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Adverbs Clauses of Concession &

Reduced Adverb Clauses of Time
Meaning
In Academic English, we often need to add contrasting information to a sentence. We can
add a dependent clause of concession to the main part of the sentence to contrast the
information in the main part of the sentence. It gives information which is opposite to the
main part of the sentence.

• Although e-readers are becoming more popular, most older readers prefer
traditional books.
• While older phones used a lot of battery power, newer ones are more economical.

An adverb clause of time tells us when something happens. It is useful to reduce these
clauses to a basic form if you want to express your ideas in a brief and concise way. If the
main clause and the dependent clause have the same subject, you can reduce the adverb
clause.

• While Newton was sitting in his garden, he was hit on the head by an apple. It was at
that moment that Newton thought of the Universal Law of Gravity.

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 Adverbs Clauses of Concession &
Reduced Adverb Clauses of Time
Form

ADVERB CLAUSES OF CONCESSION

These clauses begin with words such as: though, although, even though, whereas, while.
We put a comma at the end of the dependent clause if it comes before the main clause.
An adverb clause is a dependent clause and must go with a main clause with a subject and a
verb.
We use THOUGH, ALTHOUGH and EVEN THOUGH to show contrasting ideas but which are
related.
• Although the results of the survey are accurate, many researchers believe that public
opinion will change in the future.

We use WHEREAS and WHILE to compare two different people, things, or situations.
• Whereas Professor Jones has found that the new treatment works well, other researchers
state that they need to conduct more experiments.

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 Adverbs Clauses of Concession &
Reduced Adverb Clauses of Time
Form

REDUCED ADVERB CLAUSES OF TIME

These clauses begin with words such as: after, before, when, while.
If the adverb clause of time has the same subject as the main clause, we can reduce the adverb
clause by removing the subject and putting the verb in the –ing form.

• While visiting the Galapagos, Darwin observed that many species had adapted to life on
the islands.

• He started to change his mind about some of his ideas while writing his thesis.

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 Adverbs Clauses of Concession &
Reduced Adverb Clauses of Time
Right or Wrong
Look at these sentences. There are some mistakes. Which sentences are wrong? Explain why.

1. While visit the islands, Darwin noticed that the birds on each separate island
were very different.
2. Whereas economic growth has been low in the UK employment figures are
still high.
3. Imports have risen even if prices have increased due to the strength of the
dollar.
4. Although the initial reasoning behind his thesis is accurate, many
researchers believe that the conclusions are not correct.
5. Most psychologists agree that there is no basis for believing in the accuracy
of lie detectors, even though many other people use them.

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 Adverbs Clauses of Concession &
Reduced Adverb Clauses of Time
Right or Wrong – Answers

1. While visit the islands, Darwin noticed that the birds on each separate island
were very different. ✖ visiting
2. Whereas economic growth has been low in the UK, employment figures are
still high. ✖ Insert comma after UK
3. Imports have risen even if prices have increased due to the strength of the
dollar. ✔
4. Although the initial reasoning behind his thesis is accurate, many
researchers believe that the conclusions are not correct. ✔
5. Most psychologists agree that there is no basis for believing in the accuracy
of lie detectors, even though many other people use them. ✖ Delete the
comma after detectors

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 Adverbs Clauses of Concession &
Reduced Adverb Clauses of Time
Right or Wrong – Feedback

1. While visit the islands, Darwin noticed that the birds on each separate island were
very different. ✖ visiting
In the reduced adverb clause of time, we use the –ING form of the verb.
2. Whereas economic growth has been low in the UK employment, figures are still high.
✖ Insert comma after UK
Remember when the dependent clause comes before the main clause, we put a comma
after the dependent clause.
3. Imports have risen even if prices have increased due to the strength of the dollar. ✔
4. Although the initial reasoning behind his thesis is accurate, many researchers believe
that the conclusions are not correct. ✔
5. Most psychologists agree that there is no basis for believing in the accuracy of lie
detectors, even though many other people use them. ✖ Delete the comma after
detectors
Remember if the main clause comes before the dependent clause, we do not use a
comma between the two clauses.

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 Adverbs Clauses of Concession &
Reduced Adverb Clauses of Time
Practice
The students are listening to a lecture by a psychologist about lying. Fill the blanks with the
most appropriate adverb clause from the list.

• although we automatically teach 1. ___________________ , the fact is that we lie several

our children to be honest
• although many researchers say
that our instinct is to be honest
• while lying seems wrong
• even if we don’t want to admit it
• while our survival instinct tells us
to lie
• while politicians lie a lot
• whereas liars are not any smarter
than other people
• whereas experiments reveal that
women are better at detecting
lies
times a day. 2. _____________, we all lie. 3. ________,
our sense of community automatically tells us at the
same time to be honest. It is a constant battle in our
minds.
4. _________, this behavior is often done with good
intentions. 5. ______________, we often tell them white
lies to protect them.
6. ________________, studies of women’s behavior
show that they are twice as likely to lie as men.
Scientists have conducted experiments which show that
7. _____________, they are, on the other hand, much
more creative.
One interesting point! Researchers have found that 8.
_____________, bankers lie twice as much as politicians.

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 Adverbs Clauses of Concession &
Reduced Adverb Clauses of Time
Practice - Answers

Although many researchers say that our instinct is to be honest, the fact is that we lie
several times a day. Even if we don’t want to admit it, we all lie. While our survival
instinct tells us to lie, our sense of community automatically tells us at the same time to
be honest. It is a constant battle in our minds.
While lying seems wrong, this behavior is often done with good intentions. Although we
automatically teach our children to be honest, we often tell them white lies to protect
them.

Whereas experiments reveal that women are better at detecting lies, studies of
women’s behavior show that they are twice as likely to lie as men. Scientists have
conducted experiments which show that whereas liars are not any smarter than other
people, they are, on the other hand, much more creative.

One interesting point! Researchers have found that while politicians lie a lot, bankers lie
twice as much as politicians.

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 Adverbs Clauses of Concession &
Reduced Adverb Clauses of Time
Conclusion

In Academic English it is important to be able to contrast ideas and information. This is a

useful skill in both academic writing and speaking. We often need to put forward different
ideas about topics in presentations or reports.
In academic writing, we often have to make more complex sentences which express
different sides of an argument.
We can use adverb clauses of concession to do this.

• Although the President wanted to allow more migrants into the country, the Senate
voted against his proposal.

• Even though some species of dog show a very aggressive nature in experiments,
others have a more compassionate instinct.

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 Adverbs Clauses of Concession &
Reduced Adverb Clauses of Time
Conclusion

In Academic English we often need to add information about the time of an event.
Reduced adverb clauses of time allow us to present key information about the time of an
event in a clear and concise way.

• After considering all the possible offers from competitors, the government decided
to renew the contract with the transport company.

• Before conducting the experiment, the researchers interviewed all the participating
students.

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