While sitting at my desk, I fell asleep. 1. (Clause) Before I went into the theater, I turned off my cell phone. 2.

1. TDC 1
Pedagogical Grammar
Adverb Clauses

2. Adverb Clauses
Adverb clauses are subordinate clauses that show relationships
between ideas related to time, cause and effect, contrast and
condition.
What type of adverb clause do the subordinating conjunctions
below start?
after before when while
as since until till
as soon as once as long as so long as
whenever every time the first time the last time
the next time by the time

3. Adverb Clauses of Time
Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb
clause of time.
A) I will go to Hawaii.
B) I’m going to visit the world’s largest active volcano.

4. Adverb Clauses of Time
A) I will go to Hawaii.
B) I’m going to visit the world’s largest active volcano.
I’m going to visit the world’s largest active volcano when I go
to Hawaii.
OR
When I go to Hawaii, I’m going to visit the world’s largest
active volcano.
What is the difference in terms of punctuation between the
first and the second complex sentences?
What causes this difference?

5. Adverb Clauses of Time
I’m going to visit the world’s largest active volcano when I go
to Hawaii.
OR
When I go to Hawaii, I’m going to visit the world’s largest
active volcano.
Adverb clauses can come either before or after
the main clause. However, adverb clauses that
begin a sentence are always set off from the
main clause by a comma.

6. Adverb Clauses of Time
Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb
clause of time. Use the subordinating conjunction “when”.
A) I arrived home.
B) My sister cooked dinner.

7. Adverb Clauses of Time
A) I arrived home.
B) My sister cooked dinner.
When I arrived home, my sister cooked dinner.
OR
When I arrived home, my sister was cooking dinner.
OR
When I arrived home, my sister had cooked dinner.
What is the difference in meaning among these three complex
sentences?

8. Adverb Clauses of Time
When I arrived home, my sister cooked dinner.
The use of the simple past in the main clause indicates that the
action described in it happened after the action described in
the adverb clause.
When I arrived home, my sister was cooking dinner.
The use of the past continuous in the main clause indicates
that the action described in it happened at the same time as
the action described in the adverb clause.
When I arrived home, my sister had cooked dinner.
The use of the past perfect in the main clause indicates that
the action described in it happened before the action
described in the adverb clause.

9. Adverb Clauses
What type of adverb clause do the subordinating conjunctions
below start?
because now that since

10. Adverb Clauses of
Cause and Effect
Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb
clause of cause and effect.
A) We can go swimming every day.
B) The weather is warm.

11. Adverb Clauses of
Cause and Effect
Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb
clause of cause and effect.
A) We can go swimming every day.
B) The weather is warm.
We can go swimming every day because the weather is warm.
Because the weather is warm, we can go swimming every day.

12. Adverb Clauses of
Cause and Effect
Since Monday is a holiday, we do not have to go to work.
Since I moved here, I have worked for the same company.
What is the difference between the subordinating conjunction
“since” in these two sentence?

13. Adverb Clauses of
Cause and Effect
Since Monday is a holiday, we do not have to go to work.
In this first sentence, “since” means “because.”
It is a subordinating conjunction showing a cause and effect
relationship.
Since I moved here, I have worked for the same company.
In this second sentence, “since” means “from that time to the
present”.
It is a subordinating conjunction showing a time relationship.

14. Adverb Clauses
What type of adverb clause do the subordinating conjunctions
below start?
even though although though

15. Adverb Clauses of Contrast
Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb
clause of contrast.
A) I went swimming.
B) The weather was cold.

16. Adverb Clauses of Contrast
Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb
clause of contrast.
A) I went swimming.
B) The weather was cold.
Although the weather was cold, I went swimming.
I went swimming although the weather was cold.

17. Adverb Clauses of Contrast
Although the weather was cold, I went swimming.
Though the weather was cold, I went swimming.
Even though the weather was cold, I went swimming.
Which of the following functions do the subordinating
conjuntions above idicate?
1) Unexpected Result
2) Direct Opposition

18. Adverb Clauses of Contrast
Although the weather was cold, I went swimming.
Though the weather was cold, I went swimming.
Even though the weather was cold, I went swimming.
The subordinating conjunctions “although”, “though” and
“even though” indicate unexpected result.

19. Adverb Clauses
What type of adverb clause do the subordinating conjunctions
below start?
whereas while

20. Adverb Clauses of Contrast
Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb
clause of contrast.
A) Some people are tall.
B) Others are short.

21. Adverb Clauses of Contrast
Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb
clause of contrast.
A) Some people are tall.
B) Others are short.
While some people are tall, others are short.
Some people are tall, while others are short.

