What Is an Adverbial Clause? | Definition & Examples
An adverbial clause is a clause—a group of words with a subject and a verb—that acts as an adverb in a sentence to modify the main clause.
Adverbial clauses are a type of dependent clause (i.e., they can’t stand on their own as a sentence). They typically answer questions such as “when” (e.g., “before I study”), “where” (e.g., “where she used to live”), “how” (e.g., “as you have always done”), and “why” (e.g., “so that we can go swimming”) about the main clause.
What is an adverbial clause?
An adverbial clause (or adverb clause) is, like all clauses, a group of words containing a subject and a verb. Adverbial clauses act as adverbs in sentences to give more information about the main clause.
Because adverb clauses are dependent clauses (sometimes called subordinate clauses), they must always be connected to an independent clause (or main clause). They are introduced with a subordinating conjunction (e.g., “if,” “because,” “so that,” “unless”).
Adverbial clauses can serve many different functions in a sentence. Some of the most common ones are described in the table below.
Type | Function | Example |
---|---|---|
Time | Describe when something happens | After the rain stops, we will go to the park. |
Place | Describe where something happens | Let’s go where we went last weekend. |
Purpose | Describe why something happens | Ari gave Luc a pen because Luc lost his. |
Manner | Describe how something happens | I ran as if my life depended on it. |
Condition | State possible outcomes | If the coat goes on sale, I will buy it. |
Concession | State a contrast | Even though most people hate it, Jasmine loves black licorice. |
Comparison | Compare or contrast | The teachers complain as much as the students do. |
Adverbial clauses vs adverbial phrases
Adverbial phrases are similar to adverbial clauses, but adverbial phrases do not contain a subject and a verb.
Adverbial placement rules
Adverbial clauses can be placed at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. When placed at the beginning of a sentence, adverbial clauses (called fronted adverbials) are followed by a comma. When adverbial clauses are placed at the end of a sentence no comma is needed.
Adverbial clauses can also be placed in the middle of a sentence (typically between the subject and the verb), though this positioning is somewhat uncommon. When an adverbial clause appears in the middle of a sentence, it is set off by commas.
Frequently asked questions about adverbial clauses
- Are adverbial clauses dependent clauses?
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Yes, all adverbial clauses (e.g., “because I am thirsty”) are dependent clauses (that is, they can’t stand on their own as a sentence). There are other types of dependent clauses as well: adjective clauses and noun clauses.
- What are the types of adverbial clauses?
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Adverbial clauses are often classified based on the role they play in a sentence. Some of the most common categories are:
- time (e.g., “before the rain starts”)
- place (e.g., “where the sea meets the shore”)
- purpose (e.g., “in order to win the race”)
- manner (e.g., “as if she could fly”)
- condition (e.g., “if we leave now”)
- concession (e.g., “although Paris is nice”)
- comparison (e.g., “as smart as he is”)
- What is an introductory adverbial clause?
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An adverbial clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb that functions as an adverb in a sentence to modify the main clause (e.g., “until Leo comes back”).
An introductory adverbial clause (sometimes called a fronted adverbial) appears at the beginning of a sentence (e.g., “Until Leo comes back, we won’t be able to start cooking”). Introductory adverbial clauses are always followed by a comma.