Read these sentences:
The United Nations has translated the UDHR. The document is available in more than 530 languages. The document is for all people. The document is for all places.
Because the UDHR is for all people in all places, the United Nations has translated the document into more than 530 languages.
The second is usually better because it is shorter and easier to read. Also, it shows the relationship between ideas more clearly.
The adverb clause is Because the UDHR is for all people in all places...
It's a clause because it has a subject and verb. It does not express a complete idea by itself, but it answers one of the most common adverb questions of Why? So that clause is doing the job of an adverb explaining the reason for the action, in this case the translation. So if we put this information together, we can say this is an adverb clause.
An adverb describes a verb or sometimes an adjective.
A clause is a group of words that contain a subject and adverb. There are two kinds of clauses: An independent clause is a complete idea. A dependent clause is not a complete idea.
An adverb clause is a dependent clause that describes a verb or sometimes an adjective. Interestingly, an adverb clause can come in many different places in a sentence.
I read the article about refugees in the newspaper yesterday.
I read the article about refugees in the newspaper Sunday.
I read the article about refugees before classes started.
The adverb is the first sentence is yesterday.
The adverb in the second sentence is Sunday.
The adverb in the third sentence is before classes started.
The adverb clause is before classes started. It has a subject (classes) and a verb (started), but it doesn't express a complete thought by itself. That makes it a dependent clause. It does provide more information about when the main action (read) happened. If it modifies the verb, then it must be doing the job of an adverb. Therefore, we can say that it is an adverb clause.
Adverb clauses are groups of words that work together to do the job of an adverb.
Adverb clauses are dependent clauses. This means they have a subject and a verb, but they do not express a complete idea by themselves.
Adverb clauses begin with a subordinating conjunction. Examples of subordinating conjunctions are: after, before, until, while, because, since, as, so that, in order that, if, unless, whether, though, although, even though, where.
Answers this kind of question: Where?
Example: Wherever there is war, human rights are in jeopardy.
Uses one of these subordinating conjunctions: wherever, where, anywhere
Answers this kind of question: When?
Example: The UDHR was created after two world wars had happened.
Uses one of these subordinating conjunctions: after, until, before, by the time, since, when, while, as long as, as soon as
Answers this kind of question: Why? What caused this?
Example: Human rights must be protected because everyone deserves dignity.
Uses one of these subordinating conjunctions: because, since, as
Answers this kind of question: What for? What was the reason for doing this?
Example: She took a geography course so that she could learn more about other countries.
Uses one of these subordinating conjunctions: so that, in order that
Answers this kind of question: Why is this unexpected? (gives contrasting statements)
Example: Although some cultures do not believe in marriage equality, many countries in the world have made same-sex marriage legal.
Uses one of these subordinating conjunctions: although, while, even though, even if,
Answers this kind of question: Under what conditions?
Example: If all countries adopted the UDHR, then there would be more peace in the world.
Uses one of these subordinating conjunctions: if, unless
Answers this kind of question: How?
Example: We are thinking about concepts as we never have before.
Uses one of these subordinating conjunctions: like, as
INSTRUCTIONS: Combine the sentences using an adverb clause.
I was studying in the library from 8:00-8:30pm. At the same time, you were working at the restaurant.
I don’t like to drive at night. I have trouble seeing well in the dark.
My cat likes to sit there. It is warm.
There are consequences for cheating. You will not pass the exam.
It was late, so we read quickly. We read fast, but we couldn’t read faster.
I want to learn to drive a car. I want to drive to school myself.
My cat is small and thin. She eats a lot.
NOTE: There may be more than one way to combine these sentences.
I was studying in the library from 8:00-8:30pm while you were working at the restaurant.
I don't like to drive at night because I have trouble seeing well in the dark.
My cat likes to sit where it is warm.
If you cheat, then you will not pass the exam.
It was late, so we read as fast as we could.
I want to learn to drive a car so that I can drive to school myself.
Although my cat is small and thin, she eats a lot.
If the adverb clause comes at the beginning, then use a comma to separate it from the rest of the sentence.
Do not use a comma if the adverb clause comes at the end of the sentence.
(Did you notice that the two sentences above are both the rules and examples of the rules? Look again.)
INSTRUCTIONS: Add commas where necessary.
Where there is smoke there is fire.
I’ll believe it when I see it.
Since it was a holiday the office was closed.
I am studying English so that I can get a different job.
Although my cat eats a lot of food she isn’t very large.
I can get extra credit if I take my essay to a tutor.
Where there is smoke, there is fire.
I'll believe it when I see it. (No comma necessary)
Since it was a holiday, the office was closed.
I am studying English so that I can get a different job. (No comma necessary)
Although my cat eats a lot of food, she isn't very large.
I can get extra credit if I take my essay to a tutor. (No comma necessary)
Incorrect: I often get sleepy although I work very hard.
Correct: I often get sleepy when I work very hard.
Choose the subordinating conjunction that means what you want to say.
Incorrect: I didn’t know that person, I said hello anyway.
Correct: Although I didn’t know that person, I said hello anyway.
Without a conjunction, we have a comma splice.
Incorrect: Because I was sick with COVID I decided to stay home. I didn’t go to school, because I didn’t want anyone else to get sick too.
Correct: Because I was sick with COVID, I decided to stay home. I didn’t go to school because I didn’t want anyone else to get sick too.
Use a comma after an adverb clause that comes at the beginning of a sentence. Don’t use a comma before an adverb clause that comes at the end of a sentence.
"23 Grammar: Adverb Clauses" in "Coalescence" by Timothy Krause is licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license. Adapted by Laura Paciorek.