English Grammar

Adverb Clauses

Subordinate clauses can function as adverbs and then they are called adverb clauses. An adverb clause answers the following questions:

Where?
Why?
When?
How?
To what extent?
Under what condition?
In what manner?
How often?

An adverb clause is a subordinate clause that describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb. All adverb clauses start with a subordinating conjunction. Some of the most common subordinating conjunctions used for this purpose are: when, before, after, as, since, as if, as though, because, that, if, unless, whether, as long as, as soon as and as though.

Position

You can place an adverb clause in the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence.

• After the play ended, we sang the national anthem.
• I shall wait until you have finished dressing.
• I haven’t been to the cinema since I saw ‘The Sound of Music’.
• I read because I like reading.
• She spoke in such a low voice that few could hear her.