Recognizing Adverb Clauses
Lesson 12
Joseph C. Blumenthal
a. The whistle blew.
b. When the whistle blew
Although both word groups have a subject and
a verb, only one word group makes sense by
itself.
Which word group makes sense by itself? (a,b)
a. The whistle blew.
b. When the whistle blew
Although both word groups have a subject and
a verb, only one word group makes sense by
itself.
Which word group makes sense by itself? (a,b)
a. The whistle blew.
b. When the whistle blew
Word group b is not a sentence because the
word ______ has been added.
a. The whistle blew.
b. When the whistle blew
Word group b is not a sentence because the
word _when_ has been added.
A word group that has a subject and a verb
but does not make sense by itself is a
clause.
a. The road was rough.
b. Because the road was rough
Which word group is a clause? (a,b)
A word group that has a subject and a verb
but does not make sense by itself is a
clause.
a. The road was rough.
b. Because the road was rough
Which word group is a clause? (a,b)
Because the road was rough
This word group would become a sentence if we
dropped the word _______.
Because the road was rough
This word group would become a sentence if we
dropped the word because.
Every clause is used like a single word—like
an adverb, and adjective, or a noun.
Since no adverb, adjective, or noun makes sense
by itself, it follows that no clause that is
used like one of these words makes sense by
itself either.
Only a (clause, sentence) makes sense by itself.
Every clause is used like a single word—like
an adverb, and adjective, or a noun.
Since no adverb, adjective, or noun makes sense
by itself, it follows that no clause that is
used like one of these words makes sense by
itself either.
Only a (clause, sentence) makes sense by itself.
In this lesson you will study adverb clauses.
As its name suggests, and adverb clause is a
clause that is used as an (adjective, adverb).
In this lesson you will study adverb clauses.
As its name suggests, and adverb clause is a
clause that is used as an (adjective, adverb).
An ordinary adverb modifies a verb by
answering questions such as When? Where?
or How? about its action.
Our sales increased recently.
The word recently is an adverb because it tells
when about the verb ________.
An ordinary adverb modifies a verb by
answering questions such as When? Where?
or How? about its action.
Our sales increased recently.
The word recently is an adverb because it tells
when about the verb increased.
a. Our sales increased recently.
b. 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 sales increased recently.
b. 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 sales increased recently.
b. Our sales increased when we lowered our price.
Because the clause in sentence b does the same
job as the adverb in sentence a, it is an
______ clause.
a. Our sales increased recently.
b. Our sales increased when we lowered our price.
Because the clause in sentence b does the same
job as the adverb in sentence a, it is an
adverb clause.
Think of an adverb clause as a “stretched-out”
adverb consisting of a number of words and
having a subject and a ________.
Think of an adverb clause as a “stretched-out”
adverb consisting of a number of words and
having a subject and a __verb__.
Our farm begins here.
The word here is an adverb because it tells
where about the verb _______.
Our farm begins here.
The word here is an adverb because it tells
where about the verb _begins_.
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. 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.
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.
Besides telling when, where, and how about
verbs, as adverbs can do, adverb clauses can
also tell why.
a. We moved because our house was too
small.
b. We moved where there were very few
other houses.
In which sentence does the adverb clause tell
why about the verb moved? (a,b)
Besides telling when, where, and how about
verbs, as adverbs can do, adverb clauses can
also tell why.
a. We moved because our house was too
small.
b. We moved where there were very few
other houses.
In which sentence does the adverb clause tell
why about the verb moved? (a,b)
An adverb clause can also answer the question
on what condition? or Under what condition?
about the verb.
a. The engine will start if you push the
car.
b. The engine will start when you turn
the key.
In which sentence does the adverb clause tell
on what condition will the engine start? (a,b)
An adverb clause can also answer the question
on what condition? or Under what condition?
about the verb.
a. The engine will start if you push the
car.
b. The engine will start when you turn
the key.
In which sentence does the adverb clause tell
on what condition will the engine start? (a,b)
a. Vern went to school because a test was
scheduled.
b. Vern went to school although he had a bad
cold.
In which sentence does the adverb clause tell
under what condition Vern went to school?
(a,b)
a. Vern went to school because a test was
scheduled.
b. Vern went to school although he had a
bad cold.
In which sentence does the adverb clause tell
under what condition Vern went to school?
(a,b)
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.
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
We hid the candy where no one could find it.
The adverb clause in this sentence
modifies the word (hid, candy).
