This document provides a review and examples of reducing adverb clauses to phrases. It begins by defining different types of adverb clauses, such as time, reason, and opposition clauses. It then explains how to reduce adverb clauses by making the subject of both clauses the same, changing the verb in the adverb clause to a participle form, and optionally removing the subordinator. The document provides examples of reducing various types of adverb clauses like before, after, since, while, as, and because clauses. It also addresses special cases like passive voice, fragments, punctuation errors, and double connectors. In the end, it provides contact information for the author to learn more.

1. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Adverb Clauses
A Quick Review of Reduction
to Phrases with Practice

2. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Reducing Adverb Clauses
Clauses of:
TIME
REASON
OPPOSITION

3. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
To Reduce…
Subjects of both clauses MUST
be the same
Verb in the ADV CLAUSE can
change to participle
Subordinator often optional

4. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
BEFORE CLAUSE
Before she moved to CA, Freda lived in
Alaska.
Before she moved to CA, Freda lived in
Alaska.
Before she moved to CA, Freda lived in
Alaska.
moving
her move

5. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
YOU TRY
Before I ate the last
cookie, I made some tea.

6. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
YOU TRY
Before I ate the last cookie, I
made some tea.
Before I ate the last cookie, I
made some tea.
eating

7. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
AFTER CLAUSE
After she had owned it for 4 years,
she sold the blue car.
After she had owned it for 4 years,
she sold the blue car.
After she had owned it for
4 years, she sold the blue car.
owning

8. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
YOU TRY
After Sam stood in line
for 20 minutes, he got
disgusted and left.

9. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
YOU TRY
After Sam stood in line for 20 minutes,
he got disgusted and left.
After Sam stood in line for 20 minutes,
he got disgusted and left.
After Sam stood in line for 20 minutes,
he got disgusted and left.
standing
Sam
Sam

10. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
SINCE CLAUSE
The students have been taking a
test since they arrived in class.
The students have been taking a
test since they arrived in class.arriving

11. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
YOU TRY
Since I have bought a new
car, I must work harder to
pay for it!

12. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
YOU TRY
Since I have bought a new car, I
must work harder to pay for it!
Since I have bought a new car, I
must work harder to pay for it!
buying

13. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
WHILE CLAUSE
While it was printing my paper,
the printer blew up.
While it was printing my paper,
the printer blew up.
printing

14. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
YOU TRY
While Cindy drove to work,
she ate a breakfast
burrito.

15. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
YOU TRY
While Cindy drove to work, she
ate a breakfast burrito.
While Cindy drove to work, she
ate a breakfast burrito.
driving Cindy

16. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
AS CLAUSE
1. Cindy ate a breakfast burrito
as she was driving to work,
2. Cindy ate a breakfast burrito
as she was driving to work.

17. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
AS CLAUSE
3. As she was driving to work,
Cindy ate a breakfast burrito.
4. Driving to work, Cindy ate a
breakfast burrito.

18. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
You Try
Fred buttoned his shirt as
he answered the phone.

19. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
You Try
Fred buttoned his shirt as he
answered the phone.

20. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
You Try
As he answered the phone,
Fred buttoned his shirt.
Answering the phone, Fred
buttoned his shirt.

21. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
AS SOON AS CLAUSE
As soon as they finished the test, the
students rushed out of the class.
As soon as they finished the test, the
students rushed out of the class.
As soon as they finished the test, the
students rushed out of the class.
Upon finishing
On finishing

22. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
YOU TRY
As soon as I grade these
papers, I will watch
American Idol.

23. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
YOU TRY
As soon as I grade these
papers, I will watch American
Idol.
As soon as I grade these
papers, I will watch American
Idol.
Upon grading

24. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
REASON CLAUSE ADV
REDUCTION
Subordinator and Subject
deleted
Verb changed to ING form

25. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
BECAUSE / SINCE / AS
REG VERB CLAUSE
Because she studies so much,
she expects good grades.
Because she studies so much,
she expects good grades.
Studying so much

26. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
You Try
Because Harry loves
French fries, he eats at
MacDonald’s every day.

27. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
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Because Harry loves French fries,
he eats at MacDonald’s every day.
Because Harry loves French fries,
he eats at MacDonald’s every day.
Loving

28. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
BECAUSE / SINCE / AS
REG VERB CLAUSE
Since she studies so much, she
expects good grades.
Because she studies so much,
she expects good grades.
Studying so much

29. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
You Try
Since she reads a lot, Suzy
has a big vocabulary.

30. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
You Try
Since she reads a lot, Suzy has a
big vocabulary.
Since she reads a lot, Suzy has a
big vocabulary.
Reading

31. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
BECAUSE / SINCE / AS
REG VERB CLAUSE
As she studies so much, she
expects good grades.
As she studies so much, she
expects good grades.
Studying so much,

32. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
You Try
As he walks to work in the
morning, Sam is very
healthy.

33. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
You Try
As he walks to work in the
morning, Sam is very healthy.
As he walks to work in the
morning, Sam is very healthy.
Walking

34. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
BECAUSE / SINCE / AS
BE VERB CLAUSE
Because she was unhappy, she
expected bad grades.
Because she was unhappy, she
expected bad grades.
Being unhappy,

35. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
You Try
Since he is a doctor, Jeff
works long hours.

36. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
You Try
Since he is a doctor, Jeff works
long hours.
Since he is a doctor, Jeff
works long hours.
Being

37. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
BECAUSE / SINCE / AS
NEGATIVE VERB CLAUSE
Because she didn’t want to
study, she expected bad grades.
Because she didn’t want to
study, she expected bad grades.
Not wanting to study,

38. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
You Try
Because he doesn’t like
the teacher, Todd will
drop the class.

39. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
You Try
Because he doesn’t like the
teacher, Todd will drop the
class.
Because he doesn’t like the
teacher, Todd will drop the
class.
Not liking

40. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
BECAUSE OF VERB CLAUSE
Because she was unhappy, she
expected bad grades.
Because she was unhappy, she
expected bad grades.
Because of her unhappiness,

41. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
You Try
Because he is angry, Todd
will drop the class.

42. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
You Try
Because he is angry, Todd will
drop the class.
Because he is angry, Todd will
drop the class.
of his anger,

43. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
OPPOSITION CLAUSE
REDUCTION
Some Subordinators and
Subject Deleted
Although/Even Though/
Though NOT Deleted

44. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
ALTHOUGH / THOUGH / WHILE
CLAUSE REDUCTION
Although she was unhappy,
Claudia stayed in the class.
Although she was unhappy,
Claudia stayed in the class.
unhappy,

45. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
You Try
Although Stan needs new
shoes, he doesn’t have
money to buy them.

46. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
You Try
Although Stan needs new shoes,
he doesn’t have money to buy
them.
Although Stan needs new shoes,
he doesn’t have money to buy
them.
needing
Stan

47. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
(Time) Having + Past Part
After she burned the lasagna,
they decided to order out.
After burning the lasagna, they
decided to order out.
Having burnt the lasagna, they
decided to order out.

48. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
(Reason) Having + Past Part
Because she lost her keys, she
couldn’t go to work.
After losing her keys, she
couldn’t go to work.
Having lost her keys, she
couldn’t go to work.

49. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
You Try
After he lost the game, he
decided to quit baseball.

50. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
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After he lost the game, he
decided to quit baseball.
Having lost the game, he
decided to quit baseball.

51. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
You Try
Because the people
disliked the president,
they voted him out of
office.

52. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
You Try
Because the people disliked the
president, they voted him out
of office.
Having disliked the president,
they voted him out of office.

53. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Reducing The PASSIVE (Time)
Before it was burned, the
lasagna looked really good.
Before it was burned,
the lasagna looked really good.
being

54. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Reducing The PASSIVE
(Reason)
Because the keys were lost,
they couldn’t start the car.
Having been lost, they
couldn’t start the car.
the keys

55. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
ADV CLAUSE Special Problems:
Fragments
DC punctuated as IC
I lost 5 pounds. Because I quit
eating ice cream for breakfast.
When I went to school. I forgot
my books.

56. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
ADV CLAUSE Special Problems:
Fragments
DC punctuated as IC
I lost 5 pounds. Because I quit
eating ice cream for breakfast.
When I went to school. I forgot
my books.
pounds because
school, I

57. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
ADV CLAUSE Special Problems:
Punctuation Errors
DC missing comma IC
Because I quit eating ice cream
for breakfast I lost 5 pounds.
IC no comma DC
I lost 5 pounds , because I quit
eating ice cream for breakfast.

58. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
ADV CLAUSE Special Problems:
Punctuation Errors
DC missing comma IC
Because I quit eating ice cream
for breakfast I lost 5 pounds.
IC no comma DC
I lost 5 pounds , because I quit
eating ice cream for breakfast.
,

59. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
ADV CLAUSE Special Problems:
Dangling Participles (MM)
While painting the house, the
phone rang.
Houses can’t paint
themselves.

60. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
ADV CLAUSE Special Problems:
Dangling Participles (MM)
While painting the house, the
phone rang.
While I painted the house,
the phone rang.

61. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
ADV CLAUSE Special Problems:
Because Of
Because of he was angry, he
punched the wall.
Prepositions don’t
start clauses.

62. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
ADV CLAUSE Special Problems:
Because Of
Because of he was angry, he
punched the wall.
Because of his anger, he
punched the wall.
Because he was angry, he
punched the wall.

63. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
ADV CLAUSE Special Problems:
Double Connectors
Although he wanted to lose
weight, but he kept eating
candy.
Two connectors is one too
many!

64. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
ADV CLAUSE Special Problems:
Double Connectors
Although he wanted to lose weight,
but he kept eating candy.
Although he wanted to lose weight,
he kept eating candy.
He wanted to lose weight, but he
kept eating candy.

65. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
For More Information
Email Mrs. C
ccoleman@clmn.net
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