Adverb Clause | Examples & Types

Adverb Clause Examples & Types

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Adverb Clause

Adverb Clause Types

1.Adverb Clauses of Time

Adverb Clauses of Time are introduced by Subordinate Conjunctions like when, when-ever. as soon as, after, while. since, before, till, etc.

I will go when I please.

As soon as she heard the news, she wrote to me.

Rahul reached the station after the train had left.

They have not heard from her since she left this place.

Don’t count your chickens before they hatched.

2.Adverb Clauses of Place

Adverb Clauses of Place are introduced by the Subordinate Conjunctions, where, wherever, whence, etc.

Stay where you are.

You can go wherever you like.

Go quickly whence you came.

3.Adverb Clauses of Manner

Adverb Clauses of Manner are introduced by Subordinating Conjunctions like as, as if, as though, etc.

Try to finish it as I have shown you.

She talked as if she knew everything.

The tiger ran straight at them as though it had been attacked.

4. Adverb Clauses of Purpose

Adverb Clauses of Purpose are introduced by the Subordinating Conjunctions: that, so that, so that, lest, etc.

I die that India may live.

He spends little in order that he may save some money.

Sleep not lest you should lose your luggage.

5. Adverb Clauses of Cause

Adverb Clauses of Cause or Reason are introduced by the Subordinating Conjunctions: because. as. since that. did it because I wanted to.

As he was not there, I spoke to his mother.

Since she is so clever, she will be able to explain this.6

 6. Adverb Clauses of Condition

Adverb Clauses of Condition are generally introduced by Subordinating Conjunctions like if, unless, whether.

If it rains, we shall not go out.

Unless you work hard, you cannot get good marks.

You must go whether you hear from him or not.

Note 1:

Sometimes the Subordinating Conjunctions are omitted in Adverb Clauses of Condition: as.

Had I been there, it would not have happened.

Were my father here, he would help me.

Note 2 :

Clauses of Condition are sometimes introduced by a Relative Pronoun or Adjective. or Adverb (without any antecedent): as.

Whatever you do, be just.

Whichever road we take, we shall be too late.

7. Adverb Clauses of Result or Consequence

Adverb Clauses of Result are introduced by the Subordinating Conjunction that (generally preceded by so or such in the Main Clause), but the Conjunction is sometimes understood :

So great a storm arose that the ships were wrecked.

He spoke in such a low voice that few could hear him.

It was so small I could not see it.

8. Adverb Clauses of Comparison

Adverb Clauses of Comparison are of two kinds :

(i)Adverb Clauses of Comparison of Degree.

(ii) Adverb Clauses of Comparison of Manner.

(iii) Adverb Clause of Comparison of Degree are introduced by the Subordinating Conjunction than, or by the Relative Adverb as; as,

He is younger than he looks.

She is as wise as she is beautiful.

Note:

In Adverb Clauses of Comparison of Degree the verb is often understood :

Few are better leaders than he (is).

He works harder than I (work).

Adverb Clause Condition

The adverbial clause of the condition is introduced by if, unless, whether:

  • If you run fast, you will catch the train.
  • Unless you work hard, you will not pass.

The underlined words in the above sentences form the adverbial clauses of the condition. A conditional clause is a subordinate clause and expresses a condition.

  The conditional clauses are of the following types:

(i) In an if-clause referring to a likely or possible situation in the future, the simple present tense is used. The future tense is used in the main clause:

  • If it rains, we’ll go indoors.

 Generally, the main clause has the form: shall/will/may/can/must+ first form of the verb:

  • If she works hard, she will pass.
  • If you request me, I shall help you.
  • If you need a pen, you can take mine.
  • If you want to get good marks, you must work harder.

 (ii) In an if- clause referring to a condition that always has the same result, the simple present is used. The simple tense is used in the main clause too:

  • If the engine gets too hot, it starts to smoke.
  • If you heat ice, it melts.
  • If you boil water, it evaporates.
  • If you beat a child, he weeps.

