An adverbial clause is a dependent clause that functions as an adverb. It modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs in the main clause. For example, in the sentence 'I will call you when I arrive home', the phrase 'when I arrive home' is an adverbial clause that tells us when the action will happen.
Adverbial clauses can be categorized by the type of information they provide. Time clauses answer 'when', like 'When it rains, I stay inside'. Place clauses answer 'where', such as 'I go where you go'. Reason clauses explain 'why', for example 'I study because I want to learn'. Condition clauses describe circumstances with 'if', manner clauses show 'how', and purpose clauses explain the goal or intention.
Adverbial clauses are introduced by subordinating conjunctions. These words signal the relationship between the dependent clause and the main clause. Time conjunctions include when, while, before, and after. Reason conjunctions are because, since, and as. Conditional conjunctions include if and unless. For example, in 'Although it was raining, we went for a walk', the word 'although' introduces a contrast clause.
The position of adverbial clauses in a sentence affects punctuation. When an adverbial clause comes at the beginning of a sentence, it is followed by a comma, as in 'When the sun sets, the sky turns orange.' However, when the adverbial clause comes at the end, no comma is needed, like 'The sky turns orange when the sun sets.' This flexibility allows writers to emphasize different parts of their message.
In summary, adverbial clauses are dependent clauses that function as adverbs, providing additional information about when, where, why, how, or under what conditions something happens. They make our writing more detailed and sophisticated. For example, the simple sentence 'I study' becomes much more informative when we add adverbial clauses: 'I study when I have time', 'I study because I want to succeed', or 'If I study hard, I will pass the exam'. Mastering adverbial clauses is essential for effective communication in English.