22. Adverb Clauses of Contrast
While some people are tall, others are short.
Some people are tall, while others are short.
Which of the following functions do the subordinating
conjuntions above idicate?
1) Unexpected Result
2) Direct Opposition

23. Adverb Clauses of Contrast
While some people are tall, others are short.
Some people are tall, while others are short.
Whereas some people are tall, others are short.
Some people are tall, whereas others are short.
The subordinating conjunctions “while” and “whereas”
indicate direct opposition.
What is special about the punctuation in these
sentences?

24. Adverb Clauses of Contrast
While some people are tall, others are short.
Some people are tall, while others are short.
Whereas some people are tall, others are short.
Some people are tall, whereas others are short.
Adverb clauses of direct opposition are always separated
from the main clause by a comma.

25. Adverb Clauses of Contrast
John is really poor, while Mary is extremelly rich.
The phone rang about five times while I was studying.
What is the difference between the subordinating conjunction
“while” in these two sentence?

26. Adverb Clauses of Contrast
John is really poor, while Mary is extremely rich.
In this first sentence, “while” means “this is the opposite of
that.”
It is a subordinating conjunction showing a direct contrast
relationship.
The phone rang about five times while I was studying.
In this second sentence, “while” means “during that time”.
It is a subordinating conjunction showing a time relationship.

27. Adverb Clauses
What type of adverb clause do the subordinating conjunctions
below start?
if unless only if whether or not
even if in case

28. Adverb Clauses of Condition
Match the subordinating conjunctions of condition on the left
with their corresponding meanings on the right.
Subordinating Meaning
Conjunction
1) if ___ neither this condition nor its opposite matters
2) even if ___ except with this condition
3) in case ___ only with this condition
4) unless ___ because it’s possible that this condition happens
5) only if ___ with this condition
6) whether or not ___ = whether or not

29. Adverb Clauses of Condition
Match the subordinating conjunctions of condition on the left
with their corresponding meanings on the right.
Subordinating Meaning
Conjunction
1) if ___ neither this condition nor its opposite matters
6
2) even if ___ except with this condition
4
3) in case ___ only with this condition
5
4) unless ___ because it’s possible that this condition happens
3
5) only if ___ with this condition
1
6) whether or not ___ = whether or not
2

30. Adverb Clauses of Condition
Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb
clause of condition.
A) It will rain tomorrow.
B) I will arrive late.

31. Adverb Clauses of Condition
A) It will rain tomorrow.
B) I will arrive late.
If it rains tomorrow, I will arrive late.
I will arrive late if it rains tomorrow.

32. Adverb Clauses of Condition
whether or not = Neither this condition nor its opposite
even if matters. The result will be the same.
Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb
clause of condition.
A) It may be cold tomorrow, but I don’t care.
B) I will go swimming tomorrow.

33. Adverb Clauses of Condition
whether or not = Neither this condition nor its opposite
even if matters. The result will be the same.
A) It may be cold tomorrow, but I don’t care.
B) I will go swimming tomorrow.
Whether or not it is cold tomorrow, I will go swimming.
Even if it is cold tomorrow, I will go swimming.

34. Adverb Clauses of Condition
in case = This condition probably won’t happen, but it
might. (if by chance this happens...)
Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb
clause of condition.
A) You probably won’t need to get in touch with me, but maybe
you will.
B) I will give you my phone number.

35. Adverb Clauses of Condition
in case = This condition probably won’t happen, but it
might. (if by chance this happens...)
A) You probably won’t need to get in touch with me, but maybe
you will.
B) I will give you my phone number.
In case you need to get in touch with me, I will give you my
number.

36. Adverb Clauses of Condition
In case you need to get in touch with me, I will give you my
number.
If you need to get in touch with me, I will give you my number.
What is the difference in meaning between the sentences
above?

37. Adverb Clauses of Condition
In case you need to get in touch with me, I will give you my
number.
In this sentence, there is the possibility that you will need to
get in touch with me. Anyhow, I will give you my number.
If you need to get in touch with me, I will give you my number.
In this sentence, I will give you my number only when it is
certain that you will need to get in touch with me.

38. Adverb Clauses of Condition
unless = if ... not
Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb
clause of condition.
A) It will probably be cold tomorrow.
B) I will go swimming tomorrow.

39. Adverb Clauses of Condition
unless = if ... not
A) It will probably be cold tomorrow.
B) I will go swimming tomorrow.
Unless it is cold tomorrow, I’ll go swimming.
Observe the difference...
If it is NOT cold tomorrow, I’ll go swimming.

40. Adverb Clauses of Condition
only if = There is only one condition.
Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb
clause of condition.
A) The picnic will be canceled with one condition only.
B) The condition is a rainy weather.

