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. 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 can be identified by asking and answering the questions When? Where? How? Why? etc.

Time: Tell him as soon as he arrives:(When?)

Place: Y ou can sit where you like: (Where?)

Manner: He spoke as if he meant business: (How?)

Reason: He went to bed because he felt ill: (Why?)

Adverbial clauses of time

An adverbial clause of time shows the time of the action expressed in the principal clause. Time clauses are introduced by after, as, as long as, as soon as, for, just as, once, since, before, by the time (= before, not later than), when, while, until/till (= up to the time when), the moment (that), whenever, every time, immediately, the first time, the last time, the next time etc.:

George had to wait for half an hour before the doctor came.

Time clauses follow the rule of the sequence of tenses; that is, when the verb of the main clause is in a present or future form, the verb of the time clause is in a present form and when the verb of the main clause is in a past form, the verb of the time clause is in a past form too:

I’ll stay in the office until I finish the project.

She arrived before the clock struck nine.

When the time clause precedes the main clause, a comma is used. When the time clause follows, no comma is used:

When he was in Washington, he met the President.

He met the President when he was in Washington.

Adverbial clauses of place

An adverbial clause of place shows the place of the action expressed in the principal clause. Adverbial clauses of place are introduced by the conjunctions where and wherever, anywhere, everywhere:

I am quite comfortable where I am.

Deronda placed himself where he could see her.

Adverbial clauses of cause (reason)

An adverbial clause of cause (reason) shows the cause of the action expressed in the principal clause.Clauses of reason are introduced by: as, since (= because), because, for (= because), as long (= because), for the reason that, on the grounds that:

She didn't come on time because she was held up in a traffic jam.

When the clause of reason precedes the main clause, we separate the two clauses with a comma:

Since she isn't at home, we'll go out without her.