Page 66 - Basic English Grammar Student Textbook short

4. Ge o rg e i s m y p as t o r. Ge o rg e s h e p h e rd s h is s h e ep w el l .

ADVERB CLAUSES

An adverb clause is a dependent (subordinate) clause that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb and are
introduced by subordinating conjunctions.
Adverb clauses usually answer the questions where, when, how, why to what extent, or under what condition.

NOTE: Introductory adverb clauses are set off by commas; adverb clauses at the end of a sentence do not
usually require commas.
• Because he was exhausted, he sat down to rest.
• I will go with you if the contest is held on Saturday.

Practice 13C: Finding adverb clauses. Underline the adverb clause:

1. Although the other senses are important, our eyesight controls many activities.
2. Whenever light rays hit the eye, an image is sent to the visual centers of the brain.
3. The iris controls the light so that exactly the right amount enters.
4. The light rays, when they have entered the eye, travel to the retina.
5. When the light hits a rod or cone, a signal is sent to the visual center of the brain.
6. The light rays bend so that the image comes in upside down.
7. The visual center, after it has received the signal, turns the image right-side-up.
Practice 13D: Combining sentences. Combine each pair of sentences into one sentence by using an adverb
clause (use a subordinating conjunction).

1. Frank had a headache. He went to the store.
2. The girls arrived in Rome. They rented a car.
3. We were late to the game. Our car ran out of gas.
4. The shirt is too small. We will want to return it.
Practice: Writing Practice. Write your own original sentences demonstrating your understanding.

Sentence Structure Types

There are four sentence structure types: simple, compound, complex, compound-complex.
NOTE: Compound subjects, objects, and verbs, including modifiers and prepositional phrases do not affect the
simplicity or complexity in terms of a sentence’s structure.

Simple (S)
A simple sentence contains only one independent clause with no dependent clauses.

1 + 0 = simple (S)
He buried his father. He buried his father and mother.
He buried his father and kissed his mother.

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