ADVERBIAL CLAUSES

Adverbial Clauses of Time

ADVERBIAL CLAUSESSame function as adverbial phrases in a simple sentenceAdverbial clauses = AdjunctsModify the verb of the main clauseSubordinators – connect the main clause with the adverbial clauseE.g. Her goldfish died when she was young.

Adverbial Clauses of Time

Relate the time of the situation denoted in the main clauseCan be FINITE and NON-FINITEExpress time of the actionTime can be: FIXED_TIME, DURATION OR FREQUENCY. Time relations – can be simultaneous, one action may follow or precede the other, etc.

The subordinator WHEN• Very frequent• Actions - Either simultaneous or follow each

otherSimultaneous, e.g. You seem very happy when you help other people. Follow, e.g. She felt happy when she saw her friend.

• My father was shaving when the doorbell ran.

• The children screamed when they saw a snake in the classroom.

a. When – a coordinator When = and thene.g. I approached the car when I saw its door broken.

b. When introducing a noun clausee.g. When the bus arrives is not known yet.

c. The subordinator when can introduce a clause in an NP – postM function; The case when the headword denotes timee.g. The moment when I saw you will never be forgotten.

Adverbs of time

Directly, immediately, instantly, once – may function as subordinators of time when the subordinator WHEN is dropped,e.g. We will go out to dinner once the movie ends.e.g. Directly he was paid, he went out shopping. e.g. She returned immediately she heard the news.

The subordinator WHenever

“At whatever time”, “no matter when”, etc.

e.g. Whenever I study Math, I get confused and upset.

The subordinator while“During the time that”, “at the same time that” – denotes a continuous activitye.g. While you wait, we will detail your car.o Sometimes While equal to though

e.g. While I fully understand your point of view, I also have some sympathy with Michael’s.

o While can sometimes be equal to the coordinator BUTe.g. Tom is very extrovert and confident while Katy’s shy and quiet.

The subordinator ASIntroduces a clause – the action in progressa) The action in the main clause – simultaneous

as = when = while e.g. He gets more attractive as he gets older.

b) Gradual development of a process, e.g. As she was growing up, she became more and more beautiful.

c) The action of the main clause can follow the action in the subordinate clause. AS is usually premodified by the adverb just.

e.g. The building collapsed just as he arrived.

The subordinator as long as

Almost equal to while

e.g. We can sit here as long as we wait.

The subordinators till and until

“up to the time when”e.g. Fry the onions till they start to color. e.g. I can’t pay my bills until my paycheck comes.

The subordinator since

“from the time that”, “after the time that”

e.g. John has been a student in college since he was 17 years old.

The subordinator after

The action of the subordinate clause precedes the action of the main clause

e.g. After I ate dinner, I took a walk.

The subordinator beforeThe action of the main clause precedes the action of the subordinate clause of time

e.g. Before Melissa went to class, she studied for the quiz.

NON-FINITE CLAUSES AS ADVERBIAL CLAUSES

Gerundial ClausesParticipial ClausesPerfect ParticiplesThe subordinators when and while – used with

participial clauses of time

Gerundial Clauses of time

Introduced by the prepositions:on – Emphasize an idea on an immediate succession, e.g. On arriving home, everybody surprised him. in - show the time of the action in the main clause, e. g. I enjoy myself in driving too fast.

Participial Clauses of time

Present Participle, e.g. Spending all the money, he came back home.

Past Participle, e.g. That done, he moved on with the household chores.

Perfect Participles

Adverbial clauses of time can be performed by perfect participles, e.g. Having said that, he continued presenting the winners of the competition.

The subordinators WHEN and While used with participial clauses

e.g. While eating, I choked on a bone.

e.g. When doing my homework, I prefer listening to music.

The subordinator WhenObligatory in these cases: When = whenever

E.g. When driving on slippery roads, don’t use brakes at all.

If the subordinate clause follows the main clauseE.g. When playing chess, he always smoked cigars.

The subordinator WHILEObligatory in the following cases: When it is equivalent to a finite adverbial clause

e.g. While cleaning the car, I found this under the seat.When the participial clause of time follows the main

clausee.g. I noticed a cute baby while looking out of the window.

When the time relation between the subordinate and the main clause must not changee.g. While finishing her research paper, she worked as a teacher.

Past participial clauses of time

Can be:• Related participial structures

e.g. Asked why she cried, she said she didn’t know.

• Absolute participial structurese.g. The letter finished, he took it to the post office.

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