SU 13.

Adverbial clauses

13.1. The definition of adverbial clauses

13.2. The properties of adverbial clauses
13.3. Types of adverbial clauses

13.1 The definition of adverbial clauses

  The family returned home [after Linda’s car had broken down].
They found the children [where Linda’s car had broken down].
He only used his bike [if Linda’s car broke down].
  main clause dependent clause
superordinate clause subordinate clause

Finite adverbial clauses are introduced by a subordinating/ subordinate conjunctions (also called
subordinators)
The subordinator indicates the meaning relationship between the dependent clause and the main
clause.

Thus, a because-clause shows a reason for the state of affairs described in its main clause.
The subordinator where indicates the location.
A clause introduced by in order that is relevant as a purpose underlying the action
expressed in its superordinate clause.
The subordinator after is a time-related conjunction that establishes a period when the
action expressed by the verb in main clause is performed.
The if-clause is relevant as a condition for the fulfillment of the action expressed by the
verb in the superordinate clause.

Non-finite subordinate clauses often lack an overt subordinator:

She locked the doors [so as to prevent any more intrusions]. – infinitival adverbial
clauses
She locked the door [to prevent any more intrusions]. infinitival adverbial clauses – the
difference is the conjunction

 
Typically, subordinate clauses are classified according to semantic criteria, whether their
perspective on the content of the main clause, as indicated by their subordinator, is one of time,
location, manner, reason, etc.

13.2. The properties of adverbial clauses.

The brothers were arguing about a football game – main clause [when we met them]. adv
cl
The brothers were arguing about a football game.

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Adverbial clauses are optional in the structure of the complex sentence, i.e. they can be omitted
without turning the sentence ungrammatical.

[When we met them], the brothers were arguing about a football game.
The brothers were arguing about a football game, [when we met them]
The brothers, [when we met them], were arguing about a football game.

Adverbial clauses do not have a fixed position, they may either precede or immediately follow
the main clause, or they may even be inserted inside the superordinate.

Note that commas separate the adverbial clause from what is around it. In spoken English, a
slight intonation break fulfills the same role as the commas. The clause is a separate intonation
unit.
However, there is a certain preference for the ordering of main and adverbial clauses.
 
[If we are late], we will miss the concert.
[When they arrived], they noticed the change in landscape.
They noticed the change in landscape [when they arrived].
You have to clean off the table [because it is dirty].
 
It has been noticed that:
- conditional clauses tend to precede the main clause,
- temporal clauses are common in both initial and final position
- causal clauses usually …………. the main clause.

Quirk et al. (1985: 1107) and Biber et al. (1999).

13.3. Types of adverbial clauses

English has a variety of adverbial clauses.

According to the verbal form, adverbial clauses may be divided into three basic types:
- finite
- non-finite (or reduced to a present/past participle/an infinitive)
- verbless.

1. Adverbial clauses of time

These clause gives a time perspective.

The typical subordinators are: after, as before, once, since, till, when (ever), while, whilst, now
(that), as long as, as soon as, immediately (that), directly (that), the moment (that), etc.
 
…………….: Buy your tickets [as soon as you reach the station].
……………..: He wrote [while working]. (participial clause)
[On arriving], he pushed the door open. (…………. clause)
[Once published], the book caused a remarkable stir.
(past participial clause)
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verbless clause: [When in difficulty], read the book!
 

2. Adverbial clauses of location

Subordinate clauses indicating location are introduced by where and wherever (compound
conjunction):
 
finite clause: They went [wherever they could find work].
non-finite: [Where (ever) known], such facts have been reported.
verbless: [Where (ever) possible], they should be tested.

3. Adverbial clauses of condition

Subordinate clauses relevant for the condition they express are introduced by:
- if (for positive condition)
- unless (for negative condition)
- whether, provided that, supposing, on condition that, as (or so) long as:
 
finite- Present simple: [If you treat her kindly], she’ll do anything for you.
[As long as he leaves now], he will arrive at the airport in time.
non-finite: [Unless forbidden], photographers can use cameras.
verbless: [If ready], we shall hold the meeting here.
 
In spoken English the conditional clause can appear either before or after the main clause.
In written English, however, there is a slight tendency for if-clauses to occur first.
 
Conditional sentences.

3.1. Real conditions.

If the weather is nice, we will go for a walk – 1st type –

present simple in the subordinate clause and future in the main.
condition  result

Conditional sentences (with the main clause) express a condition in a subordinate clause / an
if-clause and a result in a main clause.
They refer to conditions in the past, present or future time. Conditional sentences are of two
types: real conditionals and unreal conditionals.

