ADVERBIAL CLAUSES, COMMENT CLAUSES AND COMPARATIVE CLAUSES CHART

SEMANTIC TYPE SUBORDINATORS FUNCTION EXAMPLE COMMENT

Time after, as, before, Initial-Sentence adjunct ​Verbless: → Adverbial clauses of time can be finite or non-finite.
once, since, till, until, End- Sentence adjunct → -When in difficulty-, consult the manual. Finite:
when, whenever, → -While in Rome- be sure to see the Colosseum. -​When I awake one morning​-, I found the house in an uproar.
while, whilst, now Medial-Sentence adjunct ​Non finite -ed​:
(that), as long as, so Non finite:
→ Spinach in delicious -when eaten raw-
long as, as soon as, → Adverbial​ -ing​ clauses of time are introduced by one of the following ​subordinators​:​ once, till, until, when,
immediately, Non finite TO infinitive: whenever, while, whilst.
directly. → he left, -never to return- They can also be introduced by ​prepositions​ ​after, before, on, and since.
→ I rushed to the door, -only to discover that it was → ​Adverbial​ -ed​ clauses of time are introduced by one of these subordinators, THAT ARE ALSO USED with
locked- finite clauses:​ as soon as, once, till, until, when, whenever, whilst. C x8
Non infinitive ing:
→ ​ -since coming here- life has been much more easier. →​ To infinitive​ clauses without a subordinator or a subject may have temporal function, expressing the outcome
→ He wrote his novel -while working in a frighter - of the situation. These clauses are restricted to final position.
Finite:
→ -When I last saw you-, you lived in Washington → ​.Verbless clauses​ of time are introduced by the same subordinators as -ed clauses.

→ Drop by ​-whenever you get the chance-

Place Where (specific), Initial-sentence adjunct Position: - We use ​where​ to tell a definite place where the action described by the main clause takes place.
→position: They indicate wherever(non-speci Medial-sentence adjunct →​ Finite: We use ​wherever​ to tell an indefinite place where the action described by the main clause takes place. The
a point of location​, fic), anywhere, End-​sentence ​predication -Where the fire had been, we saw but blackened ruins. action may happen at any place.​¨wherever¨may mean ¨in cases where¨
position or direction​. adjunct They are always finite.
everywhere
They answer the →​Verbless: E.g. He put colons wherever he should put semi-colons.
question “Where?”. -India will allow a Pakistani probe team to visit ​wherever
necessary in connection with the probe into the terror - Anywhere and everywhere are used to introduce clauses of indefinite place.
attack on Pathankot airbase.
-The author apologizes ​where appropriate. - Where-clauses may combine the meanings of place and contrast:
Where I saw only wilderness, ​they saw abundant signs of life.

Finite/non-finite/verbless - Several temporal subordinators may have a place meaning in description of scenes (described dynamically in
terms of movement from one place to another):
Direction: Take the right fork ​ when the road splits in two.
→​ Finite The river continues winding ​until it reaches a large lake.
→direction They -They gave her permission to go ​anywhere she wanted
describe the pathway of to​.
an action. They answer -​Wherever your wheels take you, cycling is serious good
the question “To(wards) fun and saves you a heap of dosh!
where?”, “from where?”,
or “in what direction?”.
Contrast → ​Finite: Contrast clauses can have an initial and a final position (before or after the main clause):
They convey contrast whereas, while, Initial-​sentence adjunct -Whereas the US has immense mineral wealth, Japan
between two situations whilst, although, End-​sentence adjunct has comparatively little. 1)Subordinating conjunction + subject + verb …,/ subject + main verb. (Although he has plenty of money, he
and involve the though, even Content Disjunct doesn’t spend much)
comparison of objects or though/if, despite/ in →​Verbless:
situations that are spite of, on the other While new to biology, the species has been increasingly 2)Subject + main verb …,/ subordinating conjunction + subject + verb … (He doesn’t spend much, although he
dissimilar, especially to hand, instead appearing on fish stalls in Sydney. has plenty of money.)
show differences.

