Adverbial Clauses

Adverbial clause
An adverbial clause is a dependent clause that functions as an adverb. In other words, it contains a subject (explicit or implied) and a predicate, and it modifies a verb.
• I saw Joe when I went to the store. (explicit subject I)
• He sat quietly in order to appear polite. (implied subject he) According to Sidney Greenbaum and Randolph Quirk, adverbial clauses function mainly as adjuncts or disjuncts. In these functions they are like adverbial phrases, but due to their potentiality for greater explicitness, they are more often like prepositional phrases (Greenbaum and Quirk,1990):
• We left after the speeches ended. (adverbial clause)
• We left after the end of the speeches. (adverbial prepositional phrase) Contrast adverbial clauses with adverbial phrases, which do not contain a clause.
• I like to fly kites for fun. Adverbial clauses modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs. For example:
• Hardly had I reached the station when the train started to leave the platform.
The adverbial clause in this sentence is "when the train started to leave the platform" because it is a subordinate clause and because it has the trigger word (subordinate conjunction) "when".

Kinds of adverbial clauses:
Time clauses
Common Conjunctions : when, before, after, since, while, as, as long as, until,till, etc. (conjunctions that answer the question "when?"); hardly, scarcely, no sooner, etc.
Function : These clauses are used to say when something happens by referring to a period of time or to another event.

Conditional clauses
Common Conjunctions : if, unless, lest Function : These clauses are used to talk about a possible or counterfactual situation and its consequences.

Purpose clauses
Common Conjunctions : in order to, so that, in order that
Function : These clauses are used to indicate the purpose of an action.

Reason clauses
Common Conjunctions : because, since, as, given
Function : These clauses are used to indicate the reason for something.

Result clauses
Common Conjunctions : so...that
Function : These clauses are used to indicate the result of something.

Concessive clauses
Common Conjunctions : although, though, while
Function : These clauses are used to make two statements, one of which contrasts with the other or makes it seem surprising.

Place clauses
Common Conjunctions : where, wherever, anywhere, everywhere, etc. (conjunctions that answer the question "where?")
Function : These clauses are used to talk about the location or position of something.

Clauses of manner
Common Conjunctions : as, like, the way
Function : These clauses are used to talk about someone's behaviour or the way something is done.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adverbial_clause

Definition:
A dependent clause used as an adverb within a sentence to indicate time, place, condition, contrast, concession, reason, purpose, or result. Also known as adverbial clause.
An adverb clause begins with a subordinating conjunction (such as if, when, because, or although) and includes a subject and a predicate.
Observations: The name "adverbial" suggests that adverbial clauses modify verbs; but they modify whole clauses, as shown by the examples [below]. Their other key property is that they are adjuncts, since they are typically optional constituents in sentences. They are traditionally classified according to their meaning, for example adverbial clauses of reason, time, concession, manner or condition, as illustrated below.
a. Reason Because Marianne loved Willoughby, she refused to believe that he had deserted her.
b. Time When Fanny returned, she found Tom Bertram very ill.
c. Concession Although Mr D'Arcy disliked Mrs Bennet he married Elizabeth.
d. Manner Henry changed his plans as the mood took him.
e. Condition If Emma had left Hartfield, Mr Woodhouse would have been unhappy.
http://grammar.about.com/od/ab/g/qdvclterm.htm

Question :
1. What is the meaning of the adverbial clause?
2. How many types of adverbial clause?
3. Describe the type of adverbial clause!
4. Write examples of adverbial clause!
Answer :
1. A dependent clause used as an adverb within a sentence to indicate time, place, condition, contrast, concession, reason, purpose, or result. Also known as adverbial clause. An adverb clause begins with a subordinating conjunction (such as if, when, because, or although) and includes a subject and a predicate.
2. 8 types
3. Kinds of adverbial clause

• Time clauses
Common Conjunctions : when, before, after, since, while, as, as long as, until,till, etc. (conjunctions that answer the question "when?"); hardly, scarcely, no sooner, etc.
Function : These clauses are used to say when something happens by referring to a period of time or to another event.

• Conditional clauses
Common Conjunctions : if, unless, lest
Function : These clauses are used to talk about a possible or counterfactual situation and its consequences.

• Purpose clauses
Common Conjunctions : in order to, so that, in order that
Function : These clauses are used to indicate the purpose of an action.

• Reason clauses
Common Conjunctions : because, since, as, given
Function : These clauses are used to indicate the reason for something.

• Result clauses
Common Conjunctions : so...that Function : These clauses are used to indicate the result of something.

• Concessive clauses
Common Conjunctions : although, though, while
Function : These clauses are used to make two statements, one of which contrasts with the other or makes it seem surprising.

• Place clauses
Common Conjunctions : where, wherever, anywhere, everywhere, etc. (conjunctions that answer the question "where?")
Function : These clauses are used to talk about the location or position of something.

• Clauses of manner
Common Conjunctions : as, like, the way
Function : These clauses are used to talk about someone's behaviour or the way something is done
4. -We left after the speeches ended. (adverbial clause)
-We left after the end of the speeches. (adverbial prepositional phrase) Contrast adverbial clauses with adverbial phrases, which do not contain a clause.

-I like to fly kites for fun. Adverbial clauses modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs. For example:

-Hardly had I reached the station when the train started to leave the platform.
The adverbial clause in this sentence is "when the train started to leave the platform" because it is a subordinate clause and because it has the trigger word (subordinate conjunction) "when".