ADVERBIAL CLAUSES (II)

THE ADVERBIAL CLAUSE OF CAUSE / REASON

The adverbial clause of cause/reason indicates the cause/reason for the action in the main
clause.

1. Introductory elements
 conjunctions
because, Clauses introduced by because and He passed the exam successfully
on the grounds on the grounds that are placed in because he had studied hard.
that final position in most cases. It’s because he had studied hard that
The conjunction because is always he passed the exam.
used when the subordinate clause is The specialist rejected the method or
given emphasis (after it is/ it was). chemical analysis on the grounds that
When on the grounds that is used, the it was not accurate.
emphasis is implicitly laid on the
reason and the subordinate clause
comes last.
as, introduce clauses which are normally As Milton was blind when he
since, placed in initial position (the composed „The Paradise Lost”, he
considering that, emphasis being on the result stated in dictated it to his daughters.
seeing that, the main clause). Since we were short of moeny we
now that decided to postpone our trip abroad.
Seeing that it’s raining you had better
stay indoors.
Considering that the performance was
extraordinary, the actors were aearded
special prizes.
Now that we are here, we may as well
see the sights.
that after adjectives (and past participles) He is sorry (that) he can’t come.
that express feelings; the conjunction
is dropped in colloquial style.

2. Sequence of tenses in the Adverbial Clause of Cause / Reason

The Adverbial Clause of Cause is used with any tense logically conditioned by the verb in the
main clause.
I spoke like this because I know him. I spoke like this because that news had driven me mad.

3. Reduction of the Adverbial Clause of Cause / Reason

 participial constructions (may replace the adverbial clause of cause in written English)
Feeling unwell he went to bed early. There being nothing else to do we went home.
 a gerundial phrase preceded by a prepositions The boy was scolded for being late.
 an infinitival phrase We were glad to have you with us.
THE ADVERBIAL CLAUSE OF CONCESSION
(CONCESSIVE CLAUSE)
The adverbial clause of concession expresses a contradiction between it and the main clause (a
contradiction similar to the one expressed by adversative clauses).
He hadn’t eaten for days but he looked strong and healthy.
Although he hadn’t eaten for days, he looked strong and healthy.

1. Introductory elements
 conjunctions: though, although, as, even if, even though, no matter
though, – usually interchangeable; She is taking the exam this summer
 although though – more colloquial, seldom although/ though she does not expect to
employed at the head of the pass.
sentence, but it can occur in non- Although Britain considers itself an
initial position within the advanced country, it has a very old-
subordinate clause fashioned system of measurements.
Young though he is, he has already made
a name as a novelist.
He looks stupid; he knows a lot of things,
though.
as – expresses concession only in Rich as he is I don’t envy him. Pretty as
non-initial position within the she is few people like her.
clause (placed after an adjective Hard as he tried he could not open the
or adverb which are given front door.
position for emphasis); yet, as is Michael, fool as he was (= since he was a
ambiguous in non-initial position, fool, = being a fool; not concessive),
having the meaning of cause or completely ruined the dinner.
circumstance.

even if, even – indicate an overlap between Even of / Even though you don’t like him,
though conditional and concessive you can still be polite to him.
clauses, expressing both the
dependence of one circumstance
upon another and the surprising
nature of this dependence.

 conjunctive relative pronouns:

whoever, – with an additional Whatever happens / may happen (although there may
whatever, idea of possibility be failure, disappointment, etc.) you will always be glad
whichever that you tried to do your best.

 conjunctive adverb:
however However often I try (though I often try) I cannot find a solution.

 conjunctive constructions:
no matter what / who / which; No matter how hard I try, I can never catch up with them.
it doesn’t matter what / who / which

§ The concessive clause may be elliptical.

It was cold, though sunny (identical subjects).

