An
adverbial clause is a
clause that functions as an
adverb. In other words, it contains
subject (explicit or implied) and
predicate, and it modifies a
verb.
- I saw Joe when I went to the store. (explicit subject I)
- He sat quietly in order to appear polite. (implied subject he)
According to Sidney Greenbaum and Randolph Quirk,
adverbial clauses function mainly as
adjuncts or
disjuncts. In those functions they are like
adverbial phrases, but in their potentiality for greater explicitness, they are more often like
prepositional phrases (
Greenbaum and
Quirk,1990):
- We left after the speeches ended. (Is it an adverbial clause, adverbial phrase or preposition phrase?)
- We left after the end of the speeches.(Is it an adverbial clause, adverbial phrase or preposition phrase?)
Contrast adverbial clauses with
adverbial phrases, which do not contain a
clause.
- I like to fly kites for fun.
