a contrastive analysis on adverbial clauses in the two languages

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chapter I : introduction
1. The rational for the study
Both in English and Vietnamese, adverbial clauses play an importance roles in Grammar.
In this paper I would like to go detail to analysis on English and Vietnamese adverbial
clauses in order to help the learner distinguish the using of adverbial clauses between the
two languages. This topic can be traced back to two reasons:
In the first place, adverbial clauses are widely considered the most importance type of the
adverbial group. Despite the fact that most of the grammatical references have at least one
part dealing with clauses of this type, learners still have difficulties understanding and
using them correctly. However, there have been so few studies on such a challenging but
interesting topic.
In the second place, the common use of adverbial clauses both in spoken and written
English and the differences existing between English and Vietnamese in this linguistic
area have grabbed my attention. It is hoped that, a detailed research work, especially the
one using contrastive analysis device, will satisfy any people of the same interest.
2. Aims and objectives of the study
The aims of the study on English and Vietnamese adverbial clauses are to bring a more
thorough comprehension of English grammar to intermediate and advanced learners.
Additionally, this research is carried out with a view to helping learners of lower levels
understand and use adverbial clauses correctly and this is a step to their mastery of
English.
The objectives of this work are :
• To give a general understanding of English adverbials.
• To identify and classify English adverbial clauses.
• To show the linguistic characteristics of the adverbial clauses in English.
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• To work out characteristics and classification of Vietnamese adverbial clauses.
• To find out similarities and differences between English and Vietnamese adverbial
clauses.

3. Significance of the study
This research is carried out with the hope of contributing to the mastery of English
of University students and any other intermediate and advanced learners. It is also of
some use to secondary students who wish to have a deep comprehension of adverbial
clauses. I expect any further studies on this topic or studies on other aspects related to this
one.
4. Scope of the study
In doing this paper, I give general point about English adverbials much more in
depth analysis of adverbial clauses is dealt with in the following part of the paper. In
chapter V, a comparison is carried out between adverbial clauses in English and
Vietnamese. I try my best to present logically and scientifically all aspects related to
clauses of this type in both languages.
The data and example in this paper are taken from reliable materials and reference
books.
5. Method of the study
The first methods used during the process of this work are material collecting and
synthesizing with which I can reduced my work from a variety of materials and reference
books by well-known English and Vietnamese scholars.
This is a study on English and Vietnamese adverbials so that the main research
method is based on contrastive analysis. The two steps of contrastive analysis method :
description and comparison are especially of full use in chapter V dealing with adverbial
clauses in the two languages.
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6. An outline of the study
My paper includes six chapter:
Chapter I: Introduction
Chapter II: Literature review
Chapter III: English adverbial clauses
Chapter IV: Vietnamese adverbial clauses

Chapter V: A contrastive analysis on adverbial clauses in the two languages.
Chapter VI: Conclusion.
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CHAPTER II : LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Definition of adverbial :
In Oxford’ Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, an adverb is defined as a word that adds more
information about place, time, circumstance, manner, cause, degree, etc to a verb, an
adjective, a phrase or another adverb.
For example:
I was soon lost.
He works very hard.
Syntactically, an adverb may function as modifier of an adjective and adverb, for
example: She received so many presents or as adverbial, which is a constituent distinct
from S,V,O and C (Quirk & Greenbaum, 1987,p.126). For example:
When I was in England, I drank tea with breakfast.
A S V O Co
Adverbials are main type of the adverb group. As one of the basic and complicate
categories.
According to Leech & Svartvik (1992,p.197), adverbials usually tell something extra
about the action, happening or state described by the rest of the sentence
Cobuid (1992) define that the adverbial is a word or a group of words that help answer the
questions Where it ( the circumstance of an event or situation) occurs, how much it occurs
or when it occurs.
2.2 Definition of adverbial clause :
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An adverbial clause is a clause that functions as an adverb. In other words, it contains
subject (explicit or implied) and predicate, and it modifies a verb. For example:
I saw Joe when I went to the store.

