Lesson 265 - Parts of the Sentence - Adverb Clauses

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A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause (which can stand alone and make sense) and a dependent clause (which must be attached to the independent clause to make sense). 

 

Example: 

The television was playing (independent clause) as I left the room (dependent clause). 

 

There are three kinds of dependent clauses: adjective clause, adverb clause, and noun clause.

An adverb clause is a dependent clause that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. It usually modifies the verb.

Adverb clauses are introduced by subordinate conjunctions including after, although, as, as if, before, because, if, since, so that, than, though, unless, until, when, where, and while. These are just some of the more common ones.

Example: 

They arrived before the game had ended. 

- before the game had ended modifying arrived (telling when)

Sometimes the adverb clause is placed at the beginning of the sentence. When it introduces the sentence, it is always set off with a comma. 

 

Example: 

Before the game had ended, they arrived.

Than and as introduce clauses that are called elliptical clauses. That is they have some of their parts understood but not stated. 

 

Example: 

You are smarter than I. (am smart omitted) 

- than I modifies the comparative word smarter

Instructions: Find the adverb clauses in the following sentences and tell what they modify.

1. Ila reads music better than Becky.

2. The dog whined sadly as I walked into the house.

3. If you have time, finish doing the dishes for me.

4. Many operations are unsuccessful because the patient is not careful afterwards.

5. Whenever I go out the door, the dog barks to go also.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Ila reads music better than Becky. (can read music well omitted)

- than Becky (can read music well) modifies better

2. The dog whined sadly as I walked into the house.

- as I walked into the house modifies whined

3. If you have time, finish doing the dishes for me.

- If you have time modifies finish

4. Many operations are unsuccessful because the patient is not careful afterwards.

- because the patient in not careful afterwards modifies unsuccessful

5. Whenever I go out the door, the dog barks to go also.

- Whenever I go out the door modifies barks

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