NTUT Academic WritiNTUT Academic Writing (IV)ng (IV)

““Adverbial Clauses”Adverbial Clauses”

※※Definitions and Purposes: Definitions and Purposes: A dependent clause introduced by an aA dependent clause introduced by an a

dverbial subordinator.dverbial subordinator.

Used to modify the verb of the indepenUsed to modify the verb of the independent clause and to indicate time, place, dent clause and to indicate time, place, reason, and so forth. It is also used to sreason, and so forth. It is also used to show contrast. how contrast.

※※Its main structure: Its main structure:

※ ※ Simple punctuation:Simple punctuation:

adverbial clauses are placed before and aftadverbial clauses are placed before and after an independent clause.er an independent clause.

Ex. Ex. Because scientists are interested in the Because scientists are interested in the planetsplanets, they send spacecraft to orbit them., they send spacecraft to orbit them.

Scientists send spacecraft to orbit the planScientists send spacecraft to orbit the planets ets so that humans can learn more about tso that humans can learn more about the universehe universe. .

※※Types of Adverbial Clauses: Types of Adverbial Clauses:

※※Time Clauses:Time Clauses: (when, while, as soon as, after, before, (when, while, as soon as, after, before,

until, etc.)until, etc.)

Ex. Everyone should know what to do. Ex. Everyone should know what to do. An earthquake strikes.An earthquake strikes.

Everyone should know what to do Everyone should know what to do whewhenn an earthquake strikes. an earthquake strikes.

※※Test Yourselves:Test Yourselves: 1. If you are inside, move away from windows, 1. If you are inside, move away from windows, and get under a desk or table, or stand in a and get under a desk or table, or stand in a doorway. You feel the floor begin to shake.doorway. You feel the floor begin to shake. 2. Try to stay calm. The earthquake is happening.2. Try to stay calm. The earthquake is happening. 3. Don’t move. The floor stops shaking.3. Don’t move. The floor stops shaking. 4. You are sure the earthquake is over. You may 4. You are sure the earthquake is over. You may

begin begin to move around.to move around. 5. You have checked carefully for fallen power li5. You have checked carefully for fallen power li

nes. nes. You may go outside. You may go outside.

※※Place Clauses:Place Clauses:

(wherever, where, everywhere, anywh(wherever, where, everywhere, anywhere, etc.)ere, etc.)

Ex. People prefer to shop. Credit cards Ex. People prefer to shop. Credit cards are accepted.are accepted.

People prefer to shop where credit carPeople prefer to shop where credit cards are accepted. ds are accepted.

※※Test Yourselves:Test Yourselves: 1. Consumers have a tendency to buy more. 1. Consumers have a tendency to buy more. Credit cards are accepted for payment of Credit cards are accepted for payment of merchandise.merchandise. 2. You cannot use credit card. You shop.2. You cannot use credit card. You shop. 3. There are a few places of business. A credit 3. There are a few places of business. A credit card is not accepted.card is not accepted. 4. They are accepted. Travelers can only use 4. They are accepted. Travelers can only use credit cards in foreign countries. credit cards in foreign countries.

※※Manner (how), Distance (hoManner (how), Distance (how far), and Frequency Clauses w far), and Frequency Clauses

(how often):(how often): Ex. The demonstrators left Ex. The demonstrators left as the police as the police

had had orderedordered. (manner). (manner) The students completed the experiment The students completed the experiment

as quickly as they couldas quickly as they could. (manner). (manner) Pat jogs on the beach Pat jogs on the beach as far as she canas far as she can. .

(distance)(distance) Kathleen spoke Kathleen spoke as ifas if ( (as thoughas though) ) she wershe wer

e an authority on the subjecte an authority on the subject. (manner) . (manner)

※ ※ Test Yourselves:Test Yourselves:

1. The public must conserve energy _______ the president has requested. (man1. The public must conserve energy _______ the president has requested. (manner).ner).

2. Many Americans want to move _______ they can from polluted cities. (dista2. Many Americans want to move _______ they can from polluted cities. (distance)nce)

3. We should not consume our natural resources _____ we have in the past. (m3. We should not consume our natural resources _____ we have in the past. (manner:anner:

wastefully)wastefully)

4. Citizens should make a strong effort to conserve all natural resources ___ th4. Citizens should make a strong effort to conserve all natural resources ___ the e

government has advised.government has advised.

5. No nation in the would can afford to act ___ pollution were not its problem. 5. No nation in the would can afford to act ___ pollution were not its problem. (manner: as if/as though)(manner: as if/as though)

6. The EPA must remind people ______ they can about the dangers of pollutio6. The EPA must remind people ______ they can about the dangers of pollution. n.

(frequency)(frequency)

※※Reason Clauses: (because, siReason Clauses: (because, since, as)nce, as)

Ex. Europeans are in some ways better enviroEx. Europeans are in some ways better environmentalists than North Americans nmentalists than North Americans because thbecause they are more used to conserving energyey are more used to conserving energy..

Since many Europeans live, work, and shop Since many Europeans live, work, and shop in the same localein the same locale, they are quite accustomed , they are quite accustomed to riding bicycles, trains, and streetcars to get to riding bicycles, trains, and streetcars to get around.around.

As the price of gasoline has always been quitAs the price of gasoline has always been quite high in Europee high in Europe, if a European owns an auto, if a European owns an automobile, it is likely to be a high-mileage model mobile, it is likely to be a high-mileage model that uses diesel fuel. that uses diesel fuel.

