What is "adverbial clause"

n. a subordinate clause that functions as an adverb within a main clause

An adverbial clause is a dependent clause that functions as an adverb; that is, the entire clause modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. As with all clauses, it contains a subject and predicate, although the subject as well as the (predicate) verb may sometimes be omitted and implied (see below).

An adverbial clause is commonly, but not always, fronted by a subordinate conjunctionsometimes called a trigger word. (In the examples below the adverbial clause is italicized and the subordinate conjunction is bolded.)

• Mary, the aspiring actress, became upset as soon as she saw the casting list.

(subject: she; predicate: saw the casting list; the clause modifies the verb became)

• Peter Paul, the drama teacher, met with Mary after she came to the next class.

(explicit subject: she; predicate: came to the next class.; predicate (verb): came; the clause modifies the verb met;)

• He talked carefully in order to appear fair.
• He talked carefully 'in order .. [that 'he'] ' appear fair.

(implied subject, he, is omitted; predicate (verb): appear; the clause modifies the adverb carefully)

• The little boy preferred fierce dinosaurs, as T rex.
• The little boy preferred fierce dinosaurs, as [was] T rex.

(subject of the clause: T rex; predicate of the clause: [was], implied; the clause modifies the adjective fierce.)

According to Sidney Greenbaum and Randolph Quirk, adverbial clauses function mainly as adjuncts or disjuncts, which parts also perform in a sentence as adverbial phrases or as adverbial prepositional phrases (Greenbaum and Quirk,1990). Unlike clauses, phrases do not contain a subject and predicate; they are contrasted here:

• We left the convention the day before.

(adverbial phrase; contains no subject or predicate)

• We left before the speeches.

(adverbial prepositional phrase; contains no subject or predicateand no verb (action) is implied)

• We left after the speeches ended.

(adverbial clause; contains subject and predicate)

• We left after the speeches.

or, (".. after the speeches [ended]") (adverbial clause; contains subject and predicate, but the verb '' 'ended' '' is omitted and implied)