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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