※※Test Yourselves:Test Yourselves: 1. Europeans experienced hardship and deprivation during and 1. Europeans experienced hardship and deprivation during and after World War II. They are used to conserving.after World War II. They are used to conserving. 2. European nations are trying to reduce the level of carbon 2. European nations are trying to reduce the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere dioxide in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes global warming.causes global warming. 3. Coal pollutes the air and gives off a lot of carbon dioxide. 3. Coal pollutes the air and gives off a lot of carbon dioxide. Most European nations have switched to natural gas to Most European nations have switched to natural gas to produce electricity.produce electricity. 4. In the United States, in contrast, 56% of the nation’s 4. In the United States, in contrast, 56% of the nation’s electricity is generated by burning coal. Coal is cheap and electricity is generated by burning coal. Coal is cheap and plentiful. plentiful.

※※Result Clauses:Result Clauses: (so that, such + noun that, so much/many + nou(so that, such + noun that, so much/many + nou

n phrase that, so little/few + noun phrase that)n phrase that, so little/few + noun phrase that)

Ex. New textbooks are Ex. New textbooks are soso expensive expensive that many that many students buy used onesstudents buy used ones..

There is always There is always so much noiseso much noise in the dormitor in the dormitory y that I can’t study therethat I can’t study there..

There were There were so manyso many students waiting in line to students waiting in line to register for classes register for classes that I decided to come bacthat I decided to come back laterk later. .

※※Test Yourselves:Test Yourselves: 1. The Ancient Peru exhibit was popular. It was 1. The Ancient Peru exhibit was popular. It was held for over two weeks. (so that)held for over two weeks. (so that)

2. The artifacts were of historic value. Anthropol2. The artifacts were of historic value. Anthropologists ogists

from several universities came to study them. from several universities came to study them. (such (such

that)that)

3. There were many exhibits. We couldn’t see a3. There were many exhibits. We couldn’t see all of them. (so many that) ll of them. (so many that)

※※Purpose Clauses:Purpose Clauses: (so that, in order that [formal] + modal(so that, in order that [formal] + modal

s: can/could, will/would, etc.)s: can/could, will/would, etc.)

Ex. Farmers use chemical pesticides Ex. Farmers use chemical pesticides sso that they can grow bigger harvestso that they can grow bigger harvests..

Farmers also spray their fields Farmers also spray their fields in ordein order that consumers might enjoy unbler that consumers might enjoy unblemished fruitsmished fruits and vegetablesand vegetables. .

※※Test Yourselves:Test Yourselves: 1. Chemicals are used in many food products. 1. Chemicals are used in many food products. They will stay fresh longer.They will stay fresh longer.

2. They can produce organic crops. Some 2. They can produce organic crops. Some farmers use only natural pest control methfarmers use only natural pest control meth

ods.ods.

3. They might avoid potential health risks. Th3. They might avoid potential health risks. They ey

prefer eating organic food. prefer eating organic food.

※※Concession (unexpected resConcession (unexpected result) clauses:ult) clauses:

(although, even though, though)(although, even though, though)

Ex. Ex. Although I studied all nightAlthough I studied all night, I fail, I failed the test.ed the test.

I failed the test I failed the test although I studied all although I studied all nightnight. .

※※Test Yourselves:Test Yourselves: 1. She’s a famous star. She’s unhappy. (even 1. She’s a famous star. She’s unhappy. (even though: for emphasis)though: for emphasis) 2. Beethoven wrote some of the Western 2. Beethoven wrote some of the Western world’s greatest music. He became totally dworld’s greatest music. He became totally d

eaf eaf in mid-life.in mid-life. 3. Abraham Lincoln became one of the great 3. Abraham Lincoln became one of the great presidents of the United States. He came fropresidents of the United States. He came fro

m m humble origins. humble origins.

※※Contrast (direct opposites) CContrast (direct opposites) Clauses:lauses:

(while, whereas [formal]; a (while, whereas [formal]; a comma is neecomma is neededded in both cases) in both cases)

Ex. San Francisco is very cool during the sEx. San Francisco is very cool during the summer, whereas San Juan is extremely hoummer, whereas San Juan is extremely hot.t.

While San Juan is extremely hot during thWhile San Juan is extremely hot during the summer, San Francisco is very cool. e summer, San Francisco is very cool.

※※Test Yourselves:Test Yourselves: 1. The West Coast suffered a severe drought. 1. The West Coast suffered a severe drought. The East Coast had a rainfall.The East Coast had a rainfall.

2. Smokers claim the right to smoke in public 2. Smokers claim the right to smoke in public places. Nonsmokers claim the right to clear air.places. Nonsmokers claim the right to clear air.

3. College graduates with degrees in technology a3. College graduates with degrees in technology are in re in

demand. Graduates with degrees in music are ndemand. Graduates with degrees in music are not. ot.

※※Review: Review:

※※More Writing Practice:More Writing Practice: Ex. I reviewed my class notes Ex. I reviewed my class notes before I took the final exabefore I took the final exa

mm. (time). (time)

1. I bought all of my textbooks ________________. (time)1. I bought all of my textbooks ________________. (time) 2. Tom rode on the subway ________________. (distance)2. Tom rode on the subway ________________. (distance) 3. _____________ he company hired me. (reason)3. _____________ he company hired me. (reason) 4. I study in the library ____________. (purpose)4. I study in the library ____________. (purpose) 5. Tom wanted to become a doctor ____________. (conces5. Tom wanted to become a doctor ____________. (conces

sion)sion) 6. Water shortage is a thorny issue _________. (place)6. Water shortage is a thorny issue _________. (place) 7. City living is stressful _____________. (contrast/directio7. City living is stressful _____________. (contrast/directio

n n opposition) opposition)

※※Editing Practice: Editing Practice:

Primary Text:Primary Text:

Longman, Wesley Addison. Longman, Wesley Addison. Writing AWriting Academic Englishcademic English. 3rd Ed. NY: Pearson . 3rd Ed. NY: Pearson Education, 1999.Education, 1999.