Adverb Clause

We have seen in the previous sections that a clause is a group of words, with a subject and/or a predicate, having a meaning.

At the same time, Adverb is a word which gives an additional detail about the meaning of a verb or an adjective or another adverb.

When a clause plays the role of an adverb that adverb is called ADVERB-CLAUSE.

• They rested when evening came.

Here the clause ‘when evening’ came is modifying the verb ‘rested’. So that clause is a adverb-clause.

An adverb-clause is a group of words which contains a subject and a predicate of its own and does the work of an adverb.

Examples:

• You may sit where you like.
In this sentence, the clause ‘where you like’ is an adverb-clause.

• He fled where his pursuers could not follow.
‘Where his pursuers could not follow’ is the adverb-clause.

• He behaves as one would expect him to do.
‘As one would expect him to do’ is the adverb-clause.

• I shall punish you because you have committed this.
‘You have committed this’ is an adverb-clause.

• Will you wait till I return?
“Till I return’ is the adverb-clause.

Examples:

In these sentences the adverb-clauses have been colored blue.

• Do not go when you father comes to this town.

• He is not clever that he lost all his property.

• I was so hurried that the examination was about to start.

• I forgive since you repent.

• I f I make a promise I keep it.

• When he returned I asked him many questions.

• Although he was poor, he became distinguished.

• As it is an old car, this price is very high.

• They fought as heroes do.

• The streamers will leave as soon as the mails arrive.

In many sentences, the adverb-phrase can be replaced with an adverb-clause as follows.

• Do it to the best of your ability.
In this sentence, the adverb-phrase can be replaced with an adverb-clause.

• Do it as well as you can.

Both these sentences convey the same meaning.

• The Dean was met on his arrival by his secretary.
The adverb-phrase ‘on his arrival’ can be replaced with adverb-clause ‘when he arrived’ to convey the same meaning.

• When he arrived the Dean was met by his secretary.

Few more examples with the adverb-phrases replaced with their corresponding adverb-clauses.

• A rose by any other name would smell sweet.
• Even if it were called by any other name, a rose would smell sweet.

• Many ships were so shattered as to be wholly unmanageable.
• Many ships were so shattered that they were wholly unmanageable.

• He was base enough to accept the dishonorable terms.
• He was base enough that he accepted the dishonorable terms.

• After such a hard work, he requires a long rest.
• As he worked hard, he requires a long rest.

• He ran with all his might.
• He ran as fast as he could.

Go to the section on Adjective Position to continue

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