What is an Adverb Clause?
An adverb clause is a type of subordinate clause that functions as an adverb. An adverb clause modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. It usually begins with a subordinating conjunction such as when, if, or because, and it includes a subject and a verb. Adverb clauses are commonly found in sentences, and they can provide additional information about time, manner, place, condition, or cause.
Examples of Adverb Clause
Adverb clauses can be used to provide additional information in a sentence. Here are some examples of sentences with adverb clauses:
- When I felt sick, I went to the doctor.
- If I had more time, I would go to the movies.
- Because it was raining, we stayed inside.
In each of these sentences, the adverb clause is underlined.
How to Identify an Adverb Clause
Adverb clauses can be identified by looking for certain clues. First, look for a subordinating conjunction such as when, if, or because. Subordinating conjunctions are words that link two clauses together and indicate the relationship between them.
Next, look for a subject and a verb in the clause. If the clause contains a subject and a verb, then it is likely an adverb clause. Finally, ask yourself how the clause is modifying the verb or the sentence. If it is providing additional information about time, manner, place, condition, or cause, then it is likely an adverb clause.
Examples of Adverb Clause Identification
Let’s look at some examples of sentences with adverb clauses and how to identify them:
- When I saw the movie, I was surprised.
- If the weather is nice, I will go to the park.
- Because I was tired, I went to bed early.
In this sentence, the adverb clause is “when I saw the movie.” The subordinating conjunction is “when,” the subject is “I,” and the verb is “saw.” The adverb clause is providing additional information about the time when the speaker was surprised.
In this sentence, the adverb clause is “if the weather is nice.” The subordinating conjunction is “if,” the subject is “the weather,” and the verb is “is.” The adverb clause is providing additional information about the condition for going to the park.
In this sentence, the adverb clause is “because I was tired.” The subordinating conjunction is “because,” the subject is “I,” and the verb is “was.” The adverb clause is providing additional information about the cause for going to bed early.
As you can see, adverb clauses can be identified by looking for certain clues.
Conclusion
Adverb clauses are a type of subordinate clause that modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. They usually begin with a subordinating conjunction such as when, if, or because, and they include a subject and a verb. Adverb clauses can provide additional information about time, manner, place, condition, or cause. Adverb clauses can be identified by looking for certain clues such as a subordinating conjunction, a subject, and a verb.
