English Teacher Training Course Grammar II

Rojas Janet Ruben Roman

2020
2nd

Adjective Clause and Adverbial Clause

On the previous assignment we saw the first group of clauses and the function of these. On
this second one I will make another research regarding Adjective /relative clauses, its
structure, its functions, and types. Also, I will write about the adverbial clause, mentioning and
describing with examples what they are, what they can modify, and the kind of adverbials that
we will find.

Adjective Clause
To start I define an adjective clause as an independent clause, a clause that modifies a noun
and can also be called relative clause. These kinds of clauses describe, identify, or give further
information about a noun.

There are three requieremnt regarding Adjedtive clauses:

1. It will contain a subject + verb
2. It will beging with a relative pronoun (who,whom,whose,that,etc)
3. It will funtion as an adjective answering the question What kind? How many?
Or Which on?
Its form consist on:
- Relative pronoun or adverb + subject + verb
- Relative pronoun as subject + verb

There are two tipes of relative clauses:

DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES:

 Gives information about a person or thing.
 it comes immediately after the thing it defines, and its not separated
from it by commas.
 It is central to the meaning of the sentence, and cannot be removed
without changing the meaning.
Ex: I called my brother WHO lives in Spain

Non-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES:

 Gives extra information which does not define the person or thing it
follows.
 It is separated from the Main clause by commas
Ex: My brother, who lives in Spain, is older.
 English Teacher Training Course Grammar II
Rojas Janet Ruben Roman
2020
2nd
Defining relative Non-defining relative

We can use THAT instead of who/which We can not use THAT instead of WHO/WHICH

I don’t know the man WHO/THAT was there. The bikes , WHICH cost a fortune, are made in Japan.
(NOT that cost a fortune)
Whose is the possesive form of WHO, and is used in both. Whose is the possesive form of WHO, and is used in both. Non-
Defining and Non-defining. defining and defining.
Make a list of everyone WHOSE last name ends in -son Make a lisk of countries whose population is greater than 20
millions.

Relative Pronouns

Take the place of nouns or pronouns. They are called pronouns because they always
relate back to something or someone else. Used to join two sentences about the same
person or thing.

Used to add information in defining relative clauses such as:

 About things:
- subject: which (in more formal context)
- object: That or no relative pronouns (in conversation)
In defining object, we can leave out the relative pronoun
Ex: This isn’t the book that/which I ordered.

 About people:
- object: that or no relative pronoun (in informal context) rather than (who or whom)
- whom: no relative pronoun (formal, rarely used in spoken language)
- subject: that / which (after something or anything)
Ex: Which of your parents do you feel close to?

Relative pronouns used to add information in non-defining relative clauses

 About things:
- subject/object: which (that is sometimes used instead of which)
- object: who/whom (although whom is very formal)

In a non-defining clause, it is NOT possible to leave out the relative pronoun.

Ex: This Book, which I found in the street, was quite good.
English Teacher Training Course Grammar II
Rojas Janet Ruben Roman
2020
2nd
Reduce Relative Clause
Defining Non-defining
We can leave out the relative pronoun and Usually in descriptive writing
part of the verb phrase to leave a participle Ex: The girls (who were) lost in the snow,
acting as an adjective defining the noun eventually arrived home.
Ex: The person (who) I´m calling is my sister.

Sentences relative: which

We can use it in non-defining cl. To the main clause and act as a comment upon
it.
- My friend Rocio turned up late, which was not surprising.

WHAT, WHATEVER, WHOEVER, WHICHEVER

Clauses beginning with wh-word are used like a noun phrase in a sentence.
Sometimes called NOMINAL RELATIVE CLAUSES
EX: Can you tell me who´s been invited? = the people who have been invited.

