Mệnh đề trạng ngữ adverb clauses

ADVERB CLAUSES
Prepared by
TOEFL class


1. Overview
 Examples:

 The people danced as the music played.
 Since Max seldom talks about himself, I did not
know he liked classical ballet.
 I bought the book so that I could read on the
flight.

 A subordinate clause
 Contain a clause marker, a subject and a
verb
 Come before or after the main clause /
independent clause


2. Kinds of subordinators
 Time













After
By the time
When
As
Once
Whenever
Before
Since
While
As soon as
Till / until

 The people danced as
the music played.
 We worked as long as
we could.


2. Kinds of subordinators
 Manner
 As
 As if / As though
 Just as

 Betty looks as if
something is

wrong.
 The wind was cold
yesterday just as it
had been all week
long.


2. Kinds of subordinators
 Cause and effect
(reason)






Because
As
Since
So that
Now that

 We should take a first
- aid kit in case there
is an accident.
 Since Max seldom
talks about himself, I
did not know he liked
classical ballet.

2. Kinds of subordinators
 Condition








If
Even if
Only if
In the event that
In case that
Provided (that)
Unless

 We can go camping
with Bill provided
we bring our own
equipment.


2. Kinds of subordinators
 Purpose
 So that
 So (that)
 In order that

 He wrote that
memo in order that
there would be no
misunderstandings.
 I bought the book
so that I could read
on the flight.


2. Kinds of subordinators
 Results
 so ... that
 such ... that

 The lock on my
suitcase broke so
that all my
belongings fell onto
the conveyor belt.
 She got such a
shock that she
dropped the tray.


2. Kinds of subordinators
 Concession /
Oppositions













Although
As much as
Despite the fact that
Even if
Even though
Except that
In spite of the fact
that
Not that
Though
Whereas
While

 Jim goes hiking,
despite the fact that
he has asthma.
 Jenny’s smile is an
important aspect of
her personality, even if
she does not realize it.

2. Kinds of subordinators
 Place
 Everywhere
 Wherever
 Where

 Everywhere he went,
people admired him.
 Wherever I looked, I
found fingerprints.


3. Reduced adverb clauses




An adverb clause can be changed to a reduced
one if the subject of the main clause and the
subject of the adverb clause are the same.
A




reduced adverb clause consists of:
a present participle (active voice)
or a past participle (passive voice)

or an adjective + clause maker (although,
when, while)


3. Reduced adverb clauses
 Adverb clauses that begin with after, before,
since, when, and while are frequently reduced
to phrases.

 When reducing adverb clauses that begin with
because, when or while, sometimes the
subject and subordinator / clause markers are
omitted.


3. Reduced adverb clauses
 Because it was once considered a dangerous predator,
the wolf has been hunted to near-extinction.
→ Once considered a dangerous predator, the wolf has
been hunted to near-extinction.

 When she returned to her native city, Kate Chopin
began to write the stories for which she is noted.
→ Returning to her native city, Kate Chopin began to
write the stories for which she is noted.


3. Reduced adverb clauses
After the space probes landed on Mars, they sent
back pictures.

→ After landing on Mars, the space probes sent back
pictures


 Although the moon rocks were expensive to obtain,
they provided valuable information.
→ Although expensive to obtain, the moon rocks
provided valuable information.


3. Reduced adverb clauses
 When a substance undergoes a slow oxidation, the
substance can burst into flame.
→ When undergoing a slow oxidation, the substance can
burst into flame.

 Benjamin Franklin invented many things while he was
working as a printer.
→ Benjamin Franklin invented many things while working as
a printer.


3. Reduced adverb clauses
 Frank Sprague developed the elevator after he had
improved the electric motor.
→ Frank Sprague developed the elevator after
improving the electric motor.

 Since it was discovered, penicillin has been used to
treat bacterial infections.

→ Since discovered, penicillin has been used to treat
bacterial infections.


4. Verb tense of the adverb clauses
 In most adverb clauses, the verb has the
same tense as the verb in the main clause.
 Some exceptions
 The time refers to something that will happen,
use a present tense.
 As soon as I find my car keys, we’ll leave.


4. Verb tense of the adverb clauses


Some exceptions
 “in case” / “just in case”
+ clause refers to a
possible future situation,
use simple present tense.


The verb in the main
clause is in the present
tense or present perfect
tense, use “can” “may”
“will” or “shall”



The verb in the main
clause is in the past
tense, use “could”
“might” “would” or
“should”



I am bringing my umbrella
(just) in case it rains.



I want to learn typing so that
I can type my own essays.



Margo wrote the items on a
list that we would remember
everything.


4. Verb tense of the adverb clauses
 Some exceptions
 Conditional type 1

 Conditional type 2

 If someone speaks to
Lily, she turns red.
 If you don’t believe
me, you can ask Mike.
 If you haven’t had this
kind of cookie, we
should get some for
you to try.
 He couldn’t sleep
unless he got a lot of
exercise.


5. Notes
 Some prepositions have almost the same meaning as
some of the clause markers but they can be used only
with nouns, noun phrases, or pronouns. They cannot be
used with clauses.







Because of
On account of
In case of
In spite of
Despite

During


5. Notes
 In spite of the damage to the spacecraft, the
astronauts got back to Earth safely.
 In case of contamination, special suits were worn.
 Many of the planets are cratered because of meteor
bombardment.
 Radio receivers were used during the Second World
War.


6. TOEFL strategy
 A part of the adverb clause may be missing.
 Incorrect subordinator
The art of yoga began in India more than 2,000
years ago, ........... people discovered they could use
a breathing exercise to develop focus.
A. some
B. that
C. as if
D. when


6. TOEFL strategy
 Incorrectly formed adverb phrase
.......... Becquerel’s work with radioactivity, Marie
Curie began to study uranium.
A. She followed

B. Followed
C. Following
D. It follows


The end