Similarity and Initial​ . End ​-​Sentence Finite: similarity clauses differ from comparison clauses in that only the former can be converted into relative clauses
Manner As Predication ​adjunct Eventive: introduced by "the way that
Meaning: ​in a way that Like​(informal in Am Medial-Sentence adjunct She cooked a turkey as her mother did.
is similar to the way that English) Epistemic:
He knew the truth as few could do.
as…..so….
Illocutionary:
 He was, as i was able to discover, extraordinary kind,
The subordinator but hated either to acknowledge to have it
can be intensified by acknowledged.
´just¨or ¨exactly¨
S-V inversion if the
clause is final Non-finite:
Comparison Potential:
He bent down as if tightening his shoe laces.

As if , as though Initial-Sentence adjunct Verbless:

Medial-Sentence adjunct He shivered as though with cold.
End-Predication Adjunct
Unreal:
She greets me as if i were her best friend.

Reason Since, As, ​for Initial-​sentence adjuncts​.
Content Disjunct
Medial and final-​sentence
adjuncts.
Content Disjunct
Difference in meaning:
He speaks as if he is English (is)
He speaks as if he was English (might be)
He speaks as if he were English (is not)
Cause and effect:
I lend him the money, because he need it.
Reason and consequence:
As he was the eldest, he looked after the others.
Motivation and result:
You’ll help me because you’re my friend.
Circumstance and consequence:
Since we live near the sea, we often go sailing.
● If the Adv Cl is placed at the beginning of the sentence a comma MUST be placed between the 2 parts. E.g in
the sentence “As he was the eldest, he looked after the others.”
● The conjunction that is often omitted.
“I am glad you like it. OR I am glad that you like it.”
“They were disappointed you weren’t in. OR They were disappointed that you weren’t in.”
●As and since are used when the reason is already known to the listener:
“As it is raining again we will have to cancel the match.”
As and since-clauses are relatively formal. In an informal style, the same idea can be expressed with so:
“It is raining again, so we will have to cancel the match”

Because E- Predication Adjunct The reason is not related to the situation in the matrix clause but a motivation for the implicit speech act of the
E.g. The evidence is invalid in that it was obtained utterance
through illegal means

For,​ in ​That
(circumstantial
subordinator)

