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Adverb Clauses

23 Mar

Before learning about adverb clauses, you’ll need to read about Independent and Dependent Clauses first.

Remember that clauses always have a subject and a verb. Independent clauses are clauses that don’t need any help. Dependent clauses do need help and usually begin with some sort of connecting word. The type of connecting word is different for each of the different types of dependent clauses. Today we’re focusing on adverb clauses, so let’s look at the connecting words we use at the beginning of the dependent adverb clause. These are called subordinating conjunctions.

Subordinating Conjunctions

We talked about coordinating conjunctions when we talked about making Compound Sentences with Conjunctions. Coordinating conjunctions combine two independent clauses. “Co” means “together,” so the two independent clauses work together. They’re equal.

Subordinating conjunctions, however, show that the dependent clause is not equal to the independent clause. “Sub” means “under,” which shows us that these connecting words will begin a clause that is not as important as the main, independent clause.

Another important point about subordinating conjunctions is that they show many types of relationships including time, cause/effect, compare/contrast, and condition. Here’s a list of common subordinating conjunctions with some examples for each of those categories:

time cause/ effect compare/ contrast condition

when

while

before

after

because

since

even though

although

though

if

even if

in case

unless

I stopped at the store to buy some bread before I went home.

Since I was already at the store, I picked up a cooked chicken to take home for dinner.

Even though he didn’t want to have chicken for dinner, he still ate it.

If I decide to bring dinner home again, next time I will call him.

While I was shopping, I decided to also buy some milk and fruit.

However, my husband didn’t want to eat the chicken because he had had chicken for lunch.

He didn’t enjoy the chicken although it tasted good to me.

I won’t bring chicken for dinner unless he has eaten something different for lunch.

Punctuation

When you look at the examples above, you should notice the punctuation in the sentences. When the adverb clause is at the beginning of the sentence, you need a comma (,). When the adverb clause is at the end of the sentence, you do not use a comma.

I stopped at the store to buy some bread before I went home.

Before I went home, I stopped at the store to buy some bread.

making dinner

Photo by Chewonki Semester School on Flickr

Write some sentences to describe the picture above using adverb clauses and different subordinating conjunctions. Put some of the adverb clauses at the beginning of the sentence, and put some at the end. Use correct punctuation.


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Independent and Dependent Clauses

21 Mar

You should first go read about Phrases and Clauses so that you can better understand the information in this post.

Remember that clauses must have a subject and a verb. Any group of words with a subject and a verb is called a clause. In English, we have two main categories of clauses: independent and dependent.

Independent Clauses

We have already learned about Simple Sentence Patterns. If you missed this post, you will probably want to go back and read about simple sentences because

simple sentences = independent clauses

That’s right. An independent clause is just another name for a simple sentence. Independent means that it doesn’t need any help. It’s a complete idea, a complete thought. So our examples from the Simple Sentence Patterns post are also examples of independent clauses:

The young boy and girl ran quickly.

The young girl and the boy threw the red ball back and forth.

The young girl threw the ball to the boy.

There are two children in the park.

The two children became tired.

(See the post about Compound Sentences with Transitions and Compound Sentences with Conjunctions to learn how to combine two independent clauses into one sentence.)

Dependent Clauses

A Dependent Clauses is a group of words with a subject and a verb, BUT it is not a complete idea, not a complete thought. It needs help. It needs to be connected to an independent clause, so usually, a dependent clause is a group of words with a subject, a verb, and a connecting word. (However, in English, there are times when we can drop/omit the connecting word because it’s understood.)

There are 3 types of dependent clauses:

  1. adverb clauses – They help show relationships like cause/effect, time, compare/contrast, condition, etc.

    2. After I learn about adverb clauses, I will use them in my writing.

  2. adjective clauses – Just like adjectives, they describe nouns.

    3. Adjective clauses, which can be difficult to learn, are used to provide extra information or help identify a person or thing.

  3. noun clauses – These work like nouns in a sentence, which means we use them as subjects and objects.

    4. I think that you already use noun clauses in your writing and speaking.

Look for more about each of these types of dependent clauses in future posts!

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Photo by Jeremy Simpson on Flickr

Look at the picture above. Write a few sentences with independent and dependent clauses to describe what’s happening in the picture. Write your sentences in a comment!


