This document discusses different types of adverb clauses including those of time, reason, contrast, place, and purpose. It provides examples of each type of adverb clause and notes the subordinating conjunctions commonly used to introduce each one. It also covers punctuation rules for adverb clauses, noting that a comma is needed when the adverb clause comes before the main clause but not after.

1. Adverb Clauses
Source: Bland, Susan Kesner. Grammar Sense 4. 2nd ed.
New York: Oxford University Press, 2012. Print.

2. Description:
• Dependent clauses
• Modify the main clause—When? Where? How?
Why?
• Include:
• Subordinator (because, wherever, by the
time, once, as, until, since, etc.)
• Subject
• Verb

3. Adverb Clauses of Time
• When the action in the main clause occurs
• Subordinators:
• When, while, as, once, as soon as, until, before,
after, since, by the time
• Examples:
• Once you have finished the exam, you are free to go.
• I was lonely for years until I met the woman of my
dreams.
• I tripped and fell as I was running to catch the bus.

4. Adverb Clauses of Reason
• Why the action in the main cause occurs
• Cause and effect
• Subordinators:
• Because, since, as (formal)
• Examples:
• We celebrated all night because we had finished
final exams.
• Since I don’t have a phone, please contact me via
email.
• As I have no money, I will not be joining you for the
downtown shopping trip.

5. Adverb Clauses of
Contrast
• Show unexpected contrasts to the idea in the main
clause
• Subordinators:
• Even though, although, though (formal), while
• Examples:
• Even though I am not feeling well, I am still
planning to attend the party.
• Though I studied all night, I failed the exam this
morning.
• I grew to love classical music, while my sister says

6. Adverb Clauses of Place
• Where the action in the main clause occurs
• Subordinators:
• Wherever, where, anywhere, everywhere
• Examples:
• Wherever there is ice, there will be people playing
hockey.
• We can go anywhere you want today.
• Everywhere you look, there are people in love.

7. Adverb Clauses of Purpose
• Show the reason for the action in the main clause
• Subordinators:
• So (that), in order that (formal)
• Examples:
• Swimmers shave their arms and legs so that they can
glide through the water more quickly.
**Infinitives are commonly used to show purpose:
You should relax in order to get more sleep.

8. Punctuating Adverb Clauses
• When adverb clauses come after the main
clause, you DO NOT need a comma:
• We will have finished eating by the time he gets
here.
• When adverb clauses come before the main
clause, you DO need a comma:
• By the time he gets here, we will have finished
eating.