Entry 5

ADVERB CLAUSES

An adverb clause is a group of words that function as an adverb in a sentence. Adverb clauses can be used to add explanatory detail to your writing and explain how or why things happen. To identify adverb clauses, you'll need to understand what an adverb does as well as how a clause is formed.

What Is an Adverb?

An adverb is a part of speech that describes an adjective, another adverb or a verb. Adverbs give more information about how an action was performed. In general, they answer questions like, how, why, where and when.

An adverb does this with just one word, but groups of words can also perform this function in sentences. For example:

• She walked slowly.
• She walked like an old lady.
• She walked as if she were heading to the gallows.

In each of these sentences, the italicized word or words answer the question how and describe the verb "walked." In the first sentence there is only one adverb, but in the other two sentences, a group of words work together to act as an adverb.

What Is a Clause?

A clause is a group of words that contain both a subject and a verb. This differs from a phrase, which doesn't have a subject and a verb. For example, let's revisit our examples of words being used together as adverbs:

• She walked like an old lady.
• She walked as if she were heading to the gallows.

In these examples, "like an old lady" does not contain a subject and a verb, and is, therefore, an adverb phrase. However, "as if she were heading to the gallows" does contain a subject (she) and a verb (were heading), making it an adverb clause.

Clauses can be either independent or dependent. Independent clauses are also called sentences. They can stand alone and express a complete thought. Dependent clauses, or subordinate clauses, cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. For example:

• Because he has a college degree, he got a great job.
• When the storm started, she was at the store.
• Bob wore the coat that I gave him.

Each of these groups of words has a subject and a verb, but do not form a complete sentence on their own. They are dependent on an independent clause for meaning.

What Is an Adverb Clause?

Adverb clauses, also known as adverbial clauses, are dependent clauses that function as adverbs. Since they are dependent clauses, they must have a subordinating conjunction to connect them to the rest of the sentence.

Being able to spot a subordinating conjunction will help you recognize an adverb clause. Below are some examples, which are grouped by what type of adverb question they answer:

• When: after, when, until, soon, before, once, while, as soon as, whenever, by the time
• How: if, whether or not, provided, in case, unless, even if, in the event
• Why: because, as, since, so, in order that, now that, inasmuch as
• Where: wherever, where

Adverb clauses can be placed at the beginning, middle or end of a sentence. When placed at the beginning or in the middle, they require a comma to offset them from the rest of the sentence:

• Whether you like it or not, you have to go.
• The boy, although he is very bright, failed math.

However, when the adverb clause is at the end of a sentence, no comma is needed:

• She enjoyed the party more than he did.

Examples of Adverb Clauses

Because they act like adverbs in a sentence, adverb clauses answer the questions where, when, why and how in a sentence. To see how they work, take a look at the examples below:

Adverb Clauses of Place:

These adverbial clauses answer the question where.

• Wherever there is music, people will dance.
• You can drop by for a visit where we're staying for the summer.

Adverb Clauses of Time:

These adverbial clauses answer the question when.

• After the chores are done, we will eat some ice cream.
• When the clock strikes midnight, she has to leave.

Adverb Clauses of Cause:

These adverb clauses answer the question why.

• She passed the course because she worked hard.
• Since he has long hair, he wears a ponytail.

Adverb Clauses of Purpose:

These adverb clauses also answer the question why.

• So that he would not ruin the carpet, he took off his shoes.
• He ate vegetables in order that he could stay healthy.

Adverb Clauses of Condition:

These adverb clauses answer the question how.

• If you save some money, you can buy a new game.
• Unless you hurry, you will be late for school.

Adverb Clauses of Concession:

These adverb clauses answer the question how, albeit in a roundabout way.

• Even though you are 13, you can't go to that movie.
• Although you gave it your best effort, you did not win the match.

Adverb Clauses Add Rich Detail

While adverb clauses are a little more complicated than simple adverbs, they are very useful in adding richer detail to your writing by explaining how and why things happen. When you begin to add subordinating conjunctions and dependent clauses to your writing, you add interest by varying the rhythm of your sentences and layering in important information to create a complete picture for the reader.

 WHILE AND WHEREAS

It is used to compare two situations or two people and to show that there is an important difference between them. 

• While arranged marriages are quite unusual in the West, they are quite common in many Middle Eastern countries.
• I like living in the city, while / whereas my wife prefers the countryside.
• While / whereas English has just five vowel sounds, some languages have 30 or more.
• There are just five vowel sounds in English. On the other hand, some languages have 30 or more.

While to introduce a time clause: While can be used in a number of different ways. We use it, first and foremost, when we want to talk about things that happen simultaneously. In this sense, it is similar to ‘as’ and ‘when’. All of these conjunctions can serve to introduce a longer background situation which started before the shorter action. Consider the following and, at the same time, note the use that is made of the past continuous in these contexts. 'I completed the crossword as I was talking on the phone.' 'I remembered that I had a letter to post when I was walking past the post box.' 'While I was reading the newspaper, my wife was ironing my shirts.' As you can see from the above examples, while is particularly useful if we are discussing long actions and wish to draw attention to the duration of the activities. Consider the following: 'I’ll prepare breakfast while you’re having a shower.' 'While I was recovering in hospital, my wife was enjoying a holiday in Cyprus.' Note that if the subject is the same in both clauses, a participial construction may be used, particularly in written English. Compare the following: 'She completed her first novel while working for the local newspaper.' 'She completed her first novel while she was working for the local newspaper.'

			while / whereas to link two ideas that contrast with each other: Note that while does not always refer to time. It is also used to balance two ideas that contrast with, but do not contradict, each other. In this sense, it is similar to whereas. Consider the following: 'While I like all types of fish, my girlfriend always chooses meat dishes when we go out to eat.' 'Some married couples argue all time, whereas others never do.' 'We would always choose somewhere in the mountains for a holiday, while our children always want the seaside.' Note that whilst we would use while or whereas within sentences to contrast two ideas, across sentences we would need to use ‘however’ or ‘on the other hand’. Compare the following: 'In the UK the hottest month of the year is usually July, whereas in southern Europe the hottest period is usually in August.' 'In the UK the hottest month of the year is usually July. On the other hand, in southern Europe the hottest period is usually in August.' 'Britain secured only one gold medal in Atlanta four years ago, while at Sydney 2000 we ended up with eleven.' 'Britain secured only one gold medal in Atlanta four years ago. At Sydney 2000, however, we ended up with eleven.

While and Whereas are used to show direct contrast: "this" is exactly the opposite of "that". While and Whereas may be used with either clause with no difference in meaning. 

Whereas mostly occurs in formal written English. 

Entry: 

    On Monday, December 3rd the police men came to my house with a search warrant. I knew they were investigatin the case of my brother's death. I had to open the door since they had the permission to do it. However, I found myself nervous. I didn't want them to find my secret. While the police were looking for something unusual, I sat on the couch, waiting and analizying all their movements. After a while, I saw a man checking near a small trunk where I kept the jewerly. Because he was near from what I was hiding, I started to feel as nervous as never. The search continued for ten minutes more. One of them had realized my status even though I tried to hide it quite well. 

They didn't say anything, and I was just waiting for the moment that they would go. They must not discover the thing I was hiding. Whereas I decided to walk around, the police went towards the old, small trunk to check it. It was the end, they knew what I did. They knew I was guilty.