Phrases and Clauses / 423The author whose work I most admire writes only nonfiction.
(The adjective clause describes the noun author.)Confusion between adjective and noun clauses can occur because they can start
with the same words. To decide which is which, think of the clause as a single word
and then, using sentence analysis, find out how the clause functions in the sentence.
Adverb Clause
An adverb clause has a subject and verb and is characterized by words called con-
junctive adverbs that begin most adverb clauses:
after, although, as, as if, as long as, as much as, as soon as, as though, because,
before, even though, if, in order that, provided that, since, so that, than,
though, unless, until, when, whenever, where, wherever, while
I’ll come home when I get off work.
(The conjunctive adverb when opens the adverb clause.)Other characteristics are similar to those of noun clauses.
An adverb clause functions just as a single-word adverb and modifies verbs, adjec-
tives, and other adverbs. It tells when, where, why, how, to what extent, or under what
conditions.
Ellen rides her bicycle to work because she lives only three miles away.
(The adverb clause tells why about the verb rides.)Some adverb clauses have missing, but implied, parts. Some have a missing, but
implied, verb.
The task is bigger than I.
(The task is bigger than I [am]).Some have a missing, but implied, subject.
When driving in the rain, you should slow down.
(When [you are] driving in the rain, you should slow down.)Some adverb clauses can be confused with prepositional phrases because they
can begin with the same words. An adverb clause must have a subject and verb.
After the football game, we went for pizza. (prepositional phrase)
After the football game was over, we went for pizza. (adverb clause)