2. Sequence of tenses in the Adverbial Clause of Concession

The tense in the Meaning and usage Examples
Concessive Clause
INDICATIVE MOOD to express a real, factual We’ll try to make up our quarrel although
(Present Tense or situation. The tense of the he was so rude to us.
Past Tense) subordinate clause is logically I shan’t go there no matter that happens.
conditioned by that of the main Although he has never studied music he
clause. plays the piano quite well.
Men and women are nothing to you but
things to be used, even if they are broken in
the use. (G.B. Shaw)
SUBJUNCTIVE to express a hypothetic
MOOD situation, a supposition
a. Indefinite Synthetic used in concessive clauses Though he be your friend I must tell what I
Subjunctive (the same introduced by though, know about him.
form as the short although, whatever in formal Though it be the day of my coronation I
Infinitive) style will no wear them. (O. Wilde)
However good the engine be, it wants some
repairs in a few years’ time.
b1. the Analytic is preferred in speech or, Although they may look a happy couple,
Subjunctive with generally speaking, in less they often quarrel.
may/might formal style Whoever may / might come show him in.
Whatever faults he may have hypocrisy is
not one of them.
Tom was very sorry to frogive her however
sorry she might have been.
b2. the Analytic is used in clauses introduced Even though he should find out, he won’t
Subjunctive with by even if, even though do anything about it.
should
a construction with to express concession without The Smiths may live in a small house, but
may (more seldom any introductory conjunctions they are quite well off.
will) is possible or adverbs He may have been born in England, but he
doesn’t speak the language well.
Come what may, we must remain cheerful.
Say what you will, I shall still trust to my
own judgement.
Try as you will, you won’t manage it.

3. Reduction of the Adverbial Clause of Concession

 a participial construction
e.g. Although approving the plan in general, the committee had many comments against some
particular points.
Even admitting his explanation, his behaviour cannot be excused.
Though tired, she continued to work
 a verbless clause (subject and verb omitted)
e.g. Though well over 80, he can walk a mile faster than I can.
 a prepositional construction containing the word all: for all, with all, in spite of:
e.g. He is a good man with all his mistakes / for all his mistakes.

THE ADVERBIAL CLAUSE OF PURPOSE

The adverbial clause of purpose can express affirmative or negative purpose.

A. CLAUSES OF AFFIRMATIVE PURPOSE

1. Introductory elements
 conjunctions: so that, in order that, that (rarely used except in formal style)
e.g. Send the postcard immediately so that he can get it in due time.
His brother lent him some money in order that he could buy that dictionary.

2. Sequence of tenses
The Adverbial Clause of Affirmative Purpose usually contains an Analytic Subjunctive formed
by means of the modal auxiliaries will/would, can/could, may/might, shall/should.
The choice of the auxiliary depends on two factors:
a. the tense of the verb in the main clause
a main verb in the will, can, may, shall in the I’ll send the letter airmail so that he will /
present, present clause of affirmative purpose can / may get it right away.
perfect, future
a main verb in the past would, could, might, should in He wrote the notice in several languages so
tense the clause of affirmative that the foreign tourists could understand
purpose them.
b. the introductory conjunction
so that any auxiliary I lent him the dictionary so that he might
do the translation.
Thirty copies of the book were bought so
that each boy in the class should have one.
in order that may, shall I did it in order that everyone should be
satisfied.
that is normally followed by may The door of Scoorge’s house was open that
he might keep an eye upon his clerk.

B. CLAUSES OF NEGATIVE PURPOSE

1. Introductory elements
 conjunctions: so that (+ negative verb), lest (formal) (+ affirmative verb), for fear that (+
affirmative verb), in case (colloquial) (+ affirmative verb)
e.g. I must give him a call so that he won’t forget what to bring for the party.

2. Sequence of tenses
The Adverbial Clause of Negative Purpose usually contains an Analytic Subjunctive formed
by means of the modal auxiliaries will/would, shall/should, may/might or the Indicative Mood.
The choice of the auxiliary depends on two factors:
a. the tense of the verb in the main clause
a main verb in the will, can, may, shall in I’ll send the letter airmail so that he will / can /
present, present the clause of negative may get it right away.
perfect, future purpose
a main verb in the past would, could, might, He hid behind some bushes for fear that passers-
tense should in the clause of by should see him.
affirmative purpose
b. the introductory conjunction
for fear that any auxiliary He didn’t turn on the light for fear that she might
wake up.
I didn’t tell him for fear that she would put the
blame on me.
so that, lest, in case shall / should Put out the candles, so that they shan’t see the
light when I open the shutters. (G.B. Shaw)
I must give him a list so that he won’t forget what
to buy.
She dared not approach a window lest he should
see her from the street. (Charles Dickens)
She was going on tiptoes lest she should disturb
him.
The Indicative Mood (Simple Present or Past Tense) is only used in Clauses of Negative
Purpose introduced by in case:
e.g. I’ll give him a list in case he should forget what to buy.
I’ll give him a list in case he forgets what to buy.

