Building Sentences With Adverb Clauses (Part Two)

As discussed in part one, adverb clauses are subordinate structures that show the relationship and relative importance of ideas in sentences. They explain such things as when, where, and why about an action stated in the main clause. Here well consider ways of arranging, punctuating, and revising sentences with adverb clauses. Arranging Adverb Clauses An adverb clause, like an ordinary adverb, can be shifted to different positions in a sentence. It may be placed at the beginning, at the end, or occasionally even in the middle of a sentence. An adverb clause commonly appears after the main clause: Jill and I waited inside the Cup-A-Cabana Diner until the rain stopped. When Gus asked Merdine for a light, she set fire to his toupee. As I shuffled humbly out the door and down the front steps, my eyes to the ground, I felt that my pants were baggy, my shoes several sizes too large, and the tears were coursing down either side of a huge putty nose.(Peter DeVries, Let Me Count the Ways) When a bus skidded into a river just outside of New Delhi, all 78 passengers drowned because they belonged to two separate castes and refused to share the same rope to climb to safety. Punctuation Tips: When an adverb clause appears at the beginning of a sentence, it is usually separated from the main clause by a comma.A comma is usually not necessary when the adverb clause follows the main clause. An adverb clause can also be placed inside a main clause, usually between the subject and verb: The best thing to do, when youve got a dead body on the kitchen floor and you dont know what to do about it, is to make yourself a good strong cup of tea.(Anthony Burgess, One Hand Clapping) Punctuation Tip: An adverb clause that interrupts a main clause, as show in the example above, is usually set off by a pair of commas. Reducing Adverb Clauses Adverb clauses, like adjective clauses, can sometimes be shortened to phrases: If your luggage is lost or destroyed, it should be replaced by the airline.If lost or destroyed, your luggage should be replaced by the airline. subjectverbis Editing Tip: To cut the clutter from your writing, try reducing adverb clauses to phrases when the subject of the adverb clause is the same as the subject of the main clause. Practice in Revising Sentences with Adverb Clauses Rewrite each set below according to the instructions in parentheses. When you are done, compare your revised sentences with those on page two. Keep in mind that more than one correct response is possible. (Shift the adverb clause--in bold--to the beginning of the sentence, and make it the subject of the adverb clause.)The forest supports incessant warfare, most of which is hidden and silent, although the forest looks peaceful.(Shift the adverb clause to a position between the subject and verb in the main clause and set it off with a pair of commas.)While he was on maneuvers in South Carolina, Billy Pilgrim played hymns he knew from childhood.(Reduce the adverb clause to a phrase by dropping the subject and verb from the adverb clause.)While he was on maneuvers in South Carolina, Billy Pilgrim played hymns he knew from childhood.(Turn the first main clause into an adverb clause beginning with the subordinating conjunction whenever.)The sea builds a new coast, and waves of living creatures surge against it.(Make this sentence more concise by dropping the subject and the verb was from the adverb clause.)Although she was exhausted after the long drive home, Pinky insisted on going to work .(Move the adverb clause to the beginning of the sentence, and make the sentence more concise by reducing the adverb clause to a phrase.)Clutching his teddy bear, the boy hid under the bed because he was frightened by the lightning and thunder.(Emphasize the contrast in this sentence by converting the first main clause into an adverb clause beginning with although.)Teachers who contend with blank or hostile minds deserve our sympathy, and those who teach without sensitivity and imagination deserve our criticism.(Omit the semicolon and convert the first two main clauses into an adverb clause beginning with after.)The storm has passed, and the flash floods dump their loads of silt into the Colorado River; water still remains in certain places on rimrock, canyon beach, and mesa top. When you are done, compare your revised sentences with those on page two. NEXT:Building Sentences with Adverb Clauses (part three) Here are sample answers to the exercise on page one: Revising Sentences with Adverb Clauses. Although it looks peaceful, the forest supports incessant warfare, most of which is hidden and silent.Billy Pilgrim, while he was on maneuvers in South Carolina, played hymns he knew from childhood.While on maneuvers in South Carolina, Billy Pilgrim played hymns he knew from childhood.Whenever the sea builds a new coast, waves of living creatures surge against it.Although exhausted after the long drive home, Pinky insisted on going to work.Frightened by the lightning and thunder, the boy hid under the bed, clutching his teddy bear.Although teachers who contend with blank or hostile minds deserve our sympathy, those who teach without sensitivity and imagination deserve our criticism.After the storm has passed, and the flash floods dump their loads of silt into the Colorado River, water still remains in certain places on rimrock, canyon beach, and mesa top. NEXT:Building Sentences with Adverb Clauses (part three)