what
condition Vern went to school
Learn to recognize the clause signals
that tell us that an adverb clause is
beginning. They are grouped according
to the kind of information that the
clauses supply.
WHEN: While, when, whenever, as, as soon as,
before, after, since, until
Look for adverb clauses (before,
after) these words.
There are only two clause signals which
can start adverb clauses that answer
the question Where?
WHERE: where, wherever
The kid hides the candy where no one
could find it.
The adverb clause in this sentence
modifies the word (hide, candy).
Only two clause signals can start
adverb clauses that answer the
question How?
HOW: as if, as though
a. Mrs. Kay frowned as we told her our
plan.
b. Mrs. Kay frowned as if she were
doubtful.
The clause in sentence (a,b) tells
how Mrs. Kay frowned.
Several clause signals can start adverb
clauses that answer the question Why?
WHY: because, since, as, so that
a. I couldn’t concentrate because of the noise.
b. I couldn’t concentrate because the room
was noisy.
In which sentence does because start
a clause? (a,b)
WHY: because, since, as, so that
The man moved over…Doris and I could sit
together.
The clause signal needed in this
sentence would consist of (one
word, two words).
Several clause signals can start adverb
clauses that answer the question on (or
under) what condition? These are if,
unless, through, although, and provided
that.
The cake might burn unless you watch it.
The adverb clause explains under what
condition the cake might burn.
The adverb clause, just like the adverb,
can generally be moved from one position
to another in a sentence.
a. Lucille changed her mind when she saw
the price.
b. When she saw the price, Lucille change
her mind.
A comma is needed when the adverb clause comes
(before, after) them main statement of the sentence.
Exercise: Rewrite by using
adverbial clause
• She called me so
many times.
• Why?
• She called me so
many times as she
feels so lonely.
Exercise
• He complains a lot.
• Why?
Exercise
• He looked so
angry.
• When?
Exercise
• He gave more
charity.
Exercise
• He will pass the
exam easily.
Exercise
• They need to
communicate.
Write 5 sentences consist of
adverb clause (in a pair)!
More Exercises
• Do it in pair to
discuss about these
following tasks