ADVERB CLAUSE CONNECTOR

Not only in sentences that use verbs that require a connector, but also sentences with adverbs. Some
adverb connectors that are often used are as follows:

TIME
He had been in hospital for 3 months before he passed away.
                                           or
Before he passed away, he had been in hospital for 3 months.

CAUSE or REASON
The registration process took many hours because the line was so long. 
                                           or
Because the line was so long, the registration process took many hours.

PLACE
I will go wherever you go.
                or
Wherever you go, i will go.

CONDITION
You will trip in the dark if you do not turn on the light.
                                    or
If you do not turn on the light, you will trip in the dark.

CONTRAST
She is very smart while her sister is very stupid.
                              or
While her sister is very stupid, she is very smart.

For example, consider the following two sentences:

He is tired because he has been working so hard.

Because he has been working so hard, he is tired.

Analysis:

In each of the example sentences above there are two clauses :

1. He is tired

2. He has been working hard

The two clauses / sentences above of course require a connector to connect them and have meaning.
The right connector is because. So the sentence becomes

• He is tired because He has been working hard, or

• Because he has been working hard, he is tired.

If the connector is in the middle, then it doesn't need a comma, but if the connector is at the beginning
of the sentence, then a comma is needed.

The example below shows how the Adverb Clause Connector is usually tested in the Structure Section
of the TOEFL test.

Example

_____ arrived at the library, he started to work immediately.

(A) The student

(B) When
(C) He
(D) After the student

Analysis:

• From the two clauses/sentences above, the first sentence ".....arrive at the library" does not yet
have a Subject but already has a Verb. While the second sentence already has a Subject, he, and Verb,
started.
• There is also no Connector to connect the two sentences.
• The best answer is (D) because there is a subject, the student, to complete the sentence arrive, and
a connector, when, to connect the two sentences.