E.g. We´re happy now that everybody is present

I have nothing in my bank account, because i checked

this morning

Indirect reason As long as, now I-E- Content Disjunct

that, for, since, as
Condition If, whereas, whether Initial-sentence adjunct. Verbless: Whereas​ introduces concessive classes only.
(or not), (even) if, End- Sentence adjunct
Direct Condition unless, given (that), -Conditional clauses convey a ​direct condition​.
The situation in the on condition (that), E.g: ​If you put the baby down,​ she’ll scream.
matrix is directly provided (that), Introduced by -Some conditional clauses express an ​indirect condition.
contingent on the providing (that), provided/providing that, so E.g: His style is florid, if that’s the right word.
situation in the supposing (that), long as:​ content disjuncts
conditional clause. assuming (that), if
not,if possible, with,
Direct condition may be
either ​Open Condition
(neutral): leave
unresolved the fulfilment
or non-fulfilment of the
condition; or
Hypothetical Condition
(back shifted): conveys
the belief that the
condition will not/ is not/
was not fulfilled, leaves
a probable or certain
falsity of the proposition
expressed in matrix
clause.
Rhetorical Condition​:
These clauses appear to
be of open condition but
(like rhetorical
questions) make a
strong assertion.
Indirect Condition​:
The condition is not
related to the situation in
the matrix. It is open
condition dependent on
implicit speech.
Concession
Indicates that the
situation in the matrix
clause is contrary to
what one might expect
in view of the situation in
the concessive clause.
without, so/as long →- Without them on our side, we are secure. Sometimes the conjunction IF is omitted (clauses with: should, were, had and inversion):
as, unless, only if, in Non-finite: Should you meet my brother, tell him that I have gone to the railway station.
the event that, in →- Without me to supplement your income, you We’re the child mine, I would have taken it to the doctor.
case. wouldn’t be able to manage. Had I not seen this with my own eyes, I would not have believed this.
Finite:
Some of them - Nonfinite and verbless clauses with ​with ​or ​without ​as subordinator may express a conditional relationship:
combine condition →- Assuming that the movie starts at eight, shouldn’t we E.g: ​With them on our side​, we are secure
and time (as long be leaving now?
as, so long as,
before, when, Rhetorical Condition:
whenever, once) Open condition: There are two types:
If Colin is in London, ​he is undoubtedly staying at the 1.​ If the proposition in the matrix clause is patently absurd, the proposition in the conditional clause i shown to be
Hilton. false.
E.g : ​If they’re Irish, ​I’m the Pope
Hypothetical Condition:
If you had listened to me, y​ ou wouldn’t have made so 2.​ If the proposition in the conditional clause is patiently true, the proposition in the matrix is shown to be true.
many mistakes The if- clause is positioned finally.
" ​In spite of"​ , " ​despite" ​have similar meaning to "​although"​ or "​even though"​ . ​BUT​ t​ hey don't introduce clauses.
They have different syntax. They are followed by ​nouns​ or ​gerunds​ (verb+ing.) They don't introduce a ​clause
(subject + verb.)
Indirect Condition:
If you’re going my way,​ I need a lift.
She is far too considerate, if I may say so. Clauses expressing concessive meaning may ​not be introduced by subordinators​, but require a ​correlative
conjunct​.
Trained in karate,​ he ​nevertheless​ used a gun to defend himself.
Like conditional clauses, concessives may have ​unusual syntactic ordering​ (using ​as ​or ​though)​ . Predication may
be fronted.
Change your mind as you will,​ you will gain no additional support.
The subordinators introduce -ing, -ed and verbless
clauses.
(Except for ​when ​and w
​ hereas​.)
No goals were score, ​ although it was an exciting game
They imply that one situation would not affect another
Although he is quiet,​ he is not shy.
Indirect Condition
clauses mainly: style
disjuncts.
E.g.
I would´t help him even if I could
Even if I’m tired​, I’m going to study tonight
 Sentence adjunct
I (as a tendency)Content
Condition and Although, though, Disjunct
concession when, whereas,
while

Even if, even

though, no matter…,
it doesn’t matter
whether…, although,
while, whilst, when,
whereas.

Sentence Adjunct
Proportion As… (so) Initial-sentence adjunct. → The more we thought about the matter, the less we ★ “As”can be followed to “so” to make it more formal: As he grew disheartened, so his work deteriorated.
The​+ Comp​...the​+ End- sentence adjunct. understood it. ★ Non correlative “the” is also used in the same sense: She liked it less, the more she thought about it.
Comp → The harder he worked, the happier he felt.
→ I think you become more tolerant of other people as
you get older.
→ As prices rose, the demand of higher salaries
became more intense.

