Hi everyone! Today’s blog is a grammar lesson focusing on adverb clauses that express: where, when, how and why. I like to tell my students that whether you’re telling a story, explaining how something works, or talking about an event, knowing how to use adverb clauses will help you do it more clearly and beautifully. The lesson below is broken down into 4 simple parts, and I’ve included my video lesson for you too. Let’s get started!
Adverbs are words that give information about a verb, an adjective or another adverb.
- a verb: My teacher speaks slowly.
The adverb “slowly” gives information about the verb “speaks.” - adjective: It’s really cold today.
The adverb “really” gives information about the adjective “cold.” - another adverb: My teacher speaks quite slowly.
The adverb “quite” describes the adverb “slowly.”
But, many times a single adverb does not give us enough information. We need an adverb clause.
A “clause” in grammar is a structure that has a subject and a verb. Simple.
Part 1: WHEN (TIME)
When we think about the concept of time, we can think: before, during and after.
before: before, by the time, until
during: as, while, when
after: after, whenever, when, as soon as, once
These words / phrases are called subordinating conjunctions. They connect our adverb clauses to independent clauses.
1) I cleaned my house before the guests arrived.
independent clause: I cleaned my house
adverb clause (dependent clause): before the guests arrived
subordinating conjunction: before
subject: the guests
verb: arrived
Before the guests arrived, I cleaned my house.
Yes, you can also switch the clauses around. Add a comma to separate the clauses if you adverb clause comes first.
2) My house was spotless by the time the party started. / By the time the party started, my house was spotless.
independent clause: My house was spotless
adverb clause (dependent clause): by the time the party started
subordinating conjunction: by the time
subject: the party
verb: started
3) I cleaned until the guests arrived. / Until the guests arrived, I cleaned. (beginning a sentence with “until” is not so common)
independent clause: I cleaned
adverb clause (dependent clause): until the guests arrived
subordinating conjunction: until
subject: the guests
verb: arrived
COMMON MISTAKE: Can you help me? I haven’t received the package until now.
(“until now” is an adverb phrase)
Remember, “until” means an action continues and stops before something else. So your message sounds like you have received the package which makes your message a bit confusing. If you’ve received the package, why do you need help?
4) The kitchen smelled amazing, as / while / when the pizza was baking.
As / While / When the pizza was baking, the kitchen smelled amazing.
independent clause: The kitchen smelled amazing.
adverb clause (dependent clause): as / while / when the pizza was baking
subordinating conjunction(s): as/while/when
subject: the pizza
verb: was baking
There are many ways to use “as, while, when” in English. They can be used in the same way when they mean “during this time.” Example: My gums started to bleed when / as / while I was brushing my teeth.
Below are some more examples!
5) I cleaned my house again, after everybody left. / After everybody left, I cleaned my house again.
6) I meet Sally for dinner whenever I can. / Whenever I can, I meet Sally for dinner.
7) Please call me when you get home. / When you get home, please call me.
“When” can mean “during this time,” or “after.” The context will tell you.
What’s the difference between “when” and “whenever”?
when = a specific time
whenever = any time – the time is not important
8) I put on my glasses as soon as I wake up. / As soon as I wake up, I put on my glasses.
9) I’ll send you my new address once I have it. / Once I have my new address, I’ll send it to you.
“As soon as” and “once” emphasize “immediately after.” They are more empathic than simply using “after.”
Compare:
- I’ll go to the store after my English class ends.
- I have 10 minutes between the end of my English class and when my bus arrives. I’ll need to go to the store as soon as my English class ends, or I might miss my bus.
If you’re finding this lesson useful, please be sure to check out my store below! 
Part 2: WHERE (place)
Adverb clauses can tell us where something happens. We often use the subordinating conjunctions: where, wherever, everywhere, anywhere.
10) I’ll meet you where we first met.
independent clause: I’ll meet you
adverb clause (dependent clause): where we first met
subordinating conjunction(s): where
subject: we
verb: met
11) I’ll meet you wherever you want.
Just like “when” and “whenever,” “where” is more specific, and “wherever” means “any place.”
12) Everywhere I look, I see a bright light.
13) We can eat anywhere you want.
COMMON QUESTION: What’s the difference between “everywhere” and “anywhere”?
everywhere = all locations
anywhere = the one specific location doesn’t matter
Let’s compare. Which sentence is more natural?
A: Where do you want to go to eat?
B: We can eat everywhere. / We can eat anywhere.
“We can eat anywhere” is correct. This means that the speaker doesn’t mind where they eat. “Everywhere” is grammatically correct, but it means that the speaker wants to eat in ALL restaurants which isn’t really realistic.
Part 3: HOW (manner)
Adverb clauses can also tell us how an action is done. We call this “manner.”
14) Bridget looked at me like / as if / as though I had said something insulting.
independent clause: Bridget looked at me
adverb clause (dependent clause): like / as if / as though I had said something insulting
subordinating conjunction(s): like / as if / as though
subject: I
verb: had said
15) Candance saw a spider and screamed as if / as though /like she was being murdered.
16) As though / As if /Like someone had used a magic wand, my headache disappeared.
17) Mark is a fast eater. He eats like / as if/ as though he’ll never see food again.
“Like” is less formal.
Part 4: WHY (reason)
Adverb clauses can tell us “why.” We can use the conjunctions: because, as, since.
18) The tree’s roots had to be cut back because /as / since they were damaging the sidewalk.
independent clause: The tree’s roots had to be cut back
adverb clause (dependent clause): because / as / since they were damaging the sidewalk
subordinating conjunction(s): because / as / since
subject: they
verb: were damaging
You can switch these clauses around, but remember that comma!
Many times, “because, since, as” can be used interchangeably. They mean the same thing. But, “because” often focuses on the reason, and “as/since” focus on the result.
● I had to call my landlord (result) because there is a leak in my ceiling (reason).
Here, “because” focuses on the reason I called the landlord.
● Can we move our dinner reservation to 7 (result) because I’m running a bit late today (reason)?
Here, “because” focuses on the reason why I want to change the dinner reservation.
● Let’s get inside (result) as/since it’s raining (reason).
Everyone can see that it’s raining. The reason doesn’t need to be emphasized. Here, the result is the main focus.
● As/Since you’re my sister (reason), I want you to be my maid-of-honor (result).
The fact that they are sisters is already clear. This sentence focuses more on the result. In fact, this adverb clause wouldn’t even be necessary in a conversation because the reason is pretty obvious.
If you’d like to take a test on adverb clauses, be sure to check out my video!
