3121 UNIT 18

SYNTACTIC FUNCTION OF SUBORDINATE CLAUSES

AFTER YOU READ
ADVERB CLAUSES
Look at each pair ofsentences. Does the second sentence mean about the same as the
first? Circle yes IV) orno IN).
1. Will video gaming be recognized by the time the 2008 Beijing Olympics start?
Y N Will this sport be recognized before the start of the 2008 Olympics?
2. Although athletes still try to achieve their personal best, the emphasis has shifted to the
breaking of records.
Y N Because athletes are trying to achieve their personal best, the emphasis is
now on the breaking of records.
3. Once we accept violence as inevitable, it will be almost impossible to stop.
Y N We won't be able to stop violence as soon as we think it's inevitable.

11 Grammar Presentation
ADVERB ClAUSES
PLACEMENT AND PUNCTUATION

Main Clause Adverb Clause

We watched TV a lot when the Olympics were on.
Tickets cost more because athletes earn so much.

Adverb Clause Main Clause

When the Olympics were on, we watched TV a lot.
Because athletes earn so much, tickets cost more.

TYPES

Adverb Clauses of Time

Before I played basketball, I was a soccer player.
The coach met with her players after the game was over.
While the team was on the field, the fans cheered continuously.

Adverb Clauses of Place

I've seen children playing soccer everywhere I've been outside the U.S.
Anywhere you go, sports stars are national heroes.
Iwork out at a gym· wherever I travel.
 Adverb ClaM.ses 1313

Adverb Clauses of Reason

Since she plays well, I want her on our team.

He was unable to play in the final game as he had hurt his ankle.
Now that television covers the games, billions of people can see the Olympics.

Adverb Clauses of Condition

Unless the tickets cost too much, we'll go to the game next Saturday.
You'll be comfortable inside the dome even if it's cold and raining outside.

Only if she wins the gold medal will she get a professional contract.

Adverb Clauses of Contrast

They won the game, though they didn't really deserve the victory.
Although their team is talented, they just didn't win.
Swimmers are rarely injured, whereas hockey players are often hurt.

GRAMMAR NOTES EXAMPLES

1. A clause is a group of words that contains at least

one subject and a verb showing past, present, or
future time. Clauses are either independent or
dependent.

Independent clauses (also called main clauses) can • You could win a medal.
stand alone as complete sentences. • We'll go to the game.
Dependent clauses (also called subordinate clauses) independent clause dependent clause
cannot stand alone. They do need another clause to • You could win a medal if you
be fully understood. practice enough.

Sentences containing both an independent clause dep. clause indep. clause (main idea)
and a dependent clause are called complex • If we can get tickets, we'll go to
sentences. In a complex sentence, the main idea is the game.
in the independent clause.

NOTE: In a complex sentence, the clauses can come • Whenever I exercise, I feel good.
in either order. If the dependent clause comes first, • I feel good whenever I exercise.
we place a comma after it.

(continued)
3141 UNIT 18
2. Adverb clauses are dependent clauses that indicate
how, when, where, why, or under what conditions
things happen; or they introduce a contrast.
Adverb clauses begin with subordinating
conjuncdons (also called subordinating adverbs),
which can be either single words or phrases.
NOTE: Adverb clauses sometimes come inside
independent clauses.
3. Adverb clauses of time indicate when something
happens. They are introduced by after, as, as soon as,
before, by the time, once, since, until/till, when,
whenever, while, etc.
NOTE: Until and till have the same meaning. 1lll is
informal and used more in conversation.
~ BE CAREFDLI In complex sentences, do not use will
and be going to in the dependent clause to show
future time.
4. Adverb clauses of place indicate where something
happens. They are introduced by anywhere,
everywhere, where, wherever, etc.
5. Adverb clauses of reason indicate why something
happens. They are introduced by as, because, now
that (= because now), since, etc.
NOTE: Since is used both in adverb clauses of reason
and of time.
NOTE: As is used both in adverb clauses of time and
of reason.
• I went home when the game WIUI
over.
• She dropped out of the race
because she was injured.
• We won't win unless we try
harder.
• It began to rain whUe we were
playing.
• I have to practice a lot now that
I'm on the team.
• Her ability when she got to high
school was relllllI:kable.
• The race will start as soon as
everyone is in place.
• We always drink water before we
start a game.
• 111 wait here undll d1l they arnve.
• We111eave when they get here.
NOT We111eave when they will get
here.
• Professional sports are played
where there are big stadiums.
• Major athletes are popular
wherever they go.
• She won the medal because she
had pract:ked dre1essly.
• Since he didn't register in time,
he can't play.
• Since Nan doesn't like sports, she
refused to go to the game. (reason-
since = because)
• Barry has played sports since he
entered high school (time~ce
= starting from that point)
• He set a world record as we were
watelling (time-as = while)
• As he was badly hurt, he had to
drop out of the game. (reason-
as = because)
 .AdIJerl> era.- 1315

6. Adverb clauses of condition indicate under what • You'll improve if you practlce
conditions something happens. They are introduced daily.
by even if. if. only if, unless, etc.

Even if means that the condition does not matter; the • Even if he practices constantly,
result will be the same. he won't make the team.

Only if means that only one condition will produce • Betty will make the team only if
the result. another athlete drops out.

Unless means if. . . not. . . • Unless you train a great deal, you
won't be a champion.

NOTE: H the sentence begins with only if, the subject • Only if another athlete drops out
and verb of the main clause are inverted, and no will Betty make the team.
comma is used.

~ BE CAllEFULl Don't confuse even if or even though and • Even if they win this game, they
even. won't be the champions.
• Even my mother understands the
rules of baseball.

7. Adverb clauses of contrast make a contrast with the
idea expressed in the independent clause. They are
introduced by although, even though, though,
whereas, while, etc.
We usually use although, even though, and though
when we want to show an unexpected result.
To make a direct contrast, we use while or whereas.
USAGE NOTE: Whereas is used in formal written
English and careful speech.
• He lost the race although he was
favored.
• Even though she is tall, she
doesn't score much.
-
• Although I Even though I Though
he is quite young, he was selected
for the team.
• While I Whereas downhill skiing
is very expensive, cross-<:ountry
skiing is cheap.

NOTE: While is used to introduce both a clause of • While they lost the game, they
contrast and a clause of time. played their best. (contrast)
• We ate whlle we were watching
the game. (time)

Reference Notes
For a list of subordinating conjunctions, see Appendix 20 on page A-9.
For more practice on future time clauses, see Unit 1.