What is an adverb clause?

Adverbs can also be clauses, containing a subject and a full verb. This page
will explain the basic types of adverb clauses (sometimes called “adverbial
clauses”) and how to recognize them.

I saw the movie yesterday.

I saw the movie on Friday.

I saw the movie before I left for Paris.

In the first sentence, “yesterday” is a one-word adverb, “on Friday” is an

adverb phrase, and “before I left for Paris” is a adverb clause. All of them
answer the question “When?”, but the adverb clause has a subject (“I”) and a
full verb (“left”). It is introduced by “before”, so it is adependent clause.
This means that it cannot stand alone: “Before I left for Paris” would not be
a full sentence. It needs a main clause (“I saw the movie”) An adverb clause,
then, is a dependent clause that does the same job as an adverb or an adverb
phrase.

Types of adverb clause There are many types of adverb clauses. Here are
some examples of the most common types:

Type Question Example

answered

Place Where? Wherever there are computers, there is

Microsoft software.

Time When? After the fruit is harvested, it is sold at the

market.

Cause Why?(What I didn’t call her because I’m shy.

caused it?)
 Purpose Why? (What She took a computer course so that she could
was the reason get a better job.
for doing this?)

Concession Why is this Although Gerry has a Master’s degree, he works

unexpected? as a store clerk.

Condition Under what If you save your money, you will be able to go to
conditions? college.

As you can see from the examples above, most adverb clauses can be
recognized because they are introduced by a particular word or phrase (such
as “when”, “so that”, etc.). These words and phrases are called subordinating
conjunctions, and there are many of them.

Subordination conjunctions after, before, until, while, because, since, as, so

that, in order that, if, unless, whether, though, although, even though, where

A noun clause does the work of a noun in a sentence or phrase. It is a group

of words containing a subject and a finite verb of its own.

Some Rules: noun clauses usually begin with words like how, why, what,
where, when, who, that, which, whose, whether, etc. Also words like whoever,
whenever, whatever and wherever

There are therefore just three basic types of noun clauses:

 those that start with a question word such as where, how, who,
when and why
 those that start with whether, whatever etc or if
 those that start with that.

Examples of the noun clause:

 Where does John live?

  If John buys a Ferrari
 That Mr. Smith is a good teacher
 You really do not want to know what Mrs. Smith gives her husband for
dinner
(“what Mrs. Smith gives her husband for dinner" is the noun clause)

A. Combine the following sentences using adverb clauses at the end of

the sentence.

1. We watched the robins. They raised their young in our apple tree.
2. Becky read the book. It was recommended by a friend.
3. Dad donates his suits to charity. He has worn them a year.
4. The policemen delayed the drivers. The wrecks were cleared.
5. Ann ate an apple. She studied her vocabulary.

B. Combine the following sentences using adverb clauses at the beginning

of the sentence.

1. Frank started medical training. He drove a forklift for a living.

2. The rains had started the mud slides. The homes were not safe to live
in.
3. Older people love to sit in the park. They feed the birds and visit.
4. I enjoyed camping out. I was much younger.
5. Joe recognised the man. The man had stopped his car to help.

C: Punctuate the following:

1. the letter began dear friends of our fair city

2. Helen asked may i borrow that book when you’re finished

3. i wondered if ms jay would approve this murder mystery for my book

report

4. Luis wrote dear Jim Arnosky i was fascinated by your recently

published book

5. my teacher asked me to write a poem beginning with the line roses are
red
D. Find the adjective clause in the following sentences
1. I like a leader who listens to his men.
2. The dog which I loved dearly was hit by a truck last night.
3. Rulon is a person who takes responsibility well.
4. All individuals who purchased tickets will be admitted.
5. The shirt that you bought me doesn't fit well.
6. The woman who baked the winning pie is my wife.
7. You called at a time when I was unable to answer.
8. Gayle is the one for whom you are looking.
9. Those who are willing to serve others will be rewarded.
10. One to whom much is given is expected to give much in return.

http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/eduweb/grammar/

Noun Clause Worksheets

A. Identify the noun clauses in the following