RUPP/IFL/DOE WS101 NBH

Adverb Clauses

Definition:

An adverb clause is a dependent clause that describes a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.

An adverb clause tells when, where, how, why, to what extent, or under what
conditions something happened.

Examples:
We will not have school today because it snowed last night.
Until it stops raining, we will stay inside.
When your father gets here, we will go.
An adverb clause begins with a subordinating conjunction or subordinator.
Time Place Condition Contrast Reason

When Anywhere If Although Because

After Wherever Only if Though As
Before Everywhere In case Even though Since
Until Unless While Now that + S + Verb
While Whereas
Once
As soon as

+ Commas with adverb clauses

When an adverb clause is at the beginning of the sentence, it needs a comma to separate it from
the independent clause.
We will not have school today because it snowed last night.
Because it snowed last night, we will not have school today.
Practice 1:

Underline the dependent clause that is an adverb clause and tell its type.

1. Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up. Condition
2. You have to kiss a lot of toads before you find a handsome prince. Time
3. Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. Time
4. Life is what happens when you are making other plans. Time
5. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. Time
6. If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. Condition
7. Don't cross the bridge till you come to it. Time
8. She is walking slowly even though she is in a hurry. Contrast
9. Because he lost his phone, he didn’t get their call. Reason
RUPP/IFL/DOE WS101 NBH
10. If we read this article, we can understand the issue. Condition
11. Although the problem was difficult, he solved it. Contrast
12. She would have been angry if they had said no. Condition

Practice 2:
Combine each of the following sentence pairs into a single sentence consisting of a main clause and adverb
clause.
Ex. We can attend the conference. We must pay registration fees online.

 Before we can attend the conference, we must pay registration fees online.

1. I had to take my dog to the vet. He was ill.

I had to take my dog to the vet because he was ill.
2. My thesis is almost complete. It’s taking much longer to write than I imagined.
Although/Even though my thesis is almost complete, it’s taking much longer to write than I imagined.
3. I started my own business. I could be my own boss.
I started my own business so that I could be my own boss.
4. The chores are done. We can go to the park.
As soon as the chores are done, we can go to the park.