Mastering Adverbial Subordinate Clauses in Grammar

Understanding Adverbial Subordinate Clauses

Adverbial subordinate clauses perform the characteristic function of adverbs: the circumstantial complement of the verb within a sentence. They are classified into two main categories:

• Own: These are equivalent to an adverb and, therefore, can be replaced by one. Own adverbial subordinates indicate place, manner, and time.
• Improper: These indicate circumstances that cannot be expressed by a single adverb. Improper subordinates include conditional, concessive, causal, final, consecutive, and comparative clauses, which cannot be replaced by an adverb.

Adverbial Subordinate Clauses of Time

The adverbial subordinate of time indicates the time when the action of the main verb occurs. They can be replaced by temporal adverbs or prepositional and nominal phrases acting as a circumstantial complement. They are introduced by subordinating temporary nexus conjunctions such as when, hardly, or while; conjunctive phrases like before, as, or as soon as; and some prepositions followed by a verb or not, such as as, since, or until.

Adverbial Subordinate Clauses of Place

These indicate where the action of the main verb is performed. The main link is where. It may be preceded by prepositions: to where, so far, or from where.

Adverbial Subordinate Clauses of Manner

These show the way in which the action of the main verb takes place. The main link is as. Other links include like, as if, depending on, as, and under. This category also includes clauses with sin + infinitive absolute and absolute clauses with a gerund.

Final Adverbial Subordinate Clauses

These serve to indicate the intent or purpose of the verbal action. The primary nexus is for.

Causal Adverbial Subordinate Clauses

These express the reason why the action in the main proposition occurs. The primary nexus is because.

Consecutive Adverbial Subordinate Clauses

These report the outcome or consequence of the main action. Nexuses include thus and so.

Concessive Adverbial Subordinate Clauses

These express a difficulty for the fulfillment of what was said in the main proposition but do not prevent its realization. The most common conjunction is although.

Conditional Adverbial Subordinate Clauses

These indicate a condition that must be met for the main proposition to be realized. The most important conjunction is if.

Comparative Adverbial Subordinate Clauses

These serve as a basis for comparison for the views expressed by an element of the principal proposition.