Clauses beginning with:

- Whatever: anything or does not matter what (ex: Whatever you do, try your
best)
- Whoever: any person at all or doesn’t matter who. (ex: Whoever make this
cake is a real artist)
- Whichever: one thing or person from a limited number (ex: Whichever day
you come; we will be pleased to see you)

Preposition in relative clauses

In formal English whose can come after a preposition in relative clauses. Putting
the preposition at the end of the clause is more natural. Informal and spoken
English.
Ex: The minister, whose office the e-mail originated from, denied being involved.
After a preposition we usually use WHOM rather than WHO in formal style.
Ex: My sister of whom her friend is jealous is very hardworking.
In less formal English we usually put the preposition later in the relative clause.
Ex: The party that John took us to was full of teenagers.
VERB: if the verb in the relative clause is a two-word verb, we don’t usually put
the preposition before the relative pronoun.
Ex: Sara is an interesting woman who sits across from me.
English Teacher Training Course Grammar II
Rojas Janet Ruben Roman
2020
2nd
Adverbial Clause
What is an Adverb clause?
An adverb clause comprises a subject and a verb and that’s why not every word group
is an adverb clause .At the beginning of every adverb clause, there is a subordinate
conjunction (after, although, because, and, if), the function of these clauses if to add
relevant and descriptive information to your content. Basically, they answer the
questions when, where? why? And under what conditions?
There are some adverb clauses that leave out some words, they are called elliptical. Its
meaning can still be understood by the context of the sentence.
EX: I have never heard a better pianist than she (is).
Martina asked her mom more question than I (asked her).

What about their position in a sentence?

a. At the beginning of a sentence: it is usually followed by s comma.
b. in the middle of the sentence: Commas separate the adverb clause; this is not
the usually presentation since the is an interruption of the main thought.
c. At the end of the sentence: the adverb clause does not require any additional
punctuation.

What does the adverb clause modify?

Adverbial clause may modify:
Verb: we left the car where we had found it
Adjective: John is smaller than any other boy I know
Adverb: forest run faster than the other people did
The whole sentence: whenever you want, come to my house.
This last adverbial clause that modifies the whole sentence, can actually be moved, for
example: Come to my house, whenever you want.
To bear in mind: In adverbial clauses the subordinating conjunction never performs the
function of the subject.

How many types of adverbial clauses we can find?

Time:
- Introduced by the time conjunctions: when, after, as, as soon as, before, by
the time, during the time, immediately, the moment, now, once, since, till, until,
whenever, while (If the clause comes first, we normally put commas)
Ex: All stoop up when the President came
English Teacher Training Course Grammar II
Rojas Janet Ruben Roman
2020
2nd

Place:
- Introduced by where, wherever, anywhere, everywhere. Clauses beginning
with where normally come after the main clause.
Ex: she studied where I study

Manner:
- Introduced by AS, and normally coming after the main clause.
- By the way, in colloquial English, used in comparison with (in) the way, the
way that, the same way (as).
Ex: you are not do in it in the same way as before.

o As if and as can be used after be, act, appear, smell, feel, behave, look, sound,taste.
Ex: He acted as if he seen a ghost

Reason:
- We can begin a clause with, as, because, seeing, that, as or since to give
reason for a particular situation.
Ex: Since you recommended him, I am appointed day.

Purpose:
-Introduce by so (that) - Usually followed by a modal auxiliary
Ex: I will get up earlier so that I will see you.

- Introduced by order that – formal speech and writing

Ex: I will do my best in order to teach you English.

- So as (not) to – Used with infinitive constructions

Ex: We must burn more wood so as not to be cold.

- introduced by in case, meaning “to be prepared for a possible event”

Ex: they evacuated the building in case the wall collapsed.

Result:
- Introduced by so+ adject/adverb+ that, or such (a) + (adjective) + noun + that
Ex: He is so small that he can easily fit there.

- In reduced Clauses
Ex: She is so sweet - She is such a sweet girl!
 English Teacher Training Course Grammar II
Rojas Janet Ruben Roman
2020
2nd

Contrast:
We use:
Although or though when we want to say that there is an unexpected contrast
between what happened in the main clause and what happened in the adverbial
clause.

Ex: She bought a car, although/though she was still too young to learn to drive, (or She was
still too young to learn to drive, but she bought a car.)

Ex: 'That cheese smells awful!' 'It tastes good, though, doesn't it?' (not ...although...)
Similar meaning, we have:

- We use despite the fact that/ in spite of the fact

Ex: She bought a car; despite the fact that/ in spite of the fact she was still too young to learn
to drive.