41. Adverb Clauses of Condition
only if = There is only one condition.
A) The picnic will be canceled with one condition only.
B) The condition is a rainy weather.
Only if it rains, the picnic will be canceled.

42. Adverb Clauses
What type of adverb clause do the subordinating conjunctions
below start?
so... that such a/an... that

43. Adverb Clauses of Cause and
Effect
Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb
clause of cause and effect.
A) Mary is patient.
B) She can spend hours taking care of young children .
A) Mary is a patient woman.
B) She can spend hours taking care of young children .

44. Adverb Clauses of Cause and
Effect
A) Mary is patient.
B) She can spend hours taking care of young children .
Mary is so patient that she can spend hours taking care of
young children.
A) Mary is a patient woman.
B) She can spend hours taking care of young children .
Mary is such a patient woman that she can spend hours taking
care of young children.
What can we conclude?

45. Adverb Clauses of Cause and
Effect
Mary is so patient that she can spend hours taking care of
young children.
Mary is such a patient woman that she can spend hours taking
care of young children.
“So ... that” is used with adjectives or adverbs.
“Such ... that” is used with noun phrases.
Are there any exceptions to this rule?

46. Adverb Clauses of Cause and
Effect
Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb
clause of cause and effect.
A) Mary has a lot of patience.
B) She can spend hours taking care of young children .

47. Adverb Clauses of Cause and
Effect
Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb
clause of cause and effect.
A) Mary has a lot of patience.
B) She can spend hours taking care of young children .
Mary has so much patience that she can spend hours taking
care of young children.
What can we conclude?

48. Adverb Clauses of Cause and
Effect
Mary is so patient that she can spend hours taking care of
young children.
Mary is such a patient woman that she can spend hours taking
care of young children.
Mary has so much patience that she can spend hours taking
care of young children.
With, much/many or few/little, we use so ... that .

49. Adverb Clauses
What type of adverb clause does the subordinating
conjunction below start?
so (that)

50. Adverb Clauses of Purpose
Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb
clause of contrast.
A) I turned the TV off.
B) My roomate wanted to be able to study.

51. Adverb Clauses of Purpose
Match the clauses below, turning one of them into an adverb
clause of contrast.
A) I turned the TV off.
B) My roomate wanted to be able to study.
I turned the TV off so that my roomate could study.
Normally, “can”(present and future meaning) and “could” (past
meaning) are used in the adverb clause of purpose.

52. Adverb Clauses of Purpose
What’s the difference between the sentences below?
I turned the TV off so (that) my roomate could study.
Mary grounded her son, so he didn’t talk to her for weeks.

53. Adverb Clauses of Purpose
I turned the TV off so (that) my roomate could study.
In this first sentence, the purpose of my turning the TV off was to
make it possible for my roomate to study.
We do not use commas to mark the beggining of the adverb clause of
purpose.
Mary grounded her son, so he didn’t talk to her for weeks.
In the second sentence, Mary didn’t punish her son with the purpose
of making it possible for him not to talk to her. This was just a result
of her decision to ground him.
We do use commas to mark the beggining of the independent clause.

54. Adverb Clauses - Reduction
1. (Clause) – While I was walking to class, I ran into an old
friend.
2. (Phrase) – While walking to class, I ran into an old friend.
1. (Clause) – While the teacher was lecturing to the class, I
fell asleep.
2. (Phrase) – NOT POSSIBLE
What can we conclude?

55. Adverb Clauses - Reduction
1. (Clause) – While I was walking to class, I ran into an old
friend.
2. (Phrase) – While walking to class, I ran into an old friend.
1. (Clause) – While the teacher was lecturing to the class, I
fell asleep.
2. (Phrase) – NOT POSSIBLE
We can reduce adverb clauses into phrases only when the
subject of the adverb clause and the subject of the main
clause are the same.

56. Adverb Clauses - Reduction
1. (Clause)
While I was sitting at my desk, I fell asleep.
2. (Phrase)
While sitting at my desk, I fell asleep
1. (Clause)
Before I went into the theater, I turned off my cell phone.
2. (Phrase)
Before going into the theater, I turned off my cell phone.
What can we conclude?

57. Adverb Clauses - Reduction
1. (Clause)
While I was sitting at my desk, I fell asleep.
2. (Phrase)
While sitting at my desk, I fell asleep
1. (Clause)
Before I went into the theater, I turned off my cell phone.
2. (Phrase)
Before going into the theater, I turned off my cell phone.
If the adverb clause contains the be form of a verb, omit the
subject and and the be form. If there is no be form of a verb in
the adverb clause, omit the subject and change the verb to its
present participle form.