There are only two clause signals which can
start adverb clauses that answer the
question Where?
WHERE: where, wherever
We hid the candy where no one could find it.
The adverb clause in this sentence
modifies the word (hid, 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.
Only two clause signals can start adverb
clauses that answer the questions 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)
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).
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 _______ ______.
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.
The adverb clause comes first in
sentence (a,b).
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.
The adverb clause comes first in
sentence (a,b).
a. Lucille changed her mind when she saw the
price.
b. When she saw the price, Lucille changed her
mind.
A comma is needed when the adverb clause
comes (before, after) them main statement of
the sentence.
a. Lucille changed her mind when she saw the
price.
b. When she saw the price, Lucille changed her
mind.
A comma is needed when the adverb clause
comes (before, after) them main statement of
the sentence.
a. Although we were tired, we finished the
job.
b. We finished the job although we were tired.
The adverb clause comes first in sentence (a,b).
a. Although we were tired, we finished the
job.
b. We finished the job although we were tired.
The adverb clause comes first in sentence (a,b).
a. Although we were tired, we finished the
job.
b. We finished the job although we were tired.
A comma is needed when the adverb clause
comes (before, after) the main statement.
a. Although we were tired, we finished the
job.
b. We finished the job although we were tired.
A comma is needed when the adverb clause
comes (before, after) the main statement.
a. Children appreciate nothing if they are given
too much.
b. If children are given too much they
appreciate nothing.
Which sentence requires a comma—a or b?
a. Children appreciate nothing if they are given
too much.
b. If children are given too much they
appreciate nothing.
Which sentence requires a comma—a or b?
a. Mr. Tate become hard-of-hearing, when
anyone asks him for money.
b. When anyone asks Mr. Tate for money, be
becomes hard-of-hearing.
In which sentence should the comma be
dropped? (a, b)
a. Mr. Tate become hard-of-hearing, when
anyone asks him for money.
b. When anyone asks Mr. Tate for money, be
becomes hard-of-hearing.
In which sentence should the comma be
dropped? (a, b)
The maple trees are still green after ash trees
have shed their leaves.
If you move the adverb clause to the
beginning of the sentence, would you put
a comma after leaves? (yes, no)
The maple trees are still green after ash trees
have shed their leaves.
If you move the adverb clause to the
beginning of the sentence, would you put
a comma after leaves? (yes, no)
This book begins where the other leaves off.
The adverb clause in this sentence starts
with the clause signal _______ and ends
with the word _______.
This book begins where the other leaves off.
The adverb clause in this sentence starts
with the clause signal _where_ and ends
with the word __off__.
Fred looks tall until he stands beside his
father.
The adverb clause in this sentence starts
with the clause signal _______ and ends
with the word _______.
Fred looks tall until he stands beside his
father.
The adverb clause in this sentence starts
with the clause signal __until__ and ends
with the word _father_.
Poor sports do not enjoy games unless they can
win.
The adverb clause in this sentence starts
with the clause signal _______ and ends
with the word _______.
Poor sports do not enjoy games unless they can
win.
The adverb clause in this sentence starts
with the clause signal _unless_ and ends
with the word __win__.
Donna seldom eats sweets although she enjoys
them very much.
The adverb clause in this sentence starts
with the clause signal ______ and ends
with the word ______.
Donna seldom eats sweets although she enjoys
them very much.
The adverb clause in this sentence starts
with the clause signal although and ends
with the word _much_.
The dog chewed up the letter before we had
read it.
The adverb clause in this sentence starts
with the clause signal ______ and ends
with the word ______.
The dog chewed up the letter before we had
read it.
The adverb clause in this sentence starts
with the clause signal before and ends
with the word __it__.
Write the following answers on your
own sheet of paper.
A sentence that contains a clause is called
a complex sentence. It is more complex
(or complicated) than a simple sentence.
a. My friend often telephones at dinnertime.
b. My friend often telephones while we are
eating dinner.
Which is a complex sentence?
1. A or B
My friend often telephones while we are
eating dinner.
2. We know that this is a complex sentence
because it contains a _______.
I always drive as though everyone else
were crazy.
3. Because this sentence contains a clause,
it is called a ________ sentence.
4. Unlike a sentence, a clause (does, does not)
make sense by itself.
5. An adverb clause is so called because it
does the work of an ______.
6. Any clause that modifies a verb is an
_____ clause.
You are done!!!