Even though and even if

We can use even though (but not 'even although') to mean 'despite the fact that' and
even if to mean 'whether or not'.
Even though Tom doesn't speak = Despite the fact that he i.e. The speaker knows that Tom doesn't
Spanish, I think he should still visit doesn't speak Spanish speak Spanish
Madrid.

Reduced adverbial clauses:

Clauses of time, place, manner and contrast often have the verb reduced to the
present or past participle, or omitted in the case of be. Common in formal writing.
Bear in mind:
 The subjects of both clauses must be the same; otherwise reduction is not
possible.
 If there is no be form of a verb, the verb from is change to – ing or -ed form.
Ex: Though (she was) feeling sad, she was determined to sing the song.
Ex: Unless travelling in an organized tour group you will

While/whilst/whereas

In forma l context we can use while or whilst with a similar meaning to “although” to
introduce something that qualifies what is said in the main clause or something that might
seem to conflict with it.

EX: While/whilst there is no evidence that she cheated, we were all astonished that
she passed the test.
English Teacher Training Course Grammar II
Rojas Janet Ruben Roman
2020
2nd

o We don’t use whereas if what is said in the subordinated clause, makes what is said in the
main clause unexpected.

Ex: Although/while mark´s father is from Canada; he doesn’t speak English. (not whereas)

Adverbial Participle Clauses:

Participial clauses often express condition, reason, cause, result or time in a similar
way to full adverbial clauses. In general, we tend not to use participle clauses too much
in speech as they are quite formal, however in written English participle clauses are
useful as they enable us to say something in fewer words than would normally be
used.
Ex: Knowing she loved reading, I bought her a book.
The same as: I knew she loved reading, so I bought her a book.

 If the participle phrase comes before the main clause, it must refer to the subject
of the main clause. Usually followed by a comma.
Ex: Waiting for John, I made some tea.

 If the participle follows the main clause then either the subject or the object of the
main clause can be the subject of the participle phrase. This will depend on the
meaning of the sentence.
Ex: We saw a car sliding out of control in the street.

We can use PRESENT PARTICIPLE (-ING) and PAST PATICIPLE (-ED) CLAUSES with an
adverbial meaning.
EX: Looking at his bank statement, Liam started to cry. = when he looked at his bank
statement…)

 The implied subject of a participle clause is usually Ex: Walking into the classroom, he spotted his ex-boss. =
the same as the subject of the main clause: when he walked in, he spotted his ex-box.

 However, sometimes the implied subject is not Ex: Having wanted to work on an Egyptian dig all his life,
referred to in the main clause: this was the opportunity of a lifetime.

 In formal English, the participle clause sometimes EX: The cost of a course varies considerably, some being
has its own subject. This can be, or include, a over £5,000.
pronoun:

 We can use either a present participle or EX: Finding nothing to eat in the fridge, Tom phoned the
a having + past participle clause with a similar pizza delivery company. (having found nothing . . . has a
meaning when the action in the participle clause is similar meaning)
complete before the action in the main clause
begins.
English Teacher Training Course Grammar II
Rojas Janet Ruben Roman
2020
2nd
By, in, on + -ing
 We can often use BY+ - ing or IN + -ing with similar meaning, although BY+ -ing
is preferred in informal context.
Ex: By writing an essay about technology, I came to understand the real meaning of a hard
reset
Compare:
Ex: By calling at the door several times, he managed to talk to her. (the method is the focus
here, not the consequence)

With – ing; without -ing

With+ -ing: Introduces a reason for something in the main clause. This is informal.
The subject goes between WITH and -ING
Ex: With Jane living in Portugal. I don’t see her quite often (because Jane lives in Portugal…)
Without + -ing: to say that the second action doesn’t happen
Ex: They left without locking the door.

To sum up, I try my best to add the most important pieces of information. I explain
with examples the majority of the assignment, making a search of the most important
aspects of the adjective and adverbial clauses, and what we will find within each.

Bibliography:

o https://medium.com/@eslstudy24/adverb-clause-types-of-adverbial-clauses-with-useful-
examples-1b2988dd9d96
o https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/intermediate-to-upper-
intermediate/participle-clauses
o Grammar Booklet