3. Reduction of the Adverbial Clause of Purpose to Non-finite forms

 infinitival construction when the subject is identical with that of the main clause
e.g. He went to the theatre so that he could see the new performance. - He went to the theatre to see
the new performance.
o for+to Infinitive construction when the subjects are different
e.g. He took his children to the theatre for them to see the new performance.
 o to emphasize the idea of purpose, the infinitive can be preceded by so as, in order
e.g. He went to the theatre so as / in order to see the new performance.
o the infinitival construction can be reduced to a prepositional construction
e.g. They strove to get a new job. – They strove for a new job.

 gerundial construction preceded by the preposition for. The gerund is used to express the general
purpose of things, while the infinitive is used when we are considering a particular purpose:
A corkscrew is a tool for opening bottles.
I’m looking for a corkscrew to open this bottle with.

THE ADVERBIAL CLAUSE OF RESULT

The adverbial clause of result expresses the ultimate part of the relation cause-effect, that is
the effect or the result of an action.

1. Introductory elements
 conjunctions: so that, so, that (informally, in so that the conjunction that is omitted)
We planted hundreds of shrubs, so that by August the garden had improved out of all recognition.
I was tired, so that I went to bed early.

The correlatives so and such

The correlatives so or such are used in the main clause when the conjunction that introduces a
Clause of Result. Their choice is made as follows:
 the adverb so occurs before adjectives or adverbs in the pattern:
... so + adj./adv. + that clause of result (in informal English that is sometimes
omitted)
When the correlative so is placed at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis, it triggers the subject-
verb inversion. If the predicate contains netiher an auxiliary nor a modal verb, the auxiliary do must be
used.
e.g. He ran so quickly that we couldn’t catch him. I so enjoyed it that I’m determined to go again.
She polished the floor so hard you could see your face in it. (that omission)
So absorbed was he in his work that he didn’t hear the knocks at the door. (so emphasis)
So terrible was the storm that all roofs were torn off.
So rapidly did he drive that he reached the place before nightfall.
 the adjective such occurs before a noun in the pattern:
... such + NP + that clause of result
Optionally, the determiner such can be placed after the NP. For emphasis, it can be placed at the
beginning of the sentence, triggering the subject-verb inversion.
e.g. It’s such a good chance that we mustn’t miss it.
He made such a remarkable speech that he was elected.
He’s such a liar that nobody believes him.
He gave an answer such that we could not doubt its veracity. (postpositioning of such)
Such is the situation that we cannot but agree. (such emphasis)

2. Sequence of tenses in the Adverbial Clause of Result

Adverbial Clauses of Result overlap with those of Purpose both in meaning and in form. The
chief difference is that clauses of result are factual rather than suppositional, hence they may contain
an ordinary verb without a modal auxiliary.
When the clause contains a modal auxiliary, it may be ambiguous between a clause of purpose
and one of result.
e.g. He turned the radio up to the maximum, so that everyone could hear the announcement.
interpretation 1 – purpose : so that everyone could / would / should / might hear ...
interpretation 2 – result : ... so that everyone heard ...
The verb in the clause of result can be used in any tense logically required.
e.g. He did his job so well that they promoted him.
He did his job so well that I’ll never forget him.
 3. Reduction of the Adverbial Clause of Result
 infinitive constructions
– when the subject of the subordinate clause is co-referential with that of the main clause:
o as to + infinitive - when the subordinate clause is anticipated by such, so
o so as to + infinitive
o too/enough infinitival contructions
too + adj. /adv. + infinitive – implies a negative result
adj. /adv. + enough + infinitive – implies a positive result
e.g. Speak in such a way as to be understood by everybody.
Pack your things so as to be ready.
You are too young to understand. (You are so young that you can’t understand.)
He repeated slowly enough to be understood.
– when the subject of the subordinate clause is different from that of the main clause:
o for-to infinitive
e.g. The box was light enough for her to carry.
The lesson was too difficult for him to understand.