Syntactic Functions of

Subordinate Clauses

Noun, Adjective, and

Adverb Clauses

2021
 Adverbial Clauses
An adverb clause is a dependent
clause which takes the place of an
adverb in another clause or phrase.
An adverb clause answers questions
such as "when?", "where?", "why?",
"with what goal/result?", and "under
what conditions?".
• The president gave a speech here.
• The president gave a speech where
the workers were striking.

• The committee will meet tomorrow.

• The committee will meet when the
Prime Minister is in Ottawa.
• A one-word adverb: The scene
was filmed here.
• An adverbial phrase (prep
phrase): The scene was filmed
near the bridge.
• An adverbial clause: The scene
was filmed where the bridge
crosses the river.
• A one-word adverb: The
pike moves quickly.
• An adverbial phrase: The
pike moves like lightning.
• An adverbial clause: The
pike moves as if its life
depended on it.
• Usually, a subordinating conjunction like
"because," "when(ever)," "where(ever),"
"since," "after," and "so that," will
introduce an ADVERB CLAUSE

• The conjunction shows the

RELATIONSHIP between the adverbial
clause and the rest of the sentence
(semantic roles of adverbial clauses)
SEMANTIC ROLES OF
ADVERBIAL CLAUSES
Time:

The adverb clause answers the

question "when?".
• After Hamlet's uncle Claudius
married his mother, Hamlet wanted
to kill him.
• After, as, once, since, until, when,
while, whenever,etc
Cause
& Reason
The adverb clause answers the
question "why?".

• Hamlet wanted to kill his uncle

because he had murdered his father.

• As, since, for this reason,due to, so

Effect/Result
The adverb clause answers the
question "with what goal/result?".
• Hamlet wanted to kill his uncle so that his
father's murder would be avenged.

• Consequently, therefore, so /such.....that

Contrast/ Concession
The adverb clause describes something
that differs from or contrasts with an idea
expressed in the main clause
• Though the sun is out, the wind is very
chilly.
• We enjoyed our camping holiday in spite
of the rain.
• Though, although, even though, whereas,
and even if
 SEMANTIC CLASSES OF
ADVERBIALS
• Tell me after I’ve eaten my dinner. TIME

• I feel guilty today because I’ve not paid you that

cheque. CAUSE/REASON

• He says he can’t repair the leak unless the water is

turned off. CONDITION

• He always carried them on him wherever he went.

PLACE
 CAUSE
• Since they were tired, they went home.
/REASON
• Your class has been cancelled as the lecturer is ill.
• Everybody knew CAUSE/REASON
everybody where I grew up.
• I only spoke to the police on condition that I wasn’t
PLACE
involved.
CONDITION
• Although she was ill, she went to work.
• They played the match despite the rainCONTRAST

CONTRAST
 But, OBSERVE!
• Where I go is my business
NOUN CLAUSE

• I don’t want to tell anyone where I go

NOUN CLAUSE

• Otherwise everyone will go where I

go. ADVERBIAL CLAUSE

• The place where I go is quiet and

unfashionable ADJECTIVE CLAUSE