Adverbial Clauses of Condition
Adverbial Clauses of Condition
Adverbial Clauses of Condition
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<strong>Adverbial</strong> <strong>Clauses</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Condition</strong>When a dependent clause adds a condition to asentence, that dependent clause is an adverbialclause <strong>of</strong> condition. Like some other adverbialclauses, sometimes an adverbial clause <strong>of</strong>condition begins a sentence or precedes anindependent clause, while sometimes it ends asentence or follows an independent clause. Themost common subordinator in an adverbial clause<strong>of</strong> condition is “if,” but other subordinators alsomay appear there. Examine carefully the examplesthat follow.
<strong>Adverbial</strong> <strong>Clauses</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Condition</strong>Each <strong>of</strong> these example sentences includes anadverbial clause <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> condition in each <strong>of</strong>these sentences? Does it precede or follow theindependent clause? What is the subject-verbcombination <strong>of</strong> each adverbial clause? What is thesubordinator?
<strong>Adverbial</strong> <strong>Clauses</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Condition</strong>Example 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 <strong>of</strong> condition. Its subject-verbcombination is “you find,” and its subordinator is“If.” The adverbial clause <strong>of</strong> condition in thisexample precedes the independent clause andopens the sentence.
<strong>Adverbial</strong> <strong>Clauses</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Condition</strong>Example 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 <strong>of</strong> condition.Its subject-verb combination is “he finishes,” andits subordinator is “unless.” This adverbial clause<strong>of</strong> condition follows the independent clause andconcludes the sentence.
<strong>Adverbial</strong> <strong>Clauses</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Condition</strong>Example 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 <strong>of</strong> 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.
<strong>Adverbial</strong> <strong>Clauses</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Condition</strong>Example 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 <strong>of</strong> these examples, the dependent clause addsa condition to the sentence, so these dependentclauses are all adverbial clauses <strong>of</strong> condition. Thesubordinators here are respectively If, unless, andas long as. Two <strong>of</strong> these dependent clauses followindependent clauses and the other precedes anindependent clause.
<strong>Adverbial</strong> <strong>Clauses</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Condition</strong>Subordinators that may appear in adverbial clauses<strong>of</strong> condition include:• as long as, if, provided that, unless.See the section on subordinators for more detailsabout each <strong>of</strong> these.<strong>Adverbial</strong> <strong>Clauses</strong>