Common Adverb Errors: Adverbial Clauses

Adverbial clauses are dependent clauses that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They provide additional information about when, where, why, how, or to what extent an action is happening. Here are some common mistakes:

Using the Wrong Conjunction

• Incorrect: I went to the store because I needed milk.
• Correct: Because I needed milk, I went to the store. (Using “because” to indicate a cause and effect relationship)

Placing the Adverbial Clause in the Wrong Position

• Incorrect: When I went to the store, I bought milk.
• Correct: When I went to the store, I bought milk. (Placing the adverbial clause at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis)

Using Run-on Sentences

• Incorrect: I went to the store, I bought milk.
• Correct: I went to the store because I needed milk. (Using a coordinating conjunction to connect the two independent clauses)

Practice Exercises:

1. (Because/When) I was hungry, I ate a sandwich.
2. (While/After) I was watching TV, the phone rang.
3. (If/Unless) you study hard, you won’t pass the exam.
4. (Although/Because) it was raining, we went for a walk.
5. (As soon as/While) I finished my homework, I watched TV.

Answers:

1. Because
2. While
3. If
4. Although
5. As soon as

Adverbial Clause Practice

Identify the correct adverbial clause conjunction in each sentence.

1. (Because/When) I was hungry, I ate a sandwich.
2. (While/After) I was watching TV, the phone rang.
3. (If/Unless) you study hard, you won’t pass the exam.
4. (Although/Because) it was raining, we went for a walk.
5. (As soon as/While) I finished my homework, I watched TV.
6. (Before/After) I went to bed, I brushed my teeth.
7. (If/Unless) you have a ticket, you can’t enter the concert.
8. (Although/Because) it was cold, I didn’t wear a coat.
9. (While/As soon as) I was walking, I saw a dog.
10. (If/Unless) you study hard, you won’t pass the exam.

Answers:

1. Because
2. While
3. If
4. Although
5. As soon as
6. Before
7. Unless
8. Although
9. While
10. Unless