Preference Rather than... Initial-sentence adjunct → Rather than go there by air, I’d take the slowest train. ★ They’re usually nonfinite.
Sooner than... End-sentence adjunct → Rather than reducing the capacity, I’d replace several ★ Nevertheless, the same subordinators may introduce finite clauses: Rather than (that) she should miss
components. her train, I’ll get the car over. When we use a putative “should” we make the finite clause formal: Rather
+​Bare infinitive vb → They’ll fight to the finish sooner than surrender. than she should feel lonely, her friends arranged to take her with them on a trip.
★ The subordinate clause may very occasionally have its own subject: Rather than you say anything, I
→ I would stay here and eat flies sooner than go with
would speak to the manage/ Rather than he do it, I would like to do it myself.
them.
Exception FORMAL: But that, E . Content Disjunct
save that
(occasionally saving
that).
INFORMAL: except
that ​ (less frequently
excepting ​that)​ , only.
NEUTRAL: beyond
that, other than (the
fact) that.
The subordinator
“but” without “that” is
used in infinitive
clauses, where it is
more common than
“but that” in finite
clauses.
Contingency/ When, whenever, Sentence adjunct
wherever, without,
(as) if, as, because,
before, in order to,
after, while, whether.
I would pay you now, ​except​ that I don’t have any
money on me.
Nothing would satisfy the child ​but that​ I place her on
my lap. (Formal)
I would’ve asked you, ​only​ my mother told me not to.
(Informal)
Subordinator “but” without “that”​:
Nothing would satisfy the child ​but​ for me to place her
on my lap.
● ​ reposition ​without​, are expressed
Clauses of negative circumstance, introduced by the ​participle p
● She walked on​ without​ waiting for an answer, through dependent -ing forms, and may or may not have an explicit subject.
● Initial adverbial leaving four malevolent eyes fixed on her back. ● Non-finite clauses with subordinators are found mostly in news and academic writing.
clauses can be ● It’s miserable enough my having to take my
important for the leave in the autumn ​without​ you trying to be
information flow​ of a bright and gay about it.
text. ● When​ asked by journalists recently about the
refugee problem, he said, ‘What refugee
● In initial position, problem’.
to-inf clause can also ● There are hundreds of questions to be asked ​in
help with cohesion​ by order​ to find a satisfactory answer to the
leading into the next general question.
stage of discussion, ● If ​it had not been for human kindness, he would
stating its purpose. have ended up in a pork pie.
● Before​ showing the use of matrices, we must
● Another role that play first set up an algebra defining the various
is ​framing operations of addition, subtraction,
subsequent multiplication, and so on.
discourse​. This ● Whenever​ your wheels take you, cycling is
means that the serious good for fun.
clause ´set the ● I’ll have to say I’m Rachel ​because​ our voices
scene´ for one or sound the same.
more following ● As​ dinosaurs go, they were the biggest of the
clauses. big.
E.g. Seeing that it is only three, we should be able to
finish before we leave today.
He took his coat, since it was raining.
It is doubtful whether research proposals by Freud
himself woud have been approved by reviewers,
inasmuch as he was not affiliated to any academic
institution.
They express reason + fulfilled condition, and contain a premise in the subordinate clause and a conclusion
drawn from it in the matrix clause
Circumstance As, as long as, Content Disjunct
inasmuch as, now
that, seeing that,
since
Without, when
Purpose So (that), in order Initial-sentence adjuncts. ● He works hard ​so (that)​ he will become a ● Finite clauses of purpose require one of these modal auxiliaries: can, could, may, might, should, would.
that, to, so as to, in Medial-sentence adjuncts. millionaire. ● Finite clauses of purpose are putative.
order to, for fear ● They left the door open ​in order f​ or me ​to​ hear ● Clauses of purpose are often more infinitival than finite.
(that), in case (that) the baby. ● The most common type of purpose clause is a to-infinitive clause.
and lest. ● Put on your warm clothes​ lest​ you should catch ● There are a number of other ways of expressing purpose in English: with a view to, with the intention of,
a chill. with the object/aim of, for the purpose of. If you use these phrases, make sure that the verb is in the -ing
● To​ open the carton, pull this tab. form.
● Students should make notes, ​so as to​ make
revision easier.
● They left early ​for fear (that)​ they would meet
him.
● They evacuated the building ​in case​ (​ that) ​the
wall collapsed.
● We are starting now ​in order that​ we will be
there by evening.

Non-finite:
He got up early in order to have time to get ready.

In order to - so as to
Result End- ​sentence​ ​Content ● Result clauses are rather factual than putative: both purpose and result clauses express result, but in the
So (that), that, so… disjuncts. ● The famine was ​so​ severe ​that​ thousands result clause it is achieved, whereas in the purpose clause it isn’t.
(that), such… (that). perished. ● Finite clauses of result do not require a modal auxiliary.
● He is ​such​ a good man ​that​ all respect him. ● The following words are also used in the same way as result subordinators: Therefore; Thus; In
● We paid him immediately, ​so (that)​ he left consequence; Consequently; For this/that reason.
contented. ● Causal relations can be expressed by ing-clauses of result.
● What have I done, ​that​ you should insult me?

