Adverbial Clauses of Condition

Adverbial Clauses of ConditionWhen a dependent clause adds a condition to asentence, that dependent clause is an adverbialclause of condition. Like some other adverbialclauses, sometimes an adverbial clause ofcondition begins a sentence or precedes anindependent clause, while sometimes it ends asentence or follows an independent clause. Themost common subordinator in an adverbial clauseof condition is “if,” but other subordinators alsomay appear there. Examine carefully the examplesthat follow.

Adverbial Clauses of ConditionEach of these example sentences includes anadverbial clause of condition:• If you find her book, call her.• He cannot go unless he finishes his work first.• Will they do it as long as we ask them nicely?Where is the adverbial clause of condition in each ofthese sentences? Does it precede or follow theindependent clause? What is the subject-verbcombination of each adverbial clause? What is thesubordinator?

Adverbial Clauses of ConditionExample Sentence:• If you find her book, call her.The dependent clause in this example, “If you findher book,” adds a condition to the sentence, so it isan adverbial clause of condition. Its subject-verbcombination is “you find,” and its subordinator is“If.” The adverbial clause of condition in thisexample precedes the independent clause andopens the sentence.

Adverbial Clauses of ConditionExample Sentence:• He cannot go unless he finishes his work first.The dependent clause in this example, “unless hefinishes his work first,” adds a condition to thissentence, so it is an adverbial clause of condition.Its subject-verb combination is “he finishes,” andits subordinator is “unless.” This adverbial clauseof condition follows the independent clause andconcludes the sentence.

Adverbial Clauses of ConditionExample Sentence:• Will they do it as long as we ask them nicely?The dependent clause here, “as long as we ask themnicely,” adds a condition to this question, so it isan adverbial clause of condition. Its subject-verbcombination is “we ask” and its subordinator is“as long as.” The adverbial clause in this examplefollows the independent clause and concludes thequestion.

Adverbial Clauses of ConditionExample sentences:• If you find her book, call her.• He cannot go unless he finishes his work first.• Will they do it as long as we ask them nicely?In each of these examples, the dependent clause addsa condition to the sentence, so these dependentclauses are all adverbial clauses of condition. Thesubordinators here are respectively If, unless, andas long as. Two of these dependent clauses followindependent clauses and the other precedes anindependent clause.

Adverbial Clauses of ConditionSubordinators that may appear in adverbial clausesof condition include:• as long as, if, provided that, unless.See the section on subordinators for more detailsabout each of these.Adverbial Clauses