- Definition:
- An adverb clause is a dependent clause that describes a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. An adverb clause tells when, where, how, why, to what extent, or under what conditions something happened.
We will not have school today because it snowed last night.
Until it stops raining, we will stay inside.
When your father gets here, we will go.
An adverb clause begins with a subordinating conjunction.
Some common (but not all) subordinating conjunctions
| after although as as if as far as as long as as soon as as though because before even if | even though how if in order that once provided (that) rather than since so long as so (that) than | that though unless until when whenever where wherever whether while why |
We will not have school today because it snowed last night.
Until it stops raining, we will stay inside.
When your father gets here, we will go.
Commas with adverb clauses - When an adverb clause is at the beginning of the sentence, it is an introductory clause and needs a comma separating it from the independent clause. If the adverb clause comes after the independent clause, the conjunction is enough to hold the two clauses together.
We will not have school today because it snowed last night.
Because it snowed last night, we will not have school today.
Locating adverb clauses - Adverb clauses modifying verbs can move around the sentence.
I missed the bus because my alarm didn't go off. Because my alarm didn't go off, I missed the bus. (The dependent clause because my alarm didn't go off modifies the verb missed. The dependent clause is adverbial because it tells why you missed the bus.)
Whenever it rains, my little sister loves to jump in the puddles. My little sister loves to jump in the puddles whenever it rains. (The dependent clause whenever it rains modifies the verb loves. The dependent clause is adverbial because it tells when your little sister jumps in the puddles.)
Adverb clauses modifying adjectives or adverbs must come after the word modified.
Playing football is dangerous if you don't have the right equipment.
We walked to class quickly as if we were going to be late.
Elliptical adverb clauses have missing words that are understood.
When finished this building will be the tallest in the city.
When [it is] finished this building will be the tallest in the city.