How to Use an Adverb Clause

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.

Where to Put an Adverb Clause in a Sentence

You can place an adverb clause at the beginning, middle or end of your sentence. For example:

• Although she was often very naughty, the girl could be sweet at times.
• The girl, although she was often very naughty, could be sweet at times.
• The girl could be sweet at times although she was often very naughty.

The placement of the clause doesn't change the meaning, so it's often a matter of personal preference where you would like to put it. It should be noted that placing an adverb clause in the middle of a sentence is somewhat unusual in writing. In this position, it serves as an interruption to the main thought, which is more common in speech than in writing.

When you place a dependent adverb clause at the beginning of the sentence, it must be followed by a comma. When the adverb clause is in the middle of the sentence, it must be offset by a comma before and after the dependent clause. An adverb clause placed at the end of a sentence generally needs no additional punctuation.

Here are some more examples of adverb clauses used in a sentence:

• When I was in Arizona, I visited the Grand Canyon. (explains when)
• In case you have not heard, tomorrow is a holiday. (explains condition)
• Even though school is hard, it is very important. (shows contrast)
• You should get a credit card since you have a job now. (explains why)

Add Complexity to Sentences

Once you know how to form an adverb clause, it's important to remember the punctuation rules so you can create a grammatically correct sentence every time. Doing so will enhance your writing by allowing you to add descriptive detail that explains how, when, where and why actions are performed. This complexity will allow you to share more intricately reasoned thoughts with your reader, so it's worth mastering how to use adverb clauses in your writing.

For more practice, you can check out some Examples of Adverb Clauses to get a sense of the many ways these descriptors can be used to improve your writing.