Page 98 - IELTS Preparation Grammar and Vocab

13 Adverbial clauses

EU Contrast and concession clauses
We use although or, less formally, though to say that there is a contrast between what happens in the main
clause and the adverbial clause:
Sometimes I get up in the night and have a snack, although I know it's bad for me.
or to introduce a concession clause that suggests the opposite of the main clause
Although I don't enjoy cooking, I prepare a meal for myself every evening
We can use though at the end of a clause
In some ways, it's better now, though. (not although.)
We can use despite the fact that I in spite of the fact that or despite / in spite of + -ing with a similar meaning
to although:
Despite the fact that) know all about the theory of a healthy diet it's very hard to put it into practice. or In spite
of the fact that know...
Despite (my) knowing all about the theory of a healthy diet it's very hard to put it into practice. or In spite of
(my) knowing ...
We can use while or whereas to say that there is a contrast with something in the main clause. The while/
whereas clause may come before or after the main clause
If! got hungry at school, I'd buy a chocolate bar, whereas nowadays I'll eat some fruit. or... while nowadays ...
Whereas nowadays I'll eat some fruit, at school I'd buy a chocolate bar. or While nowadays ...
We can use whilst as a more formal alternative to while.
(See also Unit 14,2.3 Even and even though.)
2.4 Reason clauses

I must be eating too much because I've been getting a bit overweight recently.
Because it's so easy to buy ready meals from the supermarket, it makes me quite lazy.
I have to get out by 7.30, so I really don't have time.
A very common way of giving a reason or explanation for something, particularly in speech, is to use an
adverbial clause with because. A clause beginning so is also often used to express a similar meaning.
Most recipes in magazines are no use to me because of the time they take.
Because of can also be used before a noun or noun phrase to give a reason for something.

Formal alternatives to because are as and since
She made a particular effort because/as/since I was often ill as a child.
Informal alternatives to because are seeing that and seeing as:
We'll usually go out to eat seeing that/as none of us likes cooking.
Purpose and result clauses
To calk about the purpose of an action we can use in order I so as + to-infinitive:
I have to get out by 7.30 in order to catch my bus. or ... so as to catch ...
Informally, it is more common to use a to-infinitive to express the same meaning
I have to get out by 7.30 to catch my train.
In negatives we prefer in order not/ so as not + to-infinitive rather than not + to-infinitive:
I like to make something myself so as not to / in order not to eat processed food all the time.
We also use in order that and so that to talk about a purpose
She also talked to me about the food she made in order that I'd learn about diet and nutrition, or less formally ...
so (that) I'd learn about ...

96