TDC1 - Adverb Clauses and Reductions

TDC 1Pedagogical GrammarAdverb Clauses

Adverb Clauses Adverb clauses are subordinate clauses that show relationships between ideas related to time, cause and effect, contrast and condition.

What type of adverb clause do the subordinating conjunctions below start?

after before when whileas since until tillas soon as once as long as so long aswhenever every time the first time the last timethe next time by the time

Adverb Clauses of Time Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb clause of time.

A) I will go to Hawaii.B) I’m going to visit the world’s largest active volcano.

Adverb Clauses of Time A) I will go to Hawaii.B) I’m going to visit the world’s largest active volcano.

When I go to Hawaii, I’m going to visit the world’s largest active volcano.

What is the difference in terms of punctuation between the first and the second complex sentences?What causes this difference?

I’m going to visit the world’s largest active volcano when I go to Hawaii.

OR

Adverb Clauses of Time

When I go to Hawaii, I’m going to visit the world’s largest active volcano.

Adverb clauses can come either before or after the main clause. However, adverb clauses that begin a sentence are always set off from the main clause by a comma.

I’m going to visit the world’s largest active volcano when I go to Hawaii.

OR

Adverb Clauses of Time Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb clause of time. Use the subordinating conjunction “when”.

A) I arrived home.B) My sister cooked dinner.

Adverb Clauses of Time A) I arrived home.B) My sister cooked dinner.

When I arrived home, my sister cooked dinner.

OR

When I arrived home, my sister was cooking dinner.

OR

When I arrived home, my sister had cooked dinner.

What is the difference in meaning among these three complex sentences?

Adverb Clauses of Time When I arrived home, my sister cooked dinner.

The use of the simple past in the main clause indicates that the action described in it happened after the action described in the adverb clause.

When I arrived home, my sister was cooking dinner.

When I arrived home, my sister had cooked dinner.

The use of the past continuous in the main clause indicates that the action described in it happened at the same time as the action described in the adverb clause.

The use of the past perfect in the main clause indicates that the action described in it happened before the action described in the adverb clause.

Adverb Clauses


because now that since

Adverb Clauses of Cause and Effect Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb clause of cause and effect.

A) We can go swimming every day.B) The weather is warm.

Adverb Clauses of Cause and Effect Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb clause of cause and effect.

A) We can go swimming every day.B) The weather is warm.

We can go swimming every day because the weather is warm.

Because the weather is warm, we can go swimming every day.

Adverb Clauses of Cause and Effect

Since Monday is a holiday, we do not have to go to work.

Since I moved here, I have worked for the same company.

What is the difference between the subordinating conjunction “since” in these two sentence?


Since Monday is a holiday, we do not have to go to work.

Since I moved here, I have worked for the same company.

In this second sentence, “since” means “from that time to the present”. It is a subordinating conjunction showing a time relationship.

In this first sentence, “since” means “because.”It is a subordinating conjunction showing a cause and effect relationship.

Adverb Clauses


even though although though

Adverb Clauses of ContrastMatch the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb clause of contrast.

A) I went swimming.B) The weather was cold.

Adverb Clauses of Contrast

Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb clause of contrast.

A) I went swimming.B) The weather was cold.

Although the weather was cold, I went swimming.

I went swimming although the weather was cold.



Which of the following functions do the subordinating conjuntions above idicate?

1) Unexpected Result2) Direct Opposition

Though the weather was cold, I went swimming.

Even though the weather was cold, I went swimming.



The subordinating conjunctions “although”, “though” and “even though” indicate unexpected result.

Though the weather was cold, I went swimming.

Even though the weather was cold, I went swimming.

Adverb Clauses


whereas while


A) Some people are tall.B) Others are short.


A) Some people are tall.B) Others are short.

While some people are tall, others are short.

Some people are tall, while others are short.




Which of the following functions do the subordinating conjuntions above idicate?

1) Unexpected Result2) Direct Opposition

Adverb Clauses of ContrastWhile some people are tall, others are short.


What is special about the punctuation in these sentences?

Whereas some people are tall, others are short.

Some people are tall, whereas others are short.

The subordinating conjunctions “while” and “whereas” indicate direct opposition.




Adverb clauses of direct opposition are always separated from the main clause by a comma.

Whereas some people are tall, others are short.

Some people are tall, whereas others are short.


John is really poor, while Mary is extremelly rich.

The phone rang about five times while I was studying.

What is the difference between the subordinating conjunction “while” in these two sentence?


In this second sentence, “while” means “during that time”. It is a subordinating conjunction showing a time relationship.

In this first sentence, “while” means “this is the opposite of that.”It is a subordinating conjunction showing a direct contrast relationship.

John is really poor, while Mary is extremely rich.

The phone rang about five times while I was studying.

Adverb Clauses What type of adverb clause do the subordinating conjunctions below start?

if unless only if whether or noteven if in case

Adverb Clauses of Condition Match the subordinating conjunctions of condition on the left with their corresponding meanings on the right.

Subordinating Conjunction

Meaning

1) if ___ neither this condition nor its opposite matters

2) even if ___ except with this condition

3) in case ___ only with this condition

4) unless ___ because it’s possible that this condition happens

5) only if ___ with this condition

6) whether or not ___ = whether or not

Adverb Clauses of Condition Match the subordinating conjunctions of condition on the left with their corresponding meanings on the right.

Subordinating Conjunction

Meaning

1) if ___ neither this condition nor its opposite matters

2) even if ___ except with this condition

3) in case ___ only with this condition

4) unless ___ because it’s possible that this condition happens

5) only if ___ with this condition

6) whether or not ___ = whether or not

1

2

3

4

5

6

Adverb Clauses of Condition

Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb clause of condition.

