Adverbial Phrases and Adverbial Clauses

Adverbial phrases and adverbial clauses are multi-word terms that tell us when, where, how, or why an action occurs. Here are some examples:

Phrase and clause stating when:

• Read me a story after supper . ("After supper" is a phrase. It tells us when.)
• Read me a story when I go to bed . ("when I go to bed" is a clause. It tells us when.)

• She hid her necklace under the dinner mat . ("Under the dinner mat" is a phrase. It tells us where.)
• She hid her necklace where she always kept it . ("Where she always kept it" is a clause. It tells us where.)

• He fought like a lion . ("Like a lion" is a phrase. It tells us how.)
• He fought how his father taught him . ("How his father taught him" is a clause. It tells us how.)

• John trained to be the best . ("To be the best" is a phrase. It tells us why.)
• John trained because he wanted to be the best . ("Because he wanted to be the best" is a clause. It tells us why.)

More Examples of Adverbial Phrases and Clauses

Here are some more examples of adverbial phrases and clauses that tells us when, where, how, and why.

When

• A one-word adverb: The game will take place tomorrow.
• An adverbial phrase: The game will take place in the morning . (A phrase does not contain a subject and a verb.)
• An adverbial clause: The game will take place when both teams are ready . (A clause contains a subject ("both teams") and a verb ("are").)

Where

• A one-word adverb: The scene was filmed here.
• An adverbial phrase: The scene was filmed near the bridge .
• An adverbial clause: The scene was filmed where the bridge crosses the river . (In this clause, the subject is "the bridge" and the verb is "crosses.")

How

• A one-word adverb: The pike moves quickly.
• An adverbial phrase: The pike moves like lightning .
• An adverbial clause: The pike moves like its life depends on it . (In this clause, the subject is "its life" and the verb is "depends.")

Why

• A one-word adverb: They came to the mine just because. (Using "because" to explain why the action occurs is a colloquialism. There are no one-word adverbs that tell us why. "Adverbs of reason" (as they're more formally called) are always adverbial phrases or adverbial clauses.)
• An adverbial phrase: They came to the mine to find gold .
• An adverbial clause: They came to the mine because they wanted gold . (In this clause, the subject is "they" and the verb is "wanted.")

More about Adverbial Phrases and Clauses

Most adverbial phrases and adverbial clauses tell us when, where, how, or why an action occurs, but there are other types too. Below are some more examples of adverbial clauses and adverbial phrases with their more formal names, e.g., adverb of time (when), adverb of place (where).

Remember that an adverbial phrase does not contain a subject and a verb, but an adverbial clause does. That is the difference between a phrase and a clause.

Even More Examples of Adverbial Phrases and Clauses

Adverbs of Time (When or How Often?)

• An adverbial phrase: A crow attacked your cat about an hour ago .
• An adverbial clause: Every time he cracked a joke , the punters roared with laughter.

Adverbs of Place (Where?)

• An adverbial phrase: It is colder and wetter in the north of Germany .
• An adverbial clause: Put the sign where the students can read it .

Adverbs of Manner (How?)

• An adverbial phrase: That dog is barking like a king .
• An adverbial clause: She is acting as if she has stolen something .

Adverbs of Reason (Why?)

• An adverbial phrase: We abandoned the match to make a point .
• An adverbial clause: Since it is your birthday , you can sit in the front.

Adverbs of Degree (To What Extent?)

• An adverbial phrase: You are not as clever as this .
• An adverbial clause: He is as modest as he is brilliant .

Adverbs of Condition (If, Then)

• An adverbial phrase: If possible , I will show you the cellar.
• An adverbial clause: I will come with you provided my suit is back from the dry cleaners .

Adverbs of Concession (In Spite Of)

• An adverbial phrase: Although only four years old , Oliver can do long multiplication.
• An adverbial clause: I will cover for you even though I may lose my job .

The Format of Adverbial Phrases

Here are three common formats for adverbial phrases:

Prepositional Phrases.

• He was standing in the corner .

• She went to Florence to paint .

• He answered you very quickly .

• We arrived a day later than expected .
• I paid him every week .

The Format of Adverbial Clauses

• Keep your hand on the wound until the bleeding stops . (The adverbial clause sets a time.)
• Steve will sleep wherever there's a bed . (The adverbial clause sets a place.)

Commas with Adverbial Phrases and Clauses

When an adverbial phrase or clause is at the front of a sentence (called a "fronted adverbial"), use a comma afterwards. When it is at the back (called a "post-positioned adverbial"), do not use a comma before it. For example:

• A crow attacked your cat while I was waiting for the bus . (No comma is required as the adverbial clause is at the end of the sentence.)
• While I was waiting for the bus , a crow attacked your cat. (This time, a comma is required because the adverbial clause is at the start.)

• It is colder and wetter in the north of Germany . (There is no comma before the adverbial phrase because it comes at the end of the sentence.)
• In the north of Germany , it is colder and wetter. (Here, we have a fronted adverbial, so a comma is required.)

A fronted adverbial. When your adverbial phrase or clause is fronted, you are safe to use a comma afterwards because the comma is considered useful to show where the adverbial ends and the main clause starts.

A post-positioned adverbial. When your adverbial is at the back of your sentence, you shouldn't precede it with a comma if the adverbial is essential (called a restrictive phrase or clause). As most post-positioned adverbials are essential, the rule to not use a comma is nearly always safe. However, it is possible for the adverbial to be non-essential (called a non-restrictive phrase or clause). In this case, you can use a comma. Read more about restrictive and non-restrictive post-positioned adverbials on the page covering adverbial clauses. Read more about using commas with adverbial phrases and clauses.

Misplaced Adverbials

• Keep looking for the bull elephant with the binoculars . (This adverbial phrase tells us how to keep looking for the bull elephant (i.e., with binoculars). However, it could be taken as an adjective phrase describing a bull elephant with binoculars.)

This page was written by Craig Shrives.