ADVERBIAL CLAUSE

1. INTRODUCTION

• When we were in New York, we saw several plays.
• When several plays when we were in New York.

~ When we were in New York is an adverb clause.
Punctuation : when an adverb clause precedes an independent clause, a comma is used to
separate the clause. When the adverb clause follows, usually no comma is used.

• Because he was sleepy, he went to bed.
• He went to bed because he was sleepy.

~Like when, because introduces and adverb clause. Because he was sleepy is an adverb clause.

• Incorrect : When we were in New York. We saw several plays.
• Incorrect : He went to bed. Because he was sleepy.

~Adverb clauses are dependent clauses. They cannot stand alone as a sentance in written english. They must be connected to an independent clause.

2. EXPRESSING CONDITION IN ADVERB CLAUSES : IF-CLAUSES.

• If it rains, the street get wet.

~If-clauses (also called "adverb clauses of condition") present possible conditions. The main clause expresses result : possible condition = it rains
Result = The streets get wet

• If it rains tomorrow, i will take my umbrella.

~A present tense, not a future tense, is used in an if-clause even thought the verb in the if-clause may refer to a future event or situation.

3. ADVERB CLAUSES OF CONDITION : USING WHETHER OR NOT AND EVEN IF

• Whether or not

- I'm going to go swimming tomorrow whether or not it is cold ( or: whether it is cold or not ).
~Whether or not expresses the idea that neither this condition nor that condition matters ; the result will be the same.

• Even if

- I have decided to go swimming tommorow. Even if the whether is cold, i'm going to go swimming.
~Sentences with even if are close in meaning to those with whether or not. Even if gives the idea that a particular condition does not matter. The result will not change.

4. ADVERB CLAUSES OF CONDITION : USING IN CASE AND IN THE EVENT THAT

• I'll be at my uncle's house in case you ( should ) need to reach me.

~In case and in the event that express the idea that something probably won't happen, but it might.

• In the event that you ( should ) need to reach me, i'll be at my uncle's house.

~In case in the event that means "if by chance this should happen".
note: In the event that is more formal than in case. The speaker's uncertainty that something will happen.

5. ADVERB CLAUSES OF CONDITION : USING UNLESS

• I'll go swimming tommorow unless it's cold.

~Unless = if ... not

• I'll go swimming tomorrow if it isn't cold.

~Unless it's cold means "if it isn't cold".

6. ADVERB CLAUSES OF CONDITION : USING ONLY IF

• The picnic will be canceled only if it rains

- If it's windy, we'll go on the picnic
- If it's cold, we'll go on the picnic
- If it's damp and foggy, we'll go on the picnic
- If it's unbearably hot, we'll go on the picnic
~ Only if expresses the idea that there is only one condition that will cause a particular result

• Only if it rains will the picnic be canceled

~When only if begins a sentence, the subject and verb of the main clause are inverted.