Adverbial Clause

Definition

An adverbial clause is a dependent clause that functions as an adverb, providing information about the verb in the main clause. It can indicate time, reason, condition, manner, or contrast, and typically begins with a subordinating conjunction such as 'because,' 'although,' or 'when.' These clauses enhance the meaning of the sentence by adding context and complexity.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Adverbial clauses can modify verbs, adjectives, or even other adverbs, providing greater detail about how an action is performed.
2. They often answer questions like 'when?', 'why?', 'how?', or 'under what conditions?' which helps clarify the action in the main clause.
3. These clauses can be placed at the beginning or end of a sentence, but when they start a sentence, a comma is usually needed after it.
4. Common subordinating conjunctions used to start adverbial clauses include 'if,' 'since,' 'as long as,' and 'whenever.'
5. Adverbial clauses are essential in writing because they help create more complex sentences and improve the flow of ideas.

Review Questions

• How does an adverbial clause enhance the meaning of a complex sentence?
  • An adverbial clause enhances the meaning of a complex sentence by providing additional context about the action of the main verb. It can specify when, why, or under what conditions something happens, making the overall idea clearer and more precise. For example, in the sentence 'I will go for a walk if it stops raining,' the adverbial clause 'if it stops raining' explains the condition under which the action will occur.
• Discuss how to properly punctuate sentences that contain adverbial clauses at the beginning versus those at the end.
  • When an adverbial clause is placed at the beginning of a sentence, it is generally followed by a comma to separate it from the main clause. For example, 'Although it was raining, we decided to go hiking.' In contrast, if the adverbial clause appears at the end of the sentence, no comma is needed. For instance, 'We decided to go hiking although it was raining.' This difference in punctuation helps clarify the structure of complex sentences.
• Evaluate the role of subordinating conjunctions in forming adverbial clauses and their impact on sentence structure.
  • Subordinating conjunctions are crucial for forming adverbial clauses as they establish the relationship between the dependent clause and the main clause. By introducing these clauses, they indicate how additional information modifies or relates to the action of the main verb. The choice of conjunction can affect not only meaning but also overall sentence structure, creating varied sentence types that enhance writing style and coherence. For example, using 'because' emphasizes causation, while 'although' introduces contrast.

Related terms

Subordinating Conjunction: A word that introduces a subordinate clause, linking it to the main clause and showing the relationship between them.

Dependent Clause: A group of words that contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it does not express a complete thought.

Complex Sentence: A sentence that contains at least one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses, including adverbial clauses.