What is an Adverb Clause?
An adverb clause is a type of relative clause that modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb, and it begins with a subordinating conjunction or relative adverb (where, when, or why).
Examples of Adverb Clauses
Some examples of adverb clauses would be the following:
You can find flour where the other baking ingredients are located.
When my nephew came home sick from school, I made him a bowl of hot soup.
With all her previous restaurant experience, Kate could not understand why she did not get the waitressing job.
Why You Should Use Adverb Clauses in Your Writing
Keep in mind that adverb clauses are simply dependent clauses that begin with a subordinating conjunction or a relative adverb (when, where, why), and as a whole, they function like an adverb which means they will modify a verb, adjective, or an adverb in the main clause of the sentence.
The benefits of using adverb clauses in your writing is primarily to provide more description or detail about the verb, adjective, or adverb in the main clause of the sentence.
Notice the difference between the following pairs of sentences:
We will start practice.
We will start practice when the coach arrives.
He placed the bowl.
He placed the bowl where the dog could reach it.
Without the adverb clause, there would be quite a bit of detail and context left out of the sentence, so be sure to use adverb clauses in your writing to provide more detail and description.
Download a Free Worksheet on Adverb Clauses!
Click the image below to download your free worksheet on adverb clauses!
Want to learn more about adverb clauses?
Explore More GrammarFlip Lessons!
Parts of Speech lessons provide the building blocks of grammar. GrammarFlip covers these topics in detail to ensure a solid foundation is built. First time learners and students seeking to review the parts of speech can both benefit from the instructional videos and slide show reviews.
Parts of the Sentence lessons are critical for understanding how the parts of speech function in language construction. From the basic to the advanced, these lessons will cover a wide range of grammar topics that can be used in any grade level or classroom.
Mechanics and Usage lessons equip students with the necessary skills to communicate clearly to all audiences. With a focus on the application of these concepts in student writing, these lessons tie together both simple constructions of grammar as well as the more complex such that any age or skill level of student will benefit.
