ADVERB CLAUSES

COMPLEX SENTENCES A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause (which can stand alone) and a dependent clause(which must be attached to the independent clause to make sense). Example: The television was playing as I left the room.

SO FAR WE’VE TALKED ABOUT ADJECTIVE CLAUSES Adjective clauses are dependent clauses that act as adjectives. This means they modify nouns or pronouns. The hunters of the plains whose garments were made of animal skin often decorated their clothes when they traveled from location to location.

ADVERB CLAUSES Adverb clauses are also dependent clauses. When they are added to an independent clause, they also create a complex sentence. But they act as an adverb. This means they modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Usually they modify verbs. The hunters of the plains whose garments were made of animal skin often decorated their clothes when they traveled from location to location.

MAKE SURE YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE The hunters of the plains whose garments were made of animal skin often decorated their clothes when they traveled from location to location. See how whose garments were made of animal skin is talking about the hunters. And when they traveled from location to location is talking about when they decorated.

You must also still have an independent clause left when you take out the dependent clauses (both adjective and adverb). The hunters of the plains whose garments were made of animal skin often decorated their clothes when they traveled from location to location. The hunters of the plains often decorated their clothes. _________ ( ) ____________ DO

HOW DO WE FIND ADVERB CLAUSES? Remember how adjective clauses started with relative pronouns or relative adverbs that I called signal words? There are also signal words that start adverb clauses. We are going to start using the fancy term for these signal words: SUBORDINATE CONJUNCTIONS

HERE ARE SOME COMMON SUBORDINATE CONJUNCTIONS: after than before in order that until if while unless because whether since though as although so thateven though where when

LET’S LOOK AT SOME EXAMPLES: 1. Even though English teachers might be boring, they still need love and respect. The adverb clause is in red. Notice that it is a group of related words with a subject and verb. The subordinating conjunction, "even though" is part of the clause. The subordinate conjunction keeps the clause from expressing a complete thought.

HERE’S ANOTHER EXAMPLE: 2. The world would be a better place if more people respected English teachers. The subordinate conjunction, "if," is part of the clause. The clause is dependent and cannot stand on its own.

3. If I were you, I would listen to my English teacher because I might learn something of life altering significance. This sentence has two adverb clauses. Just like the practices we did with adjective clauses, the clauses can be back to back or separate. Notice that in every example, the subordinate conjunction begins the clause.

TYPES OF ADVERB CLAUSES: Here are some things to think about when looking for adverb clauses. It might make finding the clause easier. Place Time Cause Purpose Concession Condition

TYPES OF ADVERB CLAUSES: 1. Place Answers the question where? Wherever there are computers, there is Microsoft software. 2. Time Answers the question when? After the fruit is harvested, it is sold at the market. 3. Cause Why? (what caused this?) I didn’t call her because I’m shy.

4. Purpose Why? (what was the reason for doing this?) She took a computer course so that she could get a better job. 5. Concession Why is this unexpected? Although Jay has a Master’s degree, he works as a store clerk. 6. Condition Under what conditions? If you save your money, you will be able to go to college.

PRACTICE: Identify the adverb clauses in the following sentences and draw an arrow to what they modify. Example: They arrived before the game had ended. ("before the game had ended" is the adverb clause modifying the verb arrived telling when.) 1. I left when the teacher started talking about clauses. 2. Students can’t achieve true happiness unless they understand clauses. 3. You clean the bathroom while I clean the carpet. 4. Bring in the toys before they get destroyed. 5. I stood on the box so that I could see the top of the shelf. 6. Your face becomes red when you are angry. 7. Josephine's three cats bolted from the driveway once they saw her car turn the corner. 8. After her appointment at the orthodontist, Danielle cooked eggs for dinner because she could easily chew an omelet.

EXAMPLES: 1. I left when the teacher started talking about clauses. The adverb clause is in italics. The subordinate conjunction is "when" and the clause answers the question when. 2. Students can’t achieve true happiness unless they understand clauses. This adverb clause establishes a condition. "Unless" is the subordinate conjunction.

3. Josephine's three cats bolted from the driveway once they saw her car turn the corner. The adverb clause answers the question when. 4. Tommy scrubbed the bathroom tile until his arms ached. The subordinate conjunction is “until” and the adverb clause answers the question how. 5. After her appointment at the orthodontist, Danielle cooked eggs for dinner because she could easily chew an omelet. The subordinate conjunction is “because” and the adverb clause answers the question why.

BUT SOMETIMES THINGS GET A LITTLE TRICKY. CONSIDER THESE EXAMPLES: 1. My English teacher is as wonderful as my math teacher. Look at the italicized clause. It doesn't look like a clause does it? There isn't any verb that you can see. The verb is implied. It is "is." Does this look better? 2. My English teacher is as wonderful as my math teacher [is]. Sometimes verbs are implied, especially with "than" and "as" phrases.

LET’S TRY ANOTHER ONE 3. Independent clauses are as important as quadratic equations and more important than the Pythagorean theorem. Let's insert the implied verbs: Independent clauses are as important as quadratic equations [are] and more important than the Pythagorean theorem [is].