Adverbial Clauses: Types and Functions in Sentences
Adverbial Clauses: Types and Functions
Remember that the difference between a proposition and a sentence is that propositions have lost their functional independence, both grammatically and semantically, because they depend on another sentence. Thus, just as we speak of adjective or noun propositions under the unit engaging with the noun or the verb respectively, and functioning equivalently to the adjective or the noun, we also use adverbial propositions to refer to those that are interchangeable with a circumstantial complement and depend on the main clause verb. For their part, adverbial subordinate clauses refer to those that are not interchangeable with a circumstantial complement and do not depend on the verb, but on the entire sentence. Consider propositions of: location, time, manner, cause, and purpose, since these are the types of semantic modification that affect the verb. However, this use and the value of the adverbial participle as a construction will be discussed next year.
Adverbial Propositions of Place
The relative depends on the noun, as well as introducing a specific function (Complement of the Noun) in its clause (Circumstantial Complement) and is interchangeable with article + in + that: “I live in the desert where it never rains.”
Adverbial Propositions of Time
Syntactically, they work as Circumstantial Complements. The critical link is when, although there are many others: while, hardly, even private buildings as to + infinitive, after + infinitive. A very frequent use is to + infinitive: “When they returned to the bedroom, Santi undressed.” “Seeing the sun, we are happy.” “Things had been taking positions to compose a thoughtful altarpiece.”
Adverbial Propositions of Manner
Syntactically, they work as Circumstantial Complements. The critical link is like, but also: as, as if… (In later courses, you will encounter other constructions).
Adverbial Propositions of Cause
Syntactically, they work as Circumstantial Complements. Prepositions include for + infinitive: “The Miss came because it was time to start sleeping.” “But his real nickname was ‘The Eyebrow’, as he had only one white eyebrow.” “I was fined for running too much.”
Adverbial Propositions of Purpose
Syntactically, they work as Circumstantial Complements. Subordinate adverbial clauses are those that engage in a relationship of dependency with respect to an item in the main clause, but with all of it. The critical link is if, but also any other link or conditional construction that has value: as, for + infinitive, not + infinitive. Its structure is similar to the adversarial, as the probationary period is necessarily formed by two sentences: the subject, which imposes the condition (protasis), and the main clause (apodosis) that states the result: “If within five minutes not everyone is lying down, I will call Don Segundo.” “If you do not come tonight, you will not come at all.”
Concessive Clauses
Semantically, they indicate an obstacle to the realization of the principal action, which, however, takes place. The critical link is although, but also any link or construction that has a hint of opposition: “They discussed a little about the soup, but the new soups tasted like nothing.” “Although it does not rain, the harvest will be saved.”
Consecutive Clauses
Semantically, they express the consequence of the principal action, which in turn acts as a root cause. Even if there is no clear semantic expression of quantification, you should think about the possibility of other values, such as the following.