1、College English Grammar:Grammar and WritingUnit 12Clause:Adverbial clauses Grammar:Adverbial clauses Writing:Correcting:Article Misuse Rewriting:Periodic/Loose sentences Adverbial Clauses 1.Functions An adverbial clause is a subordinate clause that functions as an adverb to modify a verb,an adjectiv
2、e,or an adverb.It tells when,where,how,why,to what extent,or under what condition.1.1.To modify a verb She passed the driving test.She obtained her driving license.After she had passed the driving test,she obtained her driving license.telling when1.2.To modify an adjective The library is a good plac
3、e.There we study well.It is quiet.The library is a good place to study because it is quiet.telling why1.3.To modify an adverb He was often disappointed.He became hopeless.He was disappointed so often that he became hopeless.telling to what extent2.Forms and kinds An adverbial clause always begins wi
4、th subordinating conjunction(such as if,when,because,than,although)and includes a subject(S.)and a predicate(P.).An adverbial clause=subordinating conjunction+S.+P.Subordinating conjunctions that introduce adverbial clauses may indicate a relationship of time,place,manner,reason,condition or degree.
5、They cannot be omitted.They cannot be subjects.Here are kinds of adverbial clauses and some of their subordinating conjunctions.Place:where,whereverTime:after,before,since,until,when,whenever,while,etc.Manner:as,as if,etc.Reason:as,because,for,in order that,since,so that,that,etc.Degree:as,than,etc.
6、Condition:in case,if,even if,provided,unless,etc.Concession:although,though,as,whereas,while,etc.She goes to any place.There are always crowds of people.They are waiting to see her.Wherever she goes,there are always crowds of people waiting to see her.He rang off.I had no time to explain.He rang off
7、 before I could explain.He was exhausted.He had been seemingly working for hours.He was exhausted as if he had been working for hours.3.Punctuation When an adverbial clause begins the sentence,a comma is used to separate it from the main clause.She hesitated for a moment.She finally went in.She aske
8、d to see a dress.The dress was in the window.Though she hesitated for a moment,she finally went in and asked to see a dress that was in the window.When the adverbial clause finishes the sentence there is no need for a comma.He waited and waited.The volcano became quiet.He waited and waited until the
9、 volcano became quiet.You can hear the clock.You can do so on the radio Microphones are connected to the clock tower.You can hear the clock on the radio because microphones are connected to the clock tower.4.Position Like an ordinary adverb,the location of an adverbial clause in a sentence is very f
10、lexible.You can place an adverbial clause at the beginning,at the end,or in the middle of a sentence.If there are two adverbial clauses in a sentence,we usually place one in front of the main clause and one behind it,as shown below.If the car had been larger,we would have bought it because we had a
11、big family.When the action described in the adverbial clause happens before the action in the main clause,it is more natural and more logical to place the adverbial clause before the main clause and vice verse.So,of the three sentences above,the first one sounds better than the third.See another exa
12、mple.Until the rain stopped,they waited and waited.less natural They waited and waited until the rain stopped.more natural When an adverbial clause is inserted in the middle of a sentence,it is usually put between the subject and verb,indicating that the writer gets a sudden idea or feels necessary
13、to mention or to illustrate.My sister,while I was taking a shower,called from California.The old lady,after she had had a dinner,set out to call on her second daughter.Note 1.Reducing Adverbial Clauses Adverbial clauses(particularly time clauses with after,before,while,when and so on)can be shortene
14、d to phrases only when the subject of the adverbial clause is the same as the subject of the main clause and its verb is“be”.The steps are Check that the subject of both(main and subordinate)clauses is the same person.Omit the subject of the first clause.Omit the verb“be”.a)Replace the pronoun with
15、the original noun so that information is not lost.If a drop of oil is placed in a glass of water,it would float to top.If placed in a glass of water,a drop of oil would float to top.After he was defeated by Jackson,he was quickly forgotten.After defeated by Jackson,he was quickly forgotten.Jack rose
16、 to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only sixteen years old.Jack rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when only sixteen years old.Though Verrazano is by no means considered to be a great explorer,he will probably never be forgotten.Though by no means considered to be a great explor
17、er,he will probably never be forgotten.If there is no be verb,change the verb in the subordinating clause to its-ing form.Sometimes the subordinate conjunctions can be deleted as well.When he returns home at night,he always finds that someone has parked a car outside his gate.When returning home at
18、night,he always finds that someone has parked a car outside his gate.Returning home at night,he always finds that someone has parked a car outside his gate.2)Special subordinators indicating time:the minute,the moment,the second,the instant,the day，every time,immediately,directly,no sooner than,hard
19、ly when,scarcely when.The moment I spoke I regretted my words.I programmed my computer to scan for viruses every time it turns on.I told him immediately he came.No sooner had I arrived home then it began to rain.3)Special subordinators indicating place：where,anywhere,everywhere Generally,air will be
20、 heavily polluted where there are factories.Where there is a will,there is a way.You can go anywhere you like.They collect antique furniture and folk ornaments everywhere they go.4)Special subordinators indicating condition:providing/provided that,supposing that,on condition that I will come provide
21、d that I am well enough.Supposing(that)you are wrong,what will you do then?I will lend you the book on condition that you return it on Monday.5)Special subordinators indicating concession:as,whatever(=no matter what),whoever(=no matter who),wherever(=no matter where),whenever(=no matter when),whiche
22、ver(=no matter which)Much as I respect him,I cant agree to his proposal.Whatever you say,I shall hold to my decision.However hard I worked she was never satisfied.You can take whichever you like.6)Special subordinators indicating comparison:the more the more ;A is to B what/as X is to Y;The more you
23、 exercise,the healthier you will be.Food is to men what oil is to machine.7)Special subordinators indicating manner:the way Sometimes we teach our children the way our parents have taught us.Combine the sentences in each set into a single clear sentence containing at least one adverbial clause.1.Thi
24、s time,he managed to climb into the mouth of the volcano.He could take photographs.He could measure temperatures.?This time,he managed to climb into the mouth of the volcano so that he could take photographs and measure temperatures.2.He looked very well.He was rather thirsty.He drank half a bottle
25、of milk.?He looked very well though he was rather thirsty,for he drank half a bottle of milk.3.He owned a large car.He hardly ever used it.He preferred to go on foot.?Though he owned a large car,he hardly ever used it,preferring to go on foot.4.The teacher explained that passage.He did so again and
26、again.Every student might understand it.?In order that every student might understand it,the teacher explained that passage again and again.5.He has five hundred gold watches.These watches were hidden in his suitcase.The smuggler is never troubled by such feelings.?The smuggler is never troubled by
27、such feelings,even if he has five hundred gold watches hidden in his suitcase.6.The officer heard the news.The officer was in the control tower.He was very angry.Balloons can be a great danger.The danger is to aircraft.?The officer in the control tower was very angry when he heard the news,because b
28、alloons can be a great danger to aircraft.Article Misuse There are two types of articles:the indefinite article(a/an)and the definite article(the).“a/an”is used before singular nouns,referring to any member of a class while“the”can be used before both singular and plural nouns,referring to one parti
29、cular member of a class.If you are free,please buy me a book.(any,indefinite)If you are free,please buy me the book(s).(specific)In addition,when you speak of something for the first time,use“a or an”;the next time you repeat that object use“the”.We have an old musical instrument,which was made in G
30、ermany in 1681.The instrument has belonged to our family for a long time since it was bought by my grandfather many years ago.Only countable nouns have the single form and plural form.They can not be used alone except that they are used in idioms.Generally,you have to place the word“a/an”before them
31、 if they are single,or you have to add the suffix“-s/-es”to them if they are plural.When it grew dark,she turned a suitcase into a bad and put the children inside it,covering them with all the clothes.The population and the labor force have moved dramatically from farms to services industries,thus p
32、roviding more personal and public services.1.Dont use“a/an”with uncountable nouns.A/an can be used only with countable nouns.As for uncountable nouns,you can use“the”or use no article.The difference is that“the”signals the noun is specific while no article signals the noun is indefinite.A water is v
33、ery important to life.Water is very important to life.Milk and cream are major dairy products.(indefinite)Shall I sugar the milk for you?(specific)2.Dont use an article with countries,states,counties or provinces,lakes and mountains.The England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom.England
34、 is a country that is part of the United Kingdom.(But we use the article“the”when the country is a collection of states such as the United States and“the United Kingdom”.)The view is to the east-southeast from the western shore of the Lake Michigan in the Door County.The view is to the east-southeas
35、t from the western shore of Lake Michigan in Door County.3.Dont use an article with names of languages and nationalities.She attends a night school to learn the Chinese.She attends a night school to learn Chinese.She is an American.She is American./She is an American girl.4.Dont use an article with
36、names of sports.My husband is keen on the football.My husband is keen on football.I believe you are quite gifted for a boxing.I believe you are quite gifted for boxing.5.Dont use an article with names of academic subjects.John minors in a computer science.John minors in computer science.He has an in
37、timate knowledge of the American literature.He has an intimate knowledge of American literature.Correct the following misused articles and add articles if necessary.Fisherman and sailor sometimes claim to have seen monster in a sea.Small fishing boat was carried miles out to sea by the powerful fish
38、.A police had been told that bomb had been planted on plane.I used to travel by the air a great deal when I was the boy.A god which has head of cow was normally placed inside mummy.Fortunately,pilot saw a signal and sent message by the radio to a nearest town.There he was picked up by policeman and
39、sent back to the England by local authorities.Let us suppose that child suddenly crosses road in the front of you.In the 1860,better plan was put forward by Englishman,William Low.As soon as he opens gate from outside,he comes into a garden and waits until a gate shuts.2.Lack of a complete verb A pr
40、edicate verb is most necessary for a sentence.The error of lacking a complete verb can be corrected by:1)adding a complete verb or a helping verb to make the sentence complete;2)combining the fragment with another sentence.I was fully awake now.I wondering what had happened to me.I was fully awake n
41、ow.I was wondering what had happened to me.I was fully awake now,wondering what had happened to me.Fully awake now,I was wondering what had happened to me.3.Lack of both a subject and a verb.A group of words without a subject and a verb is only a fragment.The error can be corrected by combining it w
42、ith another sentence.The Titanic was completed in 1912.The most luxurious ship of its day.The Titanic,the most luxurious ship of its day,was completed in 1912.Completed in 1912,the Titanic was the most luxurious ship of its day.4.Lack of a main clause A main clausesometimes called an independent cla
43、useis a clause that can stand by itself and still make sense.You must have at least one main clause in every sentence.A main clause is the essential component.Without a main clause,a group of words is a fragment.Two solutions are available:1)combining the fragment that is a subordinate clause with a
44、 main clause;2)rewriting the fragment as a complete sentence,eliminating the subordinating conjunction or the relative pronoun and adding words necessary to make a complete thought.Grandparents always held a special place in caring for the little ones.Because they had more time to devote to them.Gra
45、ndparents always held a special place in caring for the little ones,because they had more time to devote to them.Grandparents always held a special place in caring for the little ones.They had more time to devote to them.Exercises:Find the missing word and correct the following sentence fragments.1.
46、The play will soon over.2.A strange flying object seemingly in the backyard.3.The cat maybe on the roof or in the bushes.4.I always nervous in the first day of classes.5.Stanley always ready for a fight.6.Lighting the dark sky for a few seconds.7.Pumas are found in America.Large,cat-like animals.8.T
47、he searching went on for several weeks,but the murder not caught.9.Well say goodbye to him,because hell away for two months.10.The team plans to stay here for five days.During this time,will give five performances.11.The beggar may ask you for money.But never ask you to feel sorry for him.12.“Oh,tha
48、t,”he said with a smile as if he talking about an old friend.Correcting:Fishermen and sailors sometimes claim to have seen monsters in the sea.A small fishing boat The police had been told that a bomb had been planted on the plane.by the air;the boy a boyThe god which has the head of a cow was norma
49、lly placed inside a mummy.Fortunately,a pilot saw the signal and sent a message by the radio to the nearest town.a policeman and sent back to the England by the local authoritiesa child suddenly crosses the road in the front of youIn the 1860,a better plan was put forward by an Englishman,William Lo
50、w.1.he opens the gate from the outside,he comes into the garden and waits until the gate shutsAssignment：The exercise in this section is to create effective passages by combining the short sentences which you think is related into longer,more complex ones.If there are some mistakes,correct them.Pass
