Adverbial Subordinate Clauses: Types and Examples
Adverbial Subordinate Clauses of Place
Adverbial subordinate clauses of place indicate the location where the action of the main clause’s verb takes place. The adverb “where” can be preceded by prepositions that nuance diverse spatial relations: transit (through where), direction (towards where), origin (from where), provenance (from where), terms (up to where), destination (where), permanence (where). They are recognized because they can appear as an answer to the interrogative adverb “where”.
Adverbial Subordinate Clauses of Time
Adverbial subordinate clauses of time indicate when the action expressed by the verb of the main clause occurs. The connectors are adverbs, conjunctive phrases, or correlative connectors. Sometimes, the action of the subordinate clause can be realized with respect to the main one: before, after, or simultaneously. They are recognized because they can appear as an answer to the interrogative adverb “when”.
- Before: when, as soon as, no sooner
- After: when, before
- Simultaneously: when, while, as
Adverbial Subordinate Clauses of Manner
Adverbial subordinate clauses of manner express the way in which the action of the main clause’s verb is carried out. The adverb “as”, or words of that category, are the different subordinate conjunctions of these clauses: as, preferably, according to, as if. They can be constructed with non-personal verb forms (infinitive, gerund, participle). They are recognized because they can appear as an answer to the interrogative adverb “how”.
Comparative Adverbial Subordinate Clauses
Comparative adverbial subordinate clauses serve as a term of comparison for the main clause. The first subordinate clause establishes a comparison of equality, superiority, or inferiority. The comparison is expressed through structures with the following correlative connectors in the form of two terms, of an intensive character:
- Equality: both… as, both… as, so… as, so… whereas; like… that; same as… that; etc.
- Superiority: more… than; more… than; better… than; more… than; higher… than; minor… than;
- Inferiority: less… than; less… than;
Consecutive Adverbial Subordinate Clauses
Consecutive adverbial subordinate clauses express the consequence as stated in the main clause. These can be classified as:
- Intensive: Introduced by correlative connectors (so… that, so much… that, such… that, to the point… that, etc.). They express the intensity of the first clause and the consequence derived from the main clause.
- Non-intensive: The first clause expresses a consequence that does not depend on the intensity of the main clause. They are introduced by conjunctions or conjunctive phrases: therefore, then, therefore, so, etc.
Causal Adverbial Subordinate Clauses
Causal adverbial subordinate clauses express the motive or cause of the action that occurs in the main clause. The main clause can follow or precede the subordinate clause, and it indicates the consequence, while the subordinate clause indicates the cause. The most important connector is the conjunction “because”, but other conjunctions or conjunctive phrases are also used (that, since, and that, because of, given that, etc.). In certain connectors, “that” and “as” can be replaced by the conjunction “because” if they introduce causal subordinates. The connector “as” always has to be placed before the main clause. These clauses can be constructed with other forms:
- of + adjective/participle + that + verb
- so/so much + adjective/noun + that + verb
These can be constructed with non-personal verbs:
- Infinitive: by, so, by dint of
- Gerund
- Participle
They are recognized because they can appear as an answer to the interrogative pronoun with a preposition “why”.
Final Adverbial Subordinate Clauses
Final adverbial subordinate clauses express the intention or purpose expressed in the main clause. The connectors that introduce them are: so that, that, in order that, so that, with the object that, with the purpose that, with the intention that, with a view to that, and so on. Adverbials introduced by these connectors are constructed with the personal verb in the subjunctive form; however, if they have the same subject as the main clause and are introduced by the previous connectors without a conjunction, the verb is in the infinitive form. These clauses are recognized because they can appear as an answer to the interrogative pronoun with a preposition “for what”.
Conditional Adverbial Subordinate Clauses
Conditional adverbial subordinate clauses express a condition for the fulfillment of the main clause. The conditional subordinate clause normally precedes the main clause. The most important connector is the conjunction “if”, but there are also other conjunctions or conjunctive phrases. All connectors, except “if”, introduce conditional clauses with the verb always in the subjunctive. Clauses constructed with the conjunction “if” can have the verb in the subjunctive and indicative forms. In the subjunctive, when the condition is considered impossible to comply with, or when the speaker expresses the possible fulfillment subjectively. In the indicative, when the speaker expresses the possible fulfillment objectively. They can also be formed with “imperative + and”, or by means of non-personal verbs.
Concessive Adverbial Subordinate Clauses
Concessive adverbial subordinate clauses express an obstacle or difficulty to fulfill what is expressed in the main clause, but they fail to prevent its realization. The most important connector is “although”, but others are also used: thus, although, even if, although, though, and so on. Other types of construction include:
- Repeated verb forms (e.g., whatever you do)
- Constructions such as: for + adjective/adverb + that.
The conjunctive adverbial form of the verb is in the indicative when the obstacle is considered real, and in the subjunctive when the obstacle is considered hypothetical. They can also be formed with non-personal forms.