  In real conditionals the condition and the result can be fulfilled. There are 4 types of real
conditionals:

- generic conditionals point to scientific truths:

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 If a gas is heated, it expands.
 
- habitual conditionals express habitual events. Very often whenever replaces if to show
habit:

If/ whenever I go out with my friends, we have dinner in a Chinese restaurant.

 
- inference conditionals express situations or events as logically following conditions
being met:

If the door was locked, then the thief must have come through the window.
 
- future conditionals express predicted future results of future conditions:

If you don’t leave now, you’ll miss the train.

 
3.2. Unreal conditionals express an imagined condition and its imagined outcome.

Unreal conditionals fall into two main types:

  If I were you, I would help her. – 2nd type of conditional – subjunktiv – would
help- present conditional mood,

  - hypothetical conditional sentences speculate about the present or the future:

If she had checked the facts, she would have discovered the error. – 3rd type of
conditional – subjanktiv in the if clause- she would have discovered – conditional mode

- counterfactual conditionals express speculations about past events, that did not come
true, or impossible situations in the present:
 
4. Adverbial clauses of contrast

Subordinate clauses that highlight a contrast are traditionally known as ‘adverbial clauses of
concession’.
The typical subordinators are: although, though, even if, even though, while, whatever, wherever,
whenever, no matter.
 
finite: [Though it was an exciting game], no goals were scored.
non-finite: [Even if still operating], the equipment will be replaced.
verbless: [Though a young man], he was able to exert his authority.
[Though well over forty], he looked very young.

5. Alternative conditional-concessive clauses

Such clauses are introduced by: whether … or …. and show both a condition and concession

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They combine the conditional meaning of the subordinator if with the disjunctive meaning of the
correlative pair either … or …:
 
finite: [Whether or not he finds a job], he is getting married.

6. Adverbial clauses of reason or cause

 
finite: [As Jane was the eldest], she looked after the others.
I lent him the money, [because he needed it].
non-finite present participle: [Being a man of ingenuity], he had repaired the machine.

When introduced by:

- as, since, the adverbial clause revealing reason or cause tends to precede the
superordinate clause,
- while with the subordinator because, the tendency is for the adverbial clause to follow the
superordinate clause.

7. Adverbial clauses of circumstance

finite: [Seeing that -compound conjunction the weather has improved], we will go on a trip.
non - finite: [The weather having improved], we enjoyed the game.
promise conclusion
Subordinate clauses showing circumstance express a condition which is assumed to be fulfilled.
The relation between the subordinate clause and the superordinate clause as that between a
promise and a conclusion. They are introduced by the compound subordinator seeing (that).

8. Adverbial clauses of purpose

finite: The decision was made [in order that peace should prevail].
(very formal)
The decision was made [so that/that peace should prevail - subjonctiv].

non-finite: Students should take notes [so as to make revision easier].

I left early [to catch the train].
 
Subordinate clause that indicate the purpose of the action in the superordinate, are introduced by:
in order to, so as to, so that, for fear that. Such clauses are more often non-finite infinitival than
finite with the subjenctiv.

9. Adverbial clauses of result

 
I took notice of him, [so he flew into a rage].
adverbial clause of result

He flew into a rage, [because I took notice of him].

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 adverbial clause of cause

The subordinate clause showing the result is introduced by so that, so + adjective + that, such …
that and it appears in final position.
The perspective it gives is the converse of cause.

10. Adverbial clauses of manner and comparison

 
She cooks exactly [as my mother did].
He treats me [as if I am a stranger].

If the perspective of the subordinate clause is one of manner or comparison, then the typical
subordinators are: as, as if, as though.

11. Adverbial clauses of proportion

They express a proportionality or equivalence of tendencies between two circumstances; the two
tendencies develop gradually, simultaneously in different directions.
The subordinators for the clauses of proportion are: as, the … the …
A common type of proportion clause has comparatives in both clauses:

[The earlier you arrive], the better the food is.

clause of proportion main clause
[The faster they can sell cars], the better it will be.

This type can be reduced to verbless clauses that only preserve the two comparative forms:

The earlier, the better.

The faster, the better.

Another type of proportion clause is introduced by as or just as. The host/main clause begins
with the correlative so:

[As time went on], (so) their hopes began to wane.

[Just as we hope to be forgiven], so we should forgive others.

12. Adverbial clauses of preference

Subordinate clauses indicating preference are introduced by: rather than, sooner than followed
by a bare infinitive or a gerund:
 
[Rather than travel by air], I’d prefer a week on a big liner.
[Rather/Sooner than reducing the capacity], I’d replace components.