2. We often use adverb clauses to connect two or more
ideas. We can do this in a single sentence or across
two or more sentences.
The area of China is only slightly larger than that
of the U.S. However, the population of China is
more than four times greater.
Although the area of China is only slightly larger
than that of the U.S., its population is more than
four times greater.
Compare:
This makes our writing more cohesive; it helps each
sentence flow smoothly into the next.
3. A subordinator shows the relationship between the
ideas.
Now I’m not so shy when meeting
new people.
Because we live in an increasingly
multicultural society, it is important to
study other languages.
(time)
(reason)
4. Even though I was 26, I had never been outside of my city.
The company collects and cleans used
clothes so that they can be used again.
(purpose)
(contrast)
Cell phones have become such an important part of our
lifestyle that it would be difficult to live without them.
(result)
5. If you maintain a healthy lifestyle,
then you are less likely to get sick.
(condition)
Please complete the test exactly
as I showed you.
(manner)
7. An adverb clause can come at the beginning or end of a
sentence.
When you sleep, you dream about 20 percent of the time. For
example, if you sleep one night for eight hours, you dream for
about 96 minutes of that eight hours.
We often choose to put an adverb clause at the beginning
of a sentence to set the scene for the following ideas.
8. A baby has 270 to 300 bones—more than
an adult’s 213. As you grow up, some of
your bones grow together.
When you cut yourself, you may lose some blood, but
the body can replace blood and other cells.
9. We may also use an adverb clause at the beginning of a
sentence to make a connection back to information in a
previous sentence.
I got up quickly and went down to the kitchen. my uncle jumped up from his chair.
previous sentence new information in main clause
adverb clause
The adverb clause acts as a bridge between the previous
sentence and the new information in the main clause.
10. Ching-He Huang studied economics in
college, but her passion was cooking.
After she graduated, she started a
food and drink company.
In Turkey, high school students take a
national achievement exam in March.
If they pass that exam, they take
another exam in June.