Comment clauses Always after a Initial - style disjunct Finite: Comment clauses can be Finite and non-finite.
comma. medial -​ ​style disjunct There were no other applicants, I believe, for that job. We distinguish the following types.
Examples of clauses end - style disjunct Non-finite TO infinitive​: I’m not sure what to do, to be Finite:
with subordinator as: honest. →Type i : like the matrix of a main clause. These clauses generally contain a transitive verb or an adjective which
as it appears, as it Non-finite -ing: elsewhere requires a nominal that-clause as complementation.
 happens, as it Initial (like a nominal relative I doubt, speaking as a layman, whether television is the
transpired, as it may clause.) - conjunct right medium for that story. There were no other applicants, I believe, for that job.
interest you to know, Non-finite -ed: I believe that there were no other applicants for that job.
as I see it, as I Stated bluntly, he had no chance of winning. Other examples :​ ​I believe, I guess, I think, I expect, I feel, I hear, I presume, I assume, I understand, I suppose,
interpret it. etc.
Examples of clauses
with subordinator → Type ii : Adverbial clause introduced by as.:
what: what's more I’m working the night shift, as you know.
serious, what's most
significant of all, → Type iii : ​like a nominal relative clause.
what's very strange, What was more upsetting, we lost all our luggage.
what annoys me.
→Type iv: ​Non-finite TO infinitive:
I do love that show, to be serious.
Other examples:​ ​to be honest, to be fair, to be frank, to be precise, to be truthful, to be serious for a moment, to
speak candidly, to put it briefly.

→ Type v : ​Non-finite -ing​:

I’m so hungry I could eat a horse, figuratively speaking​.
Other examples:​ ​broadly speaking, loosely speaking, roughly speaking, figuratively speaking, speaking frankly,
speaking generally, speaking personally, putting it mildly, putting it crudely.

→ Type vi: ​Non-finite -ed:

Worded plainly, she wasn’t a good singer
Other examples​: rephrased, worded, stated, etc..

Comparative clauses •As Complement to the Examples of each subordinator: → The modifying sequences ​more of a… ​and ​less of a…​ occur with gradable singular or uncountable noun
•Than comparative element. • He walks as fast ​as​ I walk. heads: He is more of a ​fool​ than I thought. (gradable singular)It was less of a ​success​ than I imagined.
•Like (Conservative • He walks faster ​than​ I walk. (uncountable noun)
usage manuals tend • They don't get on ​like​ they used to.
to disapprove • He walks the fastest ​of​ us all. → The comparative items more, -er, less cannot be used in a definite noun phrase in the comparative
constructions where • He walks a different route ​from​ us/​than ​we do. construction.
like takes a finite • His route is similar ​to​ our route. *Sarah has ​the​ better radio ​than​ Hoe (has).
clause as Sarah has ​the ​better radio(​of the two​).
complement . The
versions with like → In certain contexts we can use compared with or relative to instead:
are relatively Sally’s radio has a higher price tag than Daniel’s (radio)(has) The superior reception of Sally’s
informal, but they radio accounts for its higher price tag compared with that for Daniel’s.
are very well
established, → The comparative other is used as a comparative item.
especially in I don’t have any ​other cups​ than those in the sink.
American English.) It can be (less usually) postponed: I don’t have ​any cups other​ than those in the sink.
•Of
•From → When more is a determinative or head of a noun phrase the unit ​no more(…)​ t​ han​ is synonymous with ​only as
•To many/much (….) as.​ Paul ​has no more friends than​ I have.--> Paul has ​only as many friends as​ I have.

→ When more is and adverb or its inflectional form is used –er, or more modifies a noun, ​no more….than​ implies
that ​sth/sb is ….., any more than sb/sth is​:
Rachel is no more courageous than Sue (is).

→ ​Not any more… than​ is an emphatic variant of n​ o more…than.

However!!! → ​ not more… than​ is different from b
​ oth no more…than​ and ​not any more…than​ when more is an
adverb of modifies a gradable noun.