Functionally, like an adverb, an adverbial clause modifies a verb, an adjective, another
adverb or an entire clause or sentence. (Farmer et al.(1985) and Nadler & Marelli).
To make it clearer, Nadler & Marelli (1971,p.115) work out the general pattern for
adverbial clauses. That is
Subordinator + sentence = adverbial clause.
For example:
Whenever you go, whatever you do, remember that your home is the best.
As a main type of adverbial group, adverbial clauses bear characteristics of adverbials, i.e.
they are optional and may appear in the following positions.
(1) After an independent clause
(2) Before an independent clause
(3) Between the parts of an independent clause
It should be noticed that adverbial clauses appearing in the latter two possitions are set of
by commas. Following are examples of adverbial clauses in different positions:
His cartoon made him more successful than he had dreamed
Although he had begun as an animator, Disney actual drew few of the cartoons
used in his films.
Never less, adverbial clauses often occur in final position, after the main clause.
2.3. Characteristics of adverbials:
2.3.1 Syntactic functions of adverbials:
In terms of syntactic functions, adverbials are viewed under three categories:
a. Adjuncts: Are elements integrated within the structure of the clauses and affected by
such clausal process as negation and interrogation.
For example :
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He didn’t immediately recognize me.
He didn’t recognize me immediately.
In the negative declarative clauses, the adverbial can only come medially and finally as in
“ Immediately, he didn’t recognize me.”In addition, the adverbial can be the focus of the

question or the clause negation.
He didn’t recognize me immediately.
Did he recognize you immediately?
b. Disjunctions and conjuncts : are elements which are importance in the structure of the
clause and unlike adjuncts, they are not affected by such clausal processes as negation and
interrogation. They can appear initially in a negative declarative clauses as in :
Personally, I don’t like him.
And they cannot be the focus of a question or of clause negation as in :
Seriously, do you love him?
I cannot stand him, after all.
The distinction between them is that conjuncts have primarily a connective function. For
example :
To my surprise, she gave me a lot of money.
Disjunction
In conclusion, it is high time we joined and saved the Earth.
Conjunct
2.3.2.Semantic roles of adverbials
Adverbials may be placed in various semantic categories such as time, place, purpose,
manner, cause, result, condition, concession and comparison.
(1) Adverbials of time:
Eg: She left her family years ago.
(2) Adverbials of place:
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Eg : They played football on the pavement.
(3) Adverbials of purpose:
Eg: I come here to help you.
(4) Adverbials of manner:
Eg : Drive carefully!
(5) Adverbials of cause( reason);

Eg: Thank to your help, I could solve this problem.
(6) Adverbials of result ( consequence) :
Eg: You are too young to go out late at night.
(7) Adverbials of condition :
Eg : In case of rain, take this umbrella.
(8) Adverbials of concession
Eg: Despite the lack of intelligence, the poor boy managed to find way home.
(9) Adverbials of degree :
Eg : We are badly in need of electricity.
(10) Adverbials of modality :
Eg : Probably, she will come.
Summary :
Adverbial is a word, a phrase or a clause that tells something about the states or actions in
the main clause. In term of syntactic functions, adverbial are of three types: Adjuncts,
disjuncts and conjuncts. Semantically, adverbials fall into ten types : adverbials of time,
place, purpose, manner, reason (cause), result (consequence), condition, condition,
concession, degree and modality.
CHAPTER iii: Adverbial clauses in English.
3.1 Structural types of adverbial clauses:
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Taking the variations of the clausal structures into account, I distinguish three main types
of adverbial clauses. They are finite adverbial clauses, non-finite adverbial clauses and
verbless adverbial clauses.
3.1.1.Finite adverbial clauses
This type of adverbial clauses contains a finite verb which, according to Graver
(1997,p.264), has number, person and tense. For example:
She cannot speak English as well as she writes it.
As he was posting the letter, he suddenly realized that he hadn’t put a stamp on
the envelope.

