This document provides a review and examples of reducing adverb clauses to phrases. It begins by defining different types of adverb clauses, such as time, reason, and opposition clauses. It then explains how to reduce adverb clauses by making the subject of both clauses the same, changing the verb in the adverb clause to a participle form, and optionally removing the subordinator. The document provides examples of reducing various types of adverb clauses like before, after, since, while, as, and because clauses. It also addresses special cases like passive voice, fragments, punctuation errors, and double connectors. In the end, it provides contact information for the author to learn more.
3. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
To Reduce…
Subjects of both clauses MUST
be the same
Verb in the ADV CLAUSE can
change to participle
Subordinator often optional
4. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
BEFORE CLAUSE
Before she moved to CA, Freda lived in
Alaska.
Before she moved to CA, Freda lived in
Alaska.
Before she moved to CA, Freda lived in
Alaska.
moving
her move
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AFTER CLAUSE
After she had owned it for 4 years,
she sold the blue car.
After she had owned it for 4 years,
she sold the blue car.
After she had owned it for
4 years, she sold the blue car.
owning
9. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
YOU TRY
After Sam stood in line for 20 minutes,
he got disgusted and left.
After Sam stood in line for 20 minutes,
he got disgusted and left.
After Sam stood in line for 20 minutes,
he got disgusted and left.
standing
Sam
Sam
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SINCE CLAUSE
The students have been taking a
test since they arrived in class.
The students have been taking a
test since they arrived in class.arriving
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YOU TRY
Since I have bought a new car, I
must work harder to pay for it!
Since I have bought a new car, I
must work harder to pay for it!
buying
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WHILE CLAUSE
While it was printing my paper,
the printer blew up.
While it was printing my paper,
the printer blew up.
printing
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YOU TRY
While Cindy drove to work, she
ate a breakfast burrito.
While Cindy drove to work, she
ate a breakfast burrito.
driving Cindy
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AS CLAUSE
1. Cindy ate a breakfast burrito
as she was driving to work,
2. Cindy ate a breakfast burrito
as she was driving to work.
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AS CLAUSE
3. As she was driving to work,
Cindy ate a breakfast burrito.
4. Driving to work, Cindy ate a
breakfast burrito.
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AS SOON AS CLAUSE
As soon as they finished the test, the
students rushed out of the class.
As soon as they finished the test, the
students rushed out of the class.
As soon as they finished the test, the
students rushed out of the class.
Upon finishing
On finishing
23. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
YOU TRY
As soon as I grade these
papers, I will watch American
Idol.
As soon as I grade these
papers, I will watch American
Idol.
Upon grading
25. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
BECAUSE / SINCE / AS
REG VERB CLAUSE
Because she studies so much,
she expects good grades.
Because she studies so much,
she expects good grades.
Studying so much
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You Try
Because Harry loves French fries,
he eats at MacDonald’s every day.
Because Harry loves French fries,
he eats at MacDonald’s every day.
Loving
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BECAUSE / SINCE / AS
REG VERB CLAUSE
Since she studies so much, she
expects good grades.
Because she studies so much,
she expects good grades.
Studying so much
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You Try
Since she reads a lot, Suzy has a
big vocabulary.
Since she reads a lot, Suzy has a
big vocabulary.
Reading
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BECAUSE / SINCE / AS
REG VERB CLAUSE
As she studies so much, she
expects good grades.
As she studies so much, she
expects good grades.
Studying so much,
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You Try
As he walks to work in the
morning, Sam is very healthy.
As he walks to work in the
morning, Sam is very healthy.
Walking
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BECAUSE / SINCE / AS
BE VERB CLAUSE
Because she was unhappy, she
expected bad grades.
Because she was unhappy, she
expected bad grades.
Being unhappy,
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BECAUSE / SINCE / AS
NEGATIVE VERB CLAUSE
Because she didn’t want to
study, she expected bad grades.
Because she didn’t want to
study, she expected bad grades.
Not wanting to study,
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You Try
Because he doesn’t like the
teacher, Todd will drop the
class.
Because he doesn’t like the
teacher, Todd will drop the
class.
Not liking
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BECAUSE OF VERB CLAUSE
Because she was unhappy, she
expected bad grades.
Because she was unhappy, she
expected bad grades.
Because of her unhappiness,
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You Try
Because he is angry, Todd will
drop the class.
Because he is angry, Todd will
drop the class.
of his anger,
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ALTHOUGH / THOUGH / WHILE
CLAUSE REDUCTION
Although she was unhappy,
Claudia stayed in the class.
Although she was unhappy,
Claudia stayed in the class.
unhappy,
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You Try
Although Stan needs new shoes,
he doesn’t have money to buy
them.
Although Stan needs new shoes,
he doesn’t have money to buy
them.
needing
Stan
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(Time) Having + Past Part
After she burned the lasagna,
they decided to order out.
After burning the lasagna, they
decided to order out.
Having burnt the lasagna, they
decided to order out.
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(Reason) Having + Past Part
Because she lost her keys, she
couldn’t go to work.
After losing her keys, she
couldn’t go to work.
Having lost her keys, she
couldn’t go to work.
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You Try
Because the people disliked the
president, they voted him out
of office.
Having disliked the president,
they voted him out of office.
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Reducing The PASSIVE (Time)
Before it was burned, the
lasagna looked really good.
Before it was burned,
the lasagna looked really good.
being
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Reducing The PASSIVE
(Reason)
Because the keys were lost,
they couldn’t start the car.
Having been lost, they
couldn’t start the car.
the keys
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ADV CLAUSE Special Problems:
Fragments
DC punctuated as IC
I lost 5 pounds. Because I quit
eating ice cream for breakfast.
When I went to school. I forgot
my books.
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ADV CLAUSE Special Problems:
Fragments
DC punctuated as IC
I lost 5 pounds. Because I quit
eating ice cream for breakfast.
When I went to school. I forgot
my books.
pounds because
school, I
57. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
ADV CLAUSE Special Problems:
Punctuation Errors
DC missing comma IC
Because I quit eating ice cream
for breakfast I lost 5 pounds.
IC no comma DC
I lost 5 pounds , because I quit
eating ice cream for breakfast.
58. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
ADV CLAUSE Special Problems:
Punctuation Errors
DC missing comma IC
Because I quit eating ice cream
for breakfast I lost 5 pounds.
IC no comma DC
I lost 5 pounds , because I quit
eating ice cream for breakfast.
,
59. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
ADV CLAUSE Special Problems:
Dangling Participles (MM)
While painting the house, the
phone rang.
Houses can’t paint
themselves.
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ADV CLAUSE Special Problems:
Dangling Participles (MM)
While painting the house, the
phone rang.
While I painted the house,
the phone rang.
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ADV CLAUSE Special Problems:
Because Of
Because of he was angry, he
punched the wall.
Prepositions don’t
start clauses.
62. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
ADV CLAUSE Special Problems:
Because Of
Because of he was angry, he
punched the wall.
Because of his anger, he
punched the wall.
Because he was angry, he
punched the wall.
63. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
ADV CLAUSE Special Problems:
Double Connectors
Although he wanted to lose
weight, but he kept eating
candy.
Two connectors is one too
many!
64. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
ADV CLAUSE Special Problems:
Double Connectors
Although he wanted to lose weight,
but he kept eating candy.
Although he wanted to lose weight,
he kept eating candy.
He wanted to lose weight, but he
kept eating candy.