(iii) If a conditional clause refers to an unlikely or impossible situation in the present or future, the simple past tense is used. In the main clause, we use `should’, `could’, ‘might’, `would’, etc + first form of the verb:

  • If you run fast, you might catch the train.
  • If I won the lottery, I would buy a car.
  • I would tell you if I knew the answer.
  • If a thief entered your house, what would you do?
  • If I were rich, I would open a school for the poor.

 (iv) If a conditional clause refers to something that did not happen in the past, the past perfect tense is used. In the main clause, we use would have/should have/could have/might have + third form of the verb:

  • If she had worked hard, she would have passed.

          (i.e. She didn’t work hard, so she didn’t pass).

  • If he had left early, he might have caught the train.
  • If he had informed me, I would have received him at the railway station.

 But when the main clause is about the present, ‘would’, `could’, `might’, etc. without have is used:

  • If you had followed my advice, we would be home by now.

(v) If a conditional clause refers to an unlikely situation in the future, ‘were to’ or ‘should’ followed by an infinitive, is sometimes used instead of the simple past tense:

  • If you should meet him, tell him to come here.
  • If she were to die before you, who would look after your children?
  • If you need any help, ring me up.

(vi) ‘If only’ is used to express a wish with reference to present or future time:

  • If only I were rich.                    
  • If only I could swim.
  • If only I knew her name.

(vii) ‘If only’ is used to express a wish that past events had been different:

  • If only he had remembered to post that letter.
  • If only I had met her.
  • If only he had spoken the truth.

 (7)Adverbial Clauses of Time:

Adverbial clauses of time are used to say when something happens by referring to a period of time or to another event. The subordinating conjunctions after, before, since, when, while, whenever, till, as, etc. are used.

  • I arrived after he had started.
  • The patient had died before the doctor arrived.
  • I have never seen her since she was ten years old.
  • His father died when he was young.
  • Someone called while you were out.
  • Whenever I smiled, she smiled back.
  • I shall wait here till you return.
  • As I was leaving, the phone rang.         

When we refer to the present or the past, the verb in a time clause has the same sense that it would have in the main clause:

  • She was standing by the door when I heard her speak.
  • I haven’t talked to him since he arrived.
  • He looks after the children while she goes to school.

When we mention an event in a time clause which will happen before an event referred to in the main clause, we use the Present Perfect Tense in the time clause:

  • When you have taken your lunch, you come to me.
  • Inform us as soon as you have reached here.

We use ‘when’, ‘while’, ‘as’ when we refer to circumstances in which something happens or happened:

  • The doors open when I press this button.
  • While he was in the house, there was a loud knock at the door.
  • I watched her as she combed her hair.

We can use ‘when’, ‘after’, ‘once’ to talk about one event happening immediately after another:

  • When he died, his sons came to me for help.
  • The mother goes off in search of food after the eggs have hatched.
  • Once the damage is done, it takes many years for the system to recover.

We use ‘as soon as’ when we want to refer to one event happening after a very short time:

  • They heard a loud explosion as soon as they entered their house.

When we use ‘no sooner’, the time clause begins with ‘than’

  • No sooner had he arrived than he had to leave again.
  • No sooner had he sat down than the phone rang.
  • No sooner had he asked the question than the answer came to him.

When we use ‘hardly’, the time clause begins with ‘when’ or ‘before’:

  • Hardly had he entered the house when the phone rang.
  • She had hardly arrived when she had to leave again.
  • He had hardly opened his eyes before she asked him to leave.

If we want to say that a situation stopped when something happened, we use ‘till’ or ‘until ‘:

  • I waited for her till/until she came back.
  • Let’s wait till/until the rain stops.

We use ‘since’ to refer to a situation that began to exist at a particular time and still exists. We use the Past Simple Tense in the time clause

  • I have not met her since she was a child.
  • They have known each other since he lived there.

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