How to Form an Adverb Clause
A clause is a group of words with a subject and a predicate. Clauses can be independent or dependent. An independent clause makes a complete thought, which is a sentence. A dependent clause, however, cannot stand alone. An adverb clause is always a dependent clause.
To form an adverb clause, you will need a subject and a verb in your group of words. You'll also need to introduce the clause with a subordinating conjunction, such as “before,” “once,” or “while.” Every adverb clause begins with a subordinating conjunction, which keeps the clause from being a complete thought.
For example, consider the adverb clauses below:
- After the movie ends
- Provided you have completed your homework on time
- Although she was often very naughty
- Because he was so angry
Each of the dependent clauses above begins with a subordinating conjunction (italicized). Without this word, each clause could be a stand-alone sentence because it has a subject and a verb. With the subordinating conjunction, however, it becomes a dependent clause and must be attached to another clause to create a complete sentence.
The subordinating conjunction you choose will help to answer one of the questions that adverbs typically respond to and allow the clause to function as an adverb in the sentence. For example, after explains when something happens, provided tells under what condition something happens, although shows contrast, and because answers the question why.
As you can see, an adverb clause needs three parts: a subordinating conjunction, a subject, and a verb.
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