Adverb clauses are dependent clauses that function as adverbs. They provide information on when, where, why, how, how long, how far, how often, and for what purpose something happened. Adverb clauses can describe a contrast.

They need an independent clause to provide complete meaning which means they form complex structure. (If you are still struggling with understanding what a clause is and what complex structure is, please click here.)

They start with a subordinating conjunction which describes the connection between the adverb clause and the independent clause.

Types of Adverb Clauses

• Time clauses answer the question ‘when’?
• Place clauses answer the question ‘where’?
• Clauses of manner answer the question ‘how’?
• Distance clauses answer the question ‘how far’?
• Frequency clauses answer the question ‘how often’?
• Purpose clauses answer the question ‘for what intention?’
• Result clauses answer the question ‘for what effect?’
• Conditional clauses answer the question ‘under what circumstance?’
• Contrast clauses of direct opposition show how one thing is different from another.
• Contrast clauses of concession show an unexpected result.

We will discuss how to form all of them, but first punctuation.

How to punctuate an adverb clause in a complex structure

When an adverb clause comes first, we proceed it with a comma while if it comes after the independent clause, we do not add a comma.

• Although the dangers of overusing smartphones are undeniable, many people do not pay attention to their screen time.
• Many people do not pay attention to their screen time although the dangers of overusing smartphones are undeniable.

1. Time Clauses

They describe when the action took place. Those events can at the same time or different times. Revisit a grammar book for those rules.

• When: a specific time

When the world leaders met, they decided to impose new laws.

• Whenever: at any time

Whenever there is an international agreement on the solutions of an issue, there is a higher possibility for it to be solved.

• While: at the same time

While there is still much research to be conducted in the field of physics, insufficient funding hinders scientists’ efforts.

• As soon as: soon after

As soon as we address the main causes of global warming, solutions will be available.

• After: later

After last week’s summit, economists are optimistic.

• Since: from that time on

Since people started to depend on canned foods and processed convenience food, public health is deteriorating.

• As: at the same time

As major cities provide high-quality services, people are continuously moving there.

• Before: earlier

Before the spread of cell phones, people depended on visiting each other more frequently than they do now.

• Until: up to the time

Until governments allowed scientists to share all the data they gathered, the human race’s fight against diseases was slow.

2. Place Clauses

These clauses provide information in where the described action by the main verb happened. Wherever, everywhere, and anywhere are the same and could be used interchangeably. They can be used in the beginning of a sentence while the subordinator ‘where’ cannot be used in the beginning.

• Many people are forced to work for companies where they do not like.
• Wherever/everywhere/anywhere you go, you can use your smartphone.

3. Distance, Frequency, and Manner Clauses

Distance and frequency adverb clauses follow the independent clause while the manner adverb clauses do not follow the independent clause.

• As + adverb + as: distance

As far as I remember, children were not allowed to carry a cell phone when I was at school.

• As +adverb + as: frequency

People need to recycle as often as they could.

• As: manner

Governments need to take actions to lessen the consequences of global warming as the earth’s temperature is rising at an alarming level.

• As + adverb +as: manner

Governments need to take actions to lessen the threats of global warming as fast as possible.

• As if, as though: manner

Fashion industry giants turn a blind eye as if they were not a main contributor to global warming.

In spoken English, people substitute as if and as though with like. In writing, like is inappropriate. 

In very formal English, when the as if/as though are describing untrue situations, we use the same rule as the if conditional. However, many English speakers use regular forms.

• Fashion industry turns a blind eye as if it were not a main contributor to global warming.

• Fashion industry turns a blind eye as if it is not a main contributor to global warming.

4. Reason Clauses

They can be placed either before or after the independent clause. 

Reason Subordinators

• Because

Global warming is worsening because many people worldwide are unwilling to change their lifestyles.

• Since

Since fast fashion has made buying clothing and other items more affordable, this has led many people to purchase more than they actually need.

• As

Million tonnes of textiles are thrown away every year as consumption is soaring to unprecedented levels.

5. Result Clauses

These clauses describe the effect or sequence of information in an independent clause. They usually occur after an independent clause in a sentence.

Result Subordinators

• So + adjective/adverb + that

Fashion industry giants are blooming so successfully that they hire thousands of new employees every year.

• Such a/an + noun + that

Fashion businesses are such a success that they hire thousands of new employees every year.

• So much/many + noun + that

Fashion businesses make so much money that they shower investors with return on their initial investment.

Fashion businesses hire so many employees every year that they have to expand office capacity regularly. 

• So little/few + noun + that 

There is so little progress in the field of physics so that many scientists are disappointed.

There are so few technological innovations this year that no new devices are issued.

6. Purpose Clauses

Those clauses refer to the purpose of the action in the independent clause. Usually, the purpose adverb clause follows the independent clause; however, a purpose clause could come first if you want to give it emphasis.

• So that

Many people lean towards buying cheap clothes so that they could save money.

• In order that

In order that consumers purchase less, environmentalists are attempting to educate the public on the current environmental threats.

• In order that is formal.
• Usually, may/might, can/could, will/would, or have to come in a purpose clause.
• The phrases in order to + base verb, or to + base verb are often used when the subject is the same in both the dependent and independent clauses.
• To + base verb is preferred because it is shorter.

Environmentalists are attempting to educate the public on the current environmental threats in order to achieve a healthier approach to purchasing new products and discarding or recycling them safely.

The same subject “environmentalists” exist in the two clauses, so it could be mentioned once.

If two different subjects exist, we should not use the previous structure.

7. Contrast Clauses

There are two types of contrast clauses: direct opposition and concession clauses.

1. Direct Opposition Clauses

These express a clear direct contrast between the information that is expressed in both the independent and dependent clauses.

• Whereas/while

While there are plenty of reasons behind global warming, the most severe one is burning fossil fuel.

• While and whereas are synonymous.
• We could use a comma after whichever clause is used first, meaning that whether we start with while/whereas or write them in the middle, we use a comma.

2. Concession Clauses (unexpected results)

It usually means the following: this idea is true, but this one is more significant.

• Although/even though/though

Although the causes of global warming are well-established, people are unwilling to cut on the use of fossil fuels.

Even though is stronger than although, and though is informal.

While some writers use regular rule of comma after the dependent clause, many others use a comma with whichever clause is in the beginning.

Sometimes, using the subordinator with either idea is critical.

• We traveled the world, even though we didn’t have enough money.
• Even though we didn’t have enough money, we traveled the world.

8. Conditional Clauses

These clauses express a condition for something else to happen or not. The conditional clause can be before or after the independent clause.

Conditional Subordinators

• If

If we lessen our use of fossil fuel, we can reduce pollution rapidly.

• Unless (It means if not.)

Unless world leaders impose regulations on factories to limit their carbon footprint, pollution levels will soar in the next two decades.

If conditional sentences follow 4 basic patterns. Each of these patterns is combined together by different verb forms based on whether the statement time is present, future, or past, and whether the statement is true or hypothetical.

Consult a good grammar book for extra information.