Attributive Appositive Clauses

Attributive appositive clauses disclose the meaning of the antecedent, which is expressed by an abstract noun. They are chiefly introduced by the conjunction whether or by the adverb how and why. They are not joined to the principal clause asyndetically.

He stopped in the hope that she would speak.

ADVERBIAL CLAUSES

An adverbial clause performs the function of an adverbial modifier. It can modify a verb, an adjective or an adverb in the principal clause.

He stopped as Kravat came rushing out. (Heym)

According to their meaning we distinguish the following kinds of adverbial clauses: adverbial clauses of time, place, cause (reason), purpose, condition, concession, result, manner, and comparison.

Adverbial clauses are joined to the principal clause by means of subordinating conjunctions; they are not joined to the principal clause asyndetically except, sometimes, adverbial clauses of condition.

An adverbial clause may precede the clause to which it is subordinated or follow it. In the first case it is separated by a comma, in the second, as a rule, no comma is used. An adverbial clause may also interrupt the principal clause, in which case a comma is used at the beginning and at the end of it.

When things are at the worst, they’re sure to mend. (Collins)

If we have two or more homogeneous adverbial clauses they are separated from each other by a comma.

Adverbial Clauses of Time

An adverbial clause of time shows the time of the action expressed in the principal clause.

Adverbial clauses of time are introduced by the following conjunctions: when, while, whenever (когда бы ни), as, till, until, as soon as, as long as, since, after, before, now that (теперь, когда)

My mother died when I was eight years old... (Eliot)

In some cases an adverbial clause of time introduced by the conjunction as has the meaning of the gradual development of a process.

As dark night drew on, the sea roughened. (Ch. Bronte)

There are sentences in which the conjunctions when and than introducing adverbial clauses of time are correlated with the adverbs scarcely, hardly and no sooner in the principal clause.

They had hardly reached the camp when it started pouring.

No sooner had I closed the door than somebody knocked again.

NOTE 1 – The conjunction when introducing adverbial clauses of time should not be confused with the adverb when introducing predicative clauses, object clauses, and attributive clauses.

Compare the following examples:

And people love their homes, even when things are tough. –

(adverbial clause of time)

The next thing to discover is when the paint was last seen without that smear. – (predicative clause)

NOTE 2 – Adverbial clauses of time introduced by the subordinating conjunction while should not be confused with the coordinating conjunction while.

There was a pause while he raised his cup and drank some tea. – (adv. clause of time)

His face was disturbed and troubled, while his clothes were disarranged and untidy. – (independent clause)