A) It will rain tomorrow.B) I will arrive late.


A) It will rain tomorrow.B) I will arrive late.

If it rains tomorrow, I will arrive late.

I will arrive late if it rains tomorrow.


whether or not = Neither this condition nor its opposite even if matters. The result will be the same.


A) It may be cold tomorrow, but I don’t care.B) I will go swimming tomorrow.


whether or not = Neither this condition nor its opposite even if matters. The result will be the same.

A) It may be cold tomorrow, but I don’t care.B) I will go swimming tomorrow.

Whether or not it is cold tomorrow, I will go swimming.

Even if it is cold tomorrow, I will go swimming.

Adverb Clauses of Condition in case = This condition probably won’t happen, but it might. (if by chance this happens...)


A) You probably won’t need to get in touch with me, but maybe you will.B) I will give you my phone number.

Adverb Clauses of Condition in case = This condition probably won’t happen, but it might. (if by chance this happens...)

A) You probably won’t need to get in touch with me, but maybe you will.B) I will give you my phone number.

In case you need to get in touch with me, I will give you my number.



If you need to get in touch with me, I will give you my number.

What is the difference in meaning between the sentences above?



If you need to get in touch with me, I will give you my number.

In this sentence, there is the possibility that you will need to get in touch with me. Anyhow, I will give you my number.

In this sentence, I will give you my number only when it is certain that you will need to get in touch with me.


unless = if ... not


A) It will probably be cold tomorrow.B) I will go swimming tomorrow.

Adverb Clauses of Condition unless = if ... not

A) It will probably be cold tomorrow.B) I will go swimming tomorrow.

Unless it is cold tomorrow, I’ll go swimming.

If it is NOT cold tomorrow, I’ll go swimming.

Observe the difference...


only if = There is only one condition.


A) The picnic will be canceled with one condition only.B) The condition is a rainy weather.


only if = There is only one condition.

A) The picnic will be canceled with one condition only.B) The condition is a rainy weather.

Only if it rains, the picnic will be canceled.

Adverb Clauses


so... that such a/an... that


Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb clause of cause and effect.

A) Mary is patient.B) She can spend hours taking care of young children .

A) Mary is a patient woman.B) She can spend hours taking care of young children .

Adverb Clauses of Cause and Effect A) Mary is patient.B) She can spend hours taking care of young children .

Mary is so patient that she can spend hours taking care of young children.

A) Mary is a patient woman.B) She can spend hours taking care of young children .

Mary is such a patient woman that she can spend hours taking care of young children.

What can we conclude?


Mary is so patient that she can spend hours taking care of young children.


“So ... that” is used with adjectives or adverbs.“Such ... that” is used with noun phrases.

Are there any exceptions to this rule?


A) Mary has a lot of patience.B) She can spend hours taking care of young children .



A) Mary has a lot of patience.B) She can spend hours taking care of young children .


Mary has so much patience that she can spend hours taking care of young children.


Adverb Clauses of Cause and Effect Mary is so patient that she can spend hours taking care of young children.


With, much/many or few/little, we use so ... that .

Mary has so much patience that she can spend hours taking care of young children.

Adverb Clauses

What type of adverb clause does the subordinating conjunction below start?

so (that)

Adverb Clauses of Purpose


A) I turned the TV off.B) My roomate wanted to be able to study.



A) I turned the TV off.B) My roomate wanted to be able to study.

I turned the TV off so that my roomate could study.

Normally, “can”(present and future meaning) and “could” (past meaning) are used in the adverb clause of purpose.

Adverb Clauses of PurposeWhat’s the difference between the sentences below?

I turned the TV off so (that) my roomate could study.

Mary grounded her son, so he didn’t talk to her for weeks.


I turned the TV off so (that) my roomate could study.

Mary grounded her son, so he didn’t talk to her for weeks.

In this first sentence, the purpose of my turning the TV off was to make it possible for my roomate to study. We do not use commas to mark the beggining of the adverb clause of purpose.

In the second sentence, Mary didn’t punish her son with the purpose of making it possible for him not to talk to her. This was just a result of her decision to ground him.We do use commas to mark the beggining of the independent clause.

Adverb Clauses - Reduction1. (Clause) – While I was walking to class, I ran into an old

friend.2. (Phrase) – While walking to class, I ran into an old friend.


1. (Clause) – While the teacher was lecturing to the class, I fell asleep.

2. (Phrase) – NOT POSSIBLE

Adverb Clauses - Reduction1. (Clause) – While I was walking to class, I ran into an old

friend.2. (Phrase) – While walking to class, I ran into an old friend.

1. (Clause) – While the teacher was lecturing to the class, I fell asleep.

2. (Phrase) – NOT POSSIBLE

We can reduce adverb clauses into phrases only when the subject of the adverb clause and the subject of the main clause are the same.

Adverb Clauses - Reduction1. (Clause)

While I was sitting at my desk, I fell asleep.2. (Phrase)

While sitting at my desk, I fell asleep

1. (Clause)

Before I went into the theater, I turned off my cell phone.2. (Phrase)

Before going into the theater, I turned off my cell phone.


Adverb Clauses - Reduction1. (Clause)

While I was sitting at my desk, I fell asleep.2. (Phrase)

While sitting at my desk, I fell asleep

1. (Clause)

Before I went into the theater, I turned off my cell phone.2. (Phrase)

Before going into the theater, I turned off my cell phone.

If the adverb clause contains the be form of a verb, omit the subject and and the be form. If there is no be form of a verb in the adverb clause, omit the subject and change the verb to its present participle form.

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TDC1 - Adverb Clauses and Reductions