→ In negative superordinate clauses, ​as….as​ can be replaced by ​so….as,​ especially when there is total or
considerable omission in the subordinate clause:
He’s not as naughty as he was.
 He’s not so naughty as he was.
→ The first as in ​as…as​ can be omitted in two contexts: after a copular verb or where a copular verb is implied.
[The omission of as tends to occur particularly in more informal style , especially if only a noun phrase follows]:
They were good as gold while you were away.
→ In informal speech the subject complement can be fronted:
​White as snow​, it was.
Degree and result so... that Complement to the degree • There were so many books on the subject ​that​ Cindy → So​ is paired with t​ hat + a clause​ to express emphasis. ​So,​ a degree adverb, modifies or intensifies an
such … that element didn’t know where to begin. adjective or adverb in the main clause.This expression is followed by a subordinate clause (​that​ + clause) which
• There was such a lot of material to cover ​that​ Ivan expresses a surprising or remarkable effect.
found it difficult to keep up with his studies. → Such​ is part of an adjective phrase [​such​ + (determiner) + adjective] which modifies a noun phrase. This
expression is followed by a subordinated clause (​that​ + clause) which expresses a surprising or remarkable
effect. (​Such​ is one of the few adjectives that occurs before the article of the noun.)

Supplementive This type of clauses Adverbial Adjective Verbless Clauses: ● Supplementive clauses are optional adverbial participle and verbless clauses.
(Adjective verbless are not introduced
clauses) by a subordinator. Aware of the dangers to American citizens during the ● Can occur in initial, medial (not often) or final position.
crisis, s​ he still insisted on staying with the others.
● They are all participle and verbless clauses, that is to say,​ non-finite clauses.
I found george, ​unconscious,​ a few hours later.

We took Joe, ​weak,​ to the nearest hospital. ● Supplementive clauses, do not signal specific logical relationships, such relationships are generally clear
from the context.
Lawson, ​implacable​, contented himself with a glare of
defiance. ● Implies an accompanying circumstance to the situation described in the matrix clause.

The cows contentedly chewed the grass, ​green and ● -Ing clauses (MOST COMMON) containing auxiliary verbs or the verb be can't be postmodifiers of the
succulent,​ after the rain. noun phrase.

I met betty, ​angry,​ at the luncheon. ● The most typical positions in the superordinate clause are initial, final, and immediately after their
antecedent.

-Ing clause: ● In their indeterminacy, adverbial participle and verbless clauses resemble the versatile relationship
expressed by non- restrictive relative clauses.
The children, ​having eaten their fill,​ were allowed to
leave the table.

The old man,​ being of sane mind,​ dictated and sign his
will.

Julia, ​being a nun,​ spent much of her life in prayer and

meditation.

John, knowing that his wife was expecting a baby,

started to take a course on baby care.

The manager approached us, ​smiling.​

-Ed clause:

This substance, ​discovered almost by accident,​ has

revolutionized medicine.
 Jason, told of his son's accident, immediately phoned
the hospital.
Sentential which,whereon,whereupon, Initial- content disjunct They may refer back to:
Relative from when, by when. Medial- content disjunct
clauses End- content disjunct - Part of a sentence:
→ ​She exercises for an hour
a day, ​which would bore me.
-​ ​A whole sentence:
→ ​He kept on bragging about
his success, ​which annoyed
all of us​.
→ She just lives six doors
away, ​which is very handy.
- ​More than one sentence
(occasionally):
→ ​I didn't enjoy the work. The
weather was atrocious. I felt
thoroughly homesick. And the
locals were unpleasant.
Which is why I have never
been back there again.
These clauses are commonly
introduced by the relative
word ​which ​used as a
pronoun or as a relative
determiner of general abstract
nouns such as fact, case,
event, or situation, or more
specific verbal nouns such as
failure or claim
Sometimes the "which" of a
sentential clause will get
tucked into the clause as
the ​determiner of a noun:
- Charlie might very well
take a job as headmaster,
in which case the school
might as well close down.​
- This type of clauses
makes an independent
statement, which adds
additional, omissible
information to something
that is already presented as
identified; so that, they are
non-restrictive (or
non-defining) relative
clauses.
- In conversation, a
sentential relative clause
may also be interjected by
another speaker​:
→"Then he goes on to say
how much he appreciates
all the effort we've put into
it." "​Which is strange
because he never seemed
to care much about what
we do."