The clauses in italics contain a subject and a predicate that agrees with the subject in
terms of number, person and tense.
The finite adverbial clauses is always introduced by subordinators which serve to indicate
the dependent status of the clauses together with its circumstantial meaning.
Subordinators is taken from Quirk et al. (1979)
( 1) Simple subordinators:
After, as, because, whereupon, before, but, how(ever), although, when, while, whilst,
where by, like, since, that, where as, unless, until, once, etc.
(2) Compound subordinators:
• Ending with that : in that, so that, in order that, such that, except that, for all that,
save that, etc.
• Ending with optional that: now(that), providing(that), seeing(that), provided(that),
supposing(that),considering(that),given(that),granted(that),granting(that),
admitting (that), assuming (that), immediately (that), directly (that), etc.
• Ending with as : as far as, as long as, as soon as, according as, etc.
• Ending with than: sooner than (+ infinitive clauses) , rather than (+ non-finite or
verbless clauses)
• Other : as if, as though, in case
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(3). Correlative subordinators:
More/ less than, as as, so as, so that, such as, such that, no sooner than,
whether or, etc.
Adverbs like “still, anyhow” and the coordinate conjunction “yet” may occur with
subordinate conjunction of concession: although, even though, though forming correlative
conjunctions.
For example:
As he didn’t understand, he asked the teacher to explain the question.
So as not to wake the children up, we went out on tiptoe.
No sooner had she put up her umbrella than the rain came down in torrents.

Though the doctor had given him strict instructions to stay in bed, yet he went on
to work.
3.1.2 Non-finite adverbial clauses
The non-finite adverbial clause, in contrast with the finite one, has no distinction of
person, number. In the other words, it always has the ability to go without a subject,
although in many kinds of non-finite clauses, subject is optional. This general statement
helps us classify non-finite adverbial clauses in two groups : non-finite adverbial clauses
without subject and the one with subject.
3.1.2.1 Non-finite adverbial clauses without subject
• Infinitive clauses with to
In order to get money, he committed the robbery.
• -ing participle clauses
Being the eldest child in the family, she had to drop out of school and earn a living.
• -ed participle clauses
When seen in this light, the matter is not as serious as people generally suppose.
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3.1.2.2 Non-finite adverbial clauses with a subject / absolute clauses
Sometimes the participle clause contains own subject, in which case the construction is
called Absolute clause by Quirk et.al (1979) and Grave(1997).For example:
The holiday being over, we must now get down to some hard work.
Rather than he do it, I’d prefer to give the job to her.
When the subject of the participle clauses is expressed, it is often introduced by “with” or
“without”.
For example :
I wouldn’t dare go home without the job finished
With the case investigated carefully, the police finally caught the murderer.
3.1.3 Verbless adverbial clauses :
In Quirk et.al(1979), verbless clauses, a part from being verbless, are also commonly
subject less. Looking at the following example :

Whether right or wrong, he always comes of the worst in argument.
One should avoid taking a trip abroad in August where possible.
We can see that, the missing elements are the subject and a form of the verb BE. The
ellipted subject in verbless clauses, like the one in non-finite clauses, is the subject of the
superordinate. Thus, these example can be restated :
Whether he is right or wrong, he always comes of the worst in argument.
One should avoid taking a trip abroad in August where it is possible.
The adverbial clauses can follow “ with” or “without”. For example :
With the whole meeting in uproar, the chairman abandoned the attempt to take a vote.
Without a tear on her face, the girl watched him led away.
3.2 Semantic roles of adverbial clauses
One important way in which adverbial clauses can be sub-classified is according to the
semantic values they can perform such as : Time, place, concession, contrast, reason and
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cause, circumstance, purpose, result, manner and comparison, proportion and preference.
Thus, adverbial clauses can be sub-classified into :
1. Clauses of time
2. Clauses of place
3. Clauses of condition and concession
4. Clauses of reason (cause)
5. Clauses of circumstance
6. Clauses of purpose
7. Clauses of result
8. Clauses of manner and comparison
9. Clauses of proportion and preference
10. Clause of contrast
3.2.1 Clauses of time
In Cobuild (1972)’s view, time clauses tell when something happens by referring to a
period of time or to another event :

Her father died when she was young.
(a) Finite adverbial clauses of time:
Finite adverbial clauses of time are introduced by one of the following subordinators :
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Simple subordinators Compound
subordinators
Correlative
subordinators
After, before, as, once( ever), since,
till, until, when( ever), while,
now(that), immediately(that),
directly( that)
As soon as, as long
as, so long as
No sooner than
Hardly when
Scarcely when

If we want to emphasize that something happened at a particular time, we can use “it
was”. For example :
It was 7 o’clock when he returned.
We can also use Immediately, every time, each time, the first time, the next time, the
last time, the moment the minute or a noun group such as 3 days, 4 days, etc. In front
of after or before. For example :
Every time he saw her, he could not say anything.
The last time we met, he said he was very happy.
Exactly two weeks after they had moved to a new house, they held a big party.
By which time, at which point, after which, where upon, and upon which are also
used at the beginning of time clauses.

For example :
He came back an hour later, By which time his friends had already left.
(b) Non-finite adverbial clauses of time
Instead of using a finite clause, we can use non-finite adverbial clauses including : ing
clauses and ed clauses. Despite the common position at the beginning of the sentence,
clauses of time can appear medially or finally.
• Ing clauses may follow : after, before, since, when(ever),while, untill, till and
once. They can appear without subordinators. For example:
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(When) visiting a strange city, I like to have a guidebook with me.
I did not realize I had left my ticket at home until arriving at the airport.
• Ed clauses may follow once, till, until, while, when (ever), as soon as. Ed
clauses may appear without a subordinator. For example :
(Once) given more time, we could finish our work.
We decided to stay at home as soon as told that the weather was bad.
(c) Verless adverbial clauses of time
Verless adverbial clauses may consist of When ( ever), while, once, until, till, followed by
prepositional phase. For example :
When (ever) in difficulty, she prays God for help.
When under pressure , she works more effectively.
We can use a phase consisting of when (ever), as soon as and adjective such as
necessary or possible. For example:
It paid to speak the truth whenever possible.
Complete the work as soon as possible.
3.2.2 Clauses of place:
Cobuild (1992) claims that sometimes when we talk about location or position of
something, we need to use a clause rather than a simple adjunct. That kind of clause is
called adverbial clauses of place.
3.2.2.1 Finite adverbial clauses of place

Adverbial clauses of place are introduced by where, wherever, anywhere or
everywhere. Where is specific while wherever, anywhere and everywhere are
nonspecific.
The clause may indicate position:
Where the fire had been, we saw nothing but blackened suits
The clause may indicate direction:
They went wherever they could find work.
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Adverbial clauses of place can be introduced by correlative where(ver) there. For
example :
Where there is trouble, (there) he is sure to be.
Wherever the film star appeared, her fans were shocked by her
appearance( there).
3.2.2.2 Nonfinite and verbless adverbial clauses of place
Like adverbial clauses of time, adverbial clauses of place may be nonfinite or verbless.
For example:
Where(ever) possible, you should think twice before saying.
3.2.3 Clauses of condition and concession
3.2.3.1 Conditional clauses
“Conditional clauses state the dependence of one circumstance (or set of circumstances)
on another”(Quirk,1979,p.745). They usually begin with if (positive condition) and
Unless (negative condition).
We use “if” to say that consequence of something happening .When an if clauses is put
first, “Then” is sometimes put at the beginning of the main clause. For example :
If it is fine, (then) we’ll go for a picnic.
“Unless” mean “if not” and is the opposite of the compound conditional conjuncts :
provided (that), providing (that), as long as, so long as, on condition that. For
example :
I will not lend you my money unless you promise to pay it back on time.

Clauses beginning with unless usually go after main clauses.
Other conjuncts are : assuming (that), suppose (that), supposing (that), given (that), in
case. For example :
In case you need me, I’ll be in my office until lunch time.
Given (that) he were intelligent, he would not have got such high results.
If possible, I’ll see the manager right now.
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The first one is used to talk about situation, which may exist in the future. In sentences of
this kind, the verb in the main clause is will or shall and the verb in the conditional clause
is in simple present tense. For example:
If you like, I'll come to help you.
The second one, in which the verb in the main clause is would or should, the verb in the
conditional clause is in the simple past sentence, expresses a situation, which you know
does not exist at present. For example:
If I were you, I would apologize her.
The third one mentions a situation, which you know, did not exist in the past. In this case,
the verb in the main clause is in the past perfect tense. For example:
If it hadn't been for your wholehearted help, we would not have been able
to solve such a big problem.
3.2.3.2 Concessive clause:
Concessive clauses imply a contrast between two circumstances. In other words, the main
clause is surprising in the line of the dependent one. Clauses of concession are introduced
by although, though, even if, even, while, where as. For example :
Although he is disable, he still leads a happy and fulfilled life.
While I expect he was a good man, he turned out to be a lady- killer.
Despite and In spite of are also commonly associated with concessive clause but they
function differently from the subordinators above, that is they must be followed by a
nominal clause or a gerund. Consider the examples :
In spite of / Despite the fact that he is a millionaire, he work as hard as a bee.

In spite of / Despite being poor, they still live luxurious lives.
Concessive clause may also be introduced by an adjective, adverb or verb followed by as/
that/ though.
Much as/ that/ though I admire him, I don't like his behavior.
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Try as/ that/ though he might, he could not catch up with his mates.
Concessive clauses may be nonfinite or verbless :
Though an old man, he is very wise and healthy.
• Alternative conditional - concessive clauses :
Alternative conditional - concessive clauses are formed with the correlative sequence
whether or For example :
Whether you agree or not, I will marry him.
The above example can be understood in two ways:
If you agree, I will marry him.
Even if you don't agree, I will marry him.
• Universal conditional - concessive clause:
Gives a choice between two possible condition, the universal one, introduced by one of
the wh - words that combines with "ever", indicates a free choice from any number of
conditions. Compare :
Whether the situation got better or worse, we had to try our best to face it. (two
alternatives).
However the situation got, we had to try our best to face It. (any number of
alternatives).
Apart from whatever, whoever, wherever, etc, clauses of this type may be introduced by
the constructions : "No matter wh-" and "It doesn't matter wh-". For example:
However much money you need, I 'll give you.
No matter / It doesn't matter how much money you need, I'll give you.
Form of the verb BE, in some circumstances, can be omitted from a universal conditional-
concessive clauses. For example :

What your opinions (are), we will stand by you.
3.2.4 Clauses of reason(cause)
An adverbial clause of reason or cause tells why the action described by the independent
clause verb took place. A reason clause is introduced by because, since and as. Because
has a tendency to follow the main clause while as and since precede it.
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For example :
As he had never been away from home before, he was a title homesick at first.
Since he didn't know anything about the area, he got lost.
Farmers rely on chemicals for their crops because they need them to fight the
crop natural enemies.
3.2.5 Clause of circumstance
Semantically, clauses of circumstance are half - way between conditional clauses of
reason. They can introduced by because, as, since and the compound conjunction seeing
(that).
For example :
As we are entering the twenty-first century, we are facing many more exciting
technological challenges.
Seeing (that) no one paid attention to him, the speaker stopped.
Nonfinite and verbless clause can also be used but without a subordinator. Instead, we can
put with or without before the circumstantial clause.
(With) so many difficulties, they could not carry on with their project.
3.2.6 Clause of purpose:
Adverbial clause of purpose state the purpose of the action in the independent clause.
Finite adverbial clauses of purpose are usually introduced by so(that), in order that, for
fear that, incase can be used for negative purposes.
They used a loud-hair so that every one could hear them.
We reduced the number of motorbikes for fear that the air should be seriously
polluted.

Adverbial clause of purpose are more often infinitive clauses than finite clauses. (have no
subject). For example :
To see the manager, I have to wait for 2 hours.
He encouraged us to win our support.
More subordinators of purpose are : in order to and so as to :
We went to bed early in order to get up early the next morning.
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The Clean Air act was adopted so as to protect public health.
Negative purpose is expressed in infinitive clauses by in order not to and so as not to :
They talked softly in order not to be realized.
He closed the door so as not to wake the children up.
3.2.7. Clauses of result :
An adverbial clause of result expresses the result of the independent clause statement.
Clause of result can be introduced by :
so, so that, so
so + adjective/ adverb + that
such a(an) + adjective + noun + that
too + adjective / adverb + infinitive
adjective / adverb + enough + infinitive
For example :
Changing the oil is such an easy job that any mechanic can do it.
She is too young to go to school.
3.2.8 Clause of contrast:
In adverbial clauses of contrast, the information in the first clause of the sentence is in
strong contrast to or is the direct opposite of the information in the second clause. In such
a sentence can be introduced by the subordinators while, whereas. A comma is placed
between the contrast clauses. For example :
San Francisco is very cool during the summer, whereas San Juan is extremely hot.
While we discussed the problem, he stayed still and said nothing.

3.2.9 Clause of manner and comparison:
(1) Clause of manner :
Adverbial clauses of manner answer the question: How / and are normally introduced by
as, just as, exactly as, in the way that.
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Do it as I do not as I say.
He behaved in the way that his father did.
As also introduces a manner clause which involves comparison.( Quirk et al.1979) offer
an interesting example :
They hunted him as a tiger stalks his prey.
Like, as a preposition, is sometime used instead of as in manner clauses. For example :
We study like our teachers expect.
(2) Clauses of comparison:
Clauses of comparison is introduced by as if and as though. For example :
He looks as if he is ill.
He said as if he were the president.
They looked horrified as though they had seen a ghost.
Like, again, can replace as if, as though especially in Br.E :
She treated me like I were her son.
As if and as though may also introduced nonfinite or verbless clauses. For example:
They ran as though a ghost after them.
The teacher smiled as if to encourage us.
3.2.10 Clauses of proportion and preference.
(1) Proportional clauses :
Clause of this type expresses an equivalence of tendency or degree between the two
circumstances. They are introduced by as and the the.
For example :
As you sow, you will reap.
The more we live, the more beautiful we realize the life is.

(2) Clauses of preference:
Clauses of preference may be only introduced by the conjunctions rather than or sooner
than. They can be followed by a bare infinitive, an ing- clause or a noun- phrase.
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For example :
Let's go out for walk sooner than staying at home and gossiping.
Rather than go forward, we should turn back.
3.3 Adverbial elliptical clauses:
Ellipsis form is commonly used in English language because of their compressed and
economical form. Ramsay, O.C(1972) remarks that sometimes communicators can
convey meanings more efficiently by incorporating clauses rather than leave them in their
original clause form. Likewise, Cobuild, C. (1972) writes: “In English, people often omit
words rather than repeat them. This is called ellipses”. On the other hand, about the
reason for using ellipse, Quirk et al. (1987) explain that ellipsis is used to “avoid
repetition” and “to focus on new material”. Just compare:
Because misrepresented, the medicine is dangerous
Because the medicine was misrepresented, the medicine is dangerous( or
because it was misrepresented)
The second sentence is longer than the first one and , more importantly, the repetition of ‘
the medicine was” is by no means necessary. Now have a look at another example:
I never did go to that place although I probably should have( gone to that place).
As can be seen from the example, the use of contrasting tenses help the speaker attract the
hearer’s attention on the idea that he should have gone to that place.
From the points mentioned above, I come to the conclusion that the adverbial elliptical
clause is a type of adverbial clauses which contains ellipsis. Furthermore, adverbial
elliptical clauses have main features of the whole family of adverbial clauses, that is, they
perform the same semantic roles as the adverbial clause and as far as structure is
concerned, they may also fall into three subclasses : finite, nonfinite and verbless clauses.
3.3.1 Finite adverbial elliptical clauses:

Finite clauses may be analyzed into S, V, O, C, A. Among these elements, the subject is
hardly omitted from the clause structure partly because of the subject- verb concord.
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Instead, the whole of its predication or part of it can be omitted. In particular, possible
elements that can be reduced are:
• The whole predication. For example:
I’ll come to see the manager if you don’t( come to see manager)
• The subject complement (Cs) only. For example:
Everyone in his family is intelligent so he is(intelligent)
• The adjunct only. For example:
I’ll write to the Committee if you write( to the Committee).
Like the full finite clause, finite adverbial elliptical clause may appear initially, medially
or finally.
(1) Final position: normally, the elliptical clause follows the main one, “especially when
the lexical verb is ellipted and doesn’t itself comprise the whole of the predication, the
adverbial clause must follow”.( Quirk et al.1972, p.539). For example:
I won’t phone you unless you will.
(2) Initial position: if the ellipsis covers the whole of the predication, the adverbial clause
may precede the main one and they are separated by a comma. For example:
Because Peter won’t, Mary is dusting the furniture.
(3) Medial position: elliptical clauses can also appear medially between two commas in
the main clause. For example :
I, even if everyone would, will never forgive him.
3.3.2 Nonfinite and verbless adverbial elliptical clauses:
Finite adverbial clauses can be reduced to nonfinite and verbless clause with ellipses of
the subject( implied from the superordinate) and an appropriate form of BE , and of the
subordinator:
(1) The subject and appropriate form of BE. For example :
If needed, the money is available ( = if it is needed…)

When entering the room, she found them smoking ( = when she entered…)
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(2) Subordinators
Some time we can omit subordinators from nonfinite and verbless clauses, especially
those of time clauses and reason clauses. However, the ellipsis of subordinators may
cause ambiguity because more than one subordinator can be supplied. Look at the
example :
Infuriated by the interruptions, the speaker refused to continue.
Here, we can insert any of the following subordinators : after, when, whenever, once, as
soon as, etc. Before the adverbial clause and, accordingly, the meaning of the sentence
changes.
Clause of this type are not all equally mobile despite their adverbial nature. Many of them
are completely free in their location, like any other adverbials. But some types of
adverbial elliptical clauses are quite fixed in location. They are restricted to the initial or
final position on either side of the main clause with which they are associated
• Movable :
When finish, put your papers on the desk.
Put your papers , when finished, on the desk.
Put your papers on the desk when finished.
• Fixed, final position:
The program was successful, the reason being careful planning.
• Fixed, initial position:
Her story told, the girl waited for the children’s reaction.
The play over, the audience waited for the author.
To conclude, ellipsis is a very common phenomenon in English provided that it does not
change the meaning of what is said ellipted items can be any parts of the clause or
sentence. Ellipsis can helps avoid repetition.
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Table 1: subordinators in English
Semantic
roles
Single subordinators Compound
subordinators
Correlative
subordinators
Time After, before, as, once,
since, till, until, when
(ever), while, now (that),
immediately ( that),
directly (that)
As soon as, as long
as, so long as
No sooner…than,
Hardly…when
Place Where (ver), any where,
every where
condition If, unless, provided( that),
providing (that), assuming
(that), suppose (that),
given (that)
As long as, so long
as, in the event that,
in case
If… then
concessive Though, although, while,
whereas

Even though, even
if, no matter wh-
Where(…) or…
Reason Because, since, as
circumstance Because, as, since, now
(that)
purpose So(that) In order that, for fear
that, in case
result So, too, enough So that So…that, such…that
manner As, like In the way (that)
contrast While, whereas
comparison As if, as though
proportion as As…so, the…the
preference Rather…than,
sooner…than
CHAPTER IV: ADVERBIAL CLAUSES IN VIETNAMESE
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Like the adverbial clause in English, the Vietnamese adverbial clause is a main type of the
adverbial group and subordinate clauses. Thus, before examining adverbial clauses in
Vietnamese, I would like to have a look at adverbials in general.
To define what the adverbial clause is, I have consulted some Vietnamese grammarians'
opinion. According to Thuyết & Hiệp (1998), Ban & Dân (2001), semantically, adverbials
supplement the sentence with information about circumstances (time, place, reason,
manner, purpose, condition, etc.)In other words, adverbials are circumstance ( Nguyễn
Văn Thành,1998.p.317)of things, events, states mentioned in the sentence. According to
Thuyết & Hiệp (1998)'s statistics, on average, in a short story, as many as 30% of all
sentences are sentences containing adverbials.
While working with adverbial clauses in Vietnamese, I quoted some sentences from works
by famous writers namely i Tha, ụi mt, Chớ phốo (Nam cao), V nht (Kim Lõn),

V chng A Ph, D mốn phiờu lu kớ (Tụ Hoi), Mnh trng cui rng (Nguyn Minh
Chõu), Ngi lỏi ũ sụng (Nguyn tuõn), Mựa lc ( nguyn Khi) and Nỳi ụi ( V
Cao).
Vietnamese adverbials may be realized by a word( a noun, a verb or an adjective),
a phrase ( a noun phrase, a noun phrase + a preposition) or a clause. For example:
Mỏi mệt, anh ta dừng công việc lại.
( an adjective)
Vì lợi ích chung, ông ta từ chức.
( a noun phrase)
Trên cái sân gạch mới xây, mọi ngi đang đổ thóc ra phơi.
( a noun phrase + a prep)
Trong lúc mọi ng ời ngủ thì anh ta thức dậy.
( a clause)
The subordinate and superordinate clauses of complex sentence can go with or
without a subordinator. For example:
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