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Vocabulary Resource: Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online

19 Mar

Longman Dictionary

The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online is a nice fast dictionary for English language learners. The definitions are much easier to understand than definitions from a regular English dictionary. As a teacher, whenever I want to show a definition to a class or include a definition in an activity or handout, I use the definitions from this dictionary.

Let’s look at the word contemporary. It’s part of the Academic Word List, and it’s part of the name of the dictionary. What does it mean? When I search the Longman Dictionary online and choose the adjective form of the word, I get the following result:

Now, you give it a try. Type a word in the box below to find the definition:

Search for a few words (for example “evident”, “principle”, “equate”) in the online Longman Dictionary and then search for the same words in a different online English dictionary (like dictionary.com or m-w.com). Which dictionary do you like better? Why? Leave a comment to share your thoughts!


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Giving Directions or Instructions

18 Mar

When we want to tell someone how to do something, we have to give them directions or instructions. To do this, we need to understand two things: transitions that show order and commands (imperative verbs). Look at these instructions on how to improve your English:

In order to improve your English, you should follow these five steps. First, keep an English journal. Second, find your motivation. Next, create some learning goals. Then,decide what baby steps that you can take toward your goals. Finally, make a plan or a schedule for your baby steps and your goals.

In this example, which words are transitions and which words are commands? The ordering transitions are in bold like this. The commands are the words in italics like this.

Transitions that show order

Transitions help a listener know when the speaker is done with one idea and starting a new idea. When we explain how to do something, we are explaining steps in a process. In a process, there is always a first step, a second step, a third step, etc. There is an order to the steps. It’s usually not possible to do step 5 before step 1.

Here are transitions we can use to show the order of the steps:

  • first of all / first / to begin with / to start with
  • second / third / fourth / …
  • afterwards / after that
  • then
  • next
  • finally / lastly

Commands (the Imperative)

When we give directions, we are telling someone to do something. In English, this is called a command. Your teachers use commands all the time:

Get out your book. Go to page 12. Write down your answers on a piece of paper. Find a partner.

So to give commands in English is easy. You simply use the verb. There is no subject, and the verb doesn’t change. Just use the main form of the verb.

Watch this “how to” video. As you watch, listen for the transitions that show order and the command words the speaker uses. Type the transitions and commands into the game below the video. Don’t forget to click “Check” to see if you are correct!

What 5 steps do you think a person should take in order to learn English? Leave a comment below to share your steps. Don’t forget to use transitions and commands for each of your steps!


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Compound Sentences with Transitions

17 Mar

To understand compound sentences with transitions, you need to understand Compound Sentences with Conjunctions, so read that article first. Then come back here to learn about using transitions to make compound sentences.

Remember that compound sentences combine two simple sentences (i.e. two complete ideas or independent clauses). If you can do this with conjunctions, then it will be easy to do it with transitions. The big difference is punctuation, but first, let’s look at transitions in English.

Transitions

English has lots of transitions. I’m sure you have used some transitions in your speaking in writing: first, second, third, finally, next, etc. These are the types of transitions that help readers understand the relationship between ideas. They help readers transition (move) from idea to another.

There are some transitions, however, that help show the same relationships that we can show with coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). These are the transitions we use to make compound sentences. Let’s look at the most common ones:

Conjunction Transitions Meaning
and

in addition

moreover

furthermore

 adds information, connects similar ideas
but

however

nonetheless

 shows direct contrast or differences
so

as a result

therefore

consequently

 shows results/effects

Remember when we use a coordinating conjunction to combine two ideas, we simply use a comma (,) and the conjunction:

Exercise is good for your heart, and it will help you lose weight.

When we use a transition, we need to use a semi-colon before the transition and a comma after it:

Exercise is good for your heart; in addition, it will help you lose weight.

Conjunction:

The grass is green, but the sky is blue.

Transition:

The grass is green; however, the sky is blue.

Conjunction:

We were hungry, so we decided to go to a restaurant to eat.

Transition:

We were hungry; as a result, we decided to go to a restaurant to eat.

Now, it’s your turn to try. Write some compound sentences using and, but, and so. Then, write the same sentences again using the correct transitions and punctuation. Leave your sentences in a comment!


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