ADVERBIAL CLAUSES

Adverbial Clauses

❖ A dependent clause introduced by an adverbial

subordinator

❖ Used to modify the verb of the independent clause

➔ functioning as an adverb
❖ Many types: time, place, manner, condition, etc.
 Adverbial Clauses
after following the time that…

as while when…

as soon as immediately at or instantly after the time that…

before earlier than the time when…

TIME since from that time/moment

until up to the time of…

when a point in time/short duration

whenever at any time

while longer duration of time

 Adverbial Clauses

Tense sequence with adverbial clauses of time

❖ To talk about past or present ➔ use the same
tense as in the independent clause
I normally look after the children while she’s
practicing.
When she heard the result, she was overjoyed.
❖ To talk about future ➔ use present
Wait here until you are ready to go.
 Adverbial Clauses
Tense sequence with adverbial clauses of time
❖ To talk about an action completed before another
described in the independent clause ➔ use simple or
perfect verb forms
As soon as you see/ have seen her, come and tell me.
She wrote to me after she spoke/ had spoken to Kim.
COMPARE:
After I have written this book, I’m having a holiday. (rather
than I WRITE – WHY? )
Turn off the lights as you leave. (not YOU HAVE LEFT)
When I saw Jim, I asked him over for dinner.(not HAD
ASKED)
 Adverbial Clauses
anywhere
everywhere any place
PLACE
wherever
where a definite place

DISTANCE/
as + adverb + as make a comparison
FREQUENCY

as in the way/manner that/like…

MANNER
as if/ as though
 Adverbial Clauses
as
REASON because for the reason that…
since
phrase + that

so + adj + that
RESULT with the result that
so + adv + that

such a(n) (+adj) + n

in order that
PURPOSE for the good of
so that
 Adverbial Clauses
although
CONCESSION/ even though
in spite of the fact that
CONTRAST
though
whereas
STRONG
while direct opposition
CONTRAST
as long as
if

CONDITION provided/ providing under the condition that…

unless
whether
 Adverbial Clauses
Reducing adverbial clauses
❖ Retain BEFORE
A student should consider some factors BEFORE choosing a major.
❖ Retain SINCE when it refers to time

SINCE moving to the U.S., Carlos has not been back home. (Since
Carlos moved…)s
Coming from a conservative family, Carlos was shocked at the U.S.
system of coed dormitories. (Since/As Carlos came…)
❖ Delete AS when it refers to time

Getting used to the way of life here, he became less homesick.

❖ Delete all subordinators referring to reason

❖Retain AFTER, WHEN and WHILE when the reduced form follows the
independent clause
WHILE preparing for the TOEFL, he lived with a family.
Preparing for the TOEFL, he lived with a family.
He lived with a family WHILE preparing for the TOEFL.
CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
 Examples
1. If I become President, I will end the war. – Hillary
Clinton

2. If I became President, I would end the war. – a

student

3. If I were you, I wouldn’t do that.

4. I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t smoke.

5. Would you be so kind as to shut the door?

6. If I had finished work earlier, I would have gone

to the movie.
 Overview
❖ Alternatives to IF
❖ Assuming

❖ But for

❖ Even if, only if

❖ On condition that

❖ Or else

❖ Otherwise

❖ Provided, providing

❖ So long as, as long as

❖ Suppose, supposing

❖ Unless

❖ What if
 Overview
Three types of conditionals

Present Simple + Present Simple

Zero
If you press this button, the engine stops.

Present Simple + will Inf.

First
If she rings this evening, I’ll let you know.

Past Subjunctive + would Inf.

Second
What would you do if you became President?

Past Perfect + would have p.p.

Third
If I hadn’t seen her, she’d had drowned.
 Type-0 Conditionals

❖ Present Simple + Present Simple

❖ One thing always follows automatically from
another…
❖ If the door bell rings, the dog barks.
❖ If you add twelve and fifteen, what do you get?
❖ IF = WHEN
 Type-1 Conditionals
❖ Present Simple + Will-Infinitive
❖ Open conditions; likely conditions in present and future
If it rains, the reception will take place indoors.
If we don’t hurry, we won’t get there in time.
If we’re having a party, we’ll have to invite the
neighbors.
If he won’t do, there’s nothing we can do about it. (=refusal)
If you’ll just sign here, thank you.
If you will drive so fast, you must expect to have accidents.
(= insistence)
 Type-2 Conditionals
❖ Past Subjunctive + Would-Infinitive
❖ Unlikely/Unreal conditions in present and future
If I had lots of money, I’d travel around the world.
I’d tell you the answer if I knew what it was.
Supposing we were to win the lottery, how would you
spend the money?
Would it be alright if I brought a friend?
If the sun were shining, everything would be perfect.
If you’d just sign here, please. Thank you.
 Type-3 Conditionals
❖ Past Perfect+ Would-perfect
❖ Unlikely/Unreal conditions in past
If you’d taken the taxi, you’d have been here on time.
If I could’ve warned you in time, I’d have done.
If you hadn’t woken me up in the night, I wouldn’t feel
so tired now.
If Tom were ambitious, he’d have found himself a better
job years ago.
If you know London so well, you wouldn’t have got so
hopelessly lost.
 Special Cases

❖ If it were not for the weather, we’d have gone out hours
ago.
❖ If it had not been for Helen’s help, we’d never have got
there on time.
❖ Without her help, I would never have got where I
wanted.
❖ But for your help, we’d never have managed.
❖ If it were not for + N
❖ If it had not been for + N
❖ Without + N
❖ But for + N
 Inversions

❖ Should it rain, the reception will take place indoors.

❖ Were I to have lots of money, I’d travel around the world.
❖ Had you taken a taxi, you’d have been here on time.
❖ Had it not been for you, we’d never have got there on
time.
 WISHES

❖ wish + to-Infinitive
❖ wish + that-clause
❖ wish + would: I wish the noise next door would

stop.
❖ wish + past subjunctive: I wish I were taller.

❖ wish + past perfect: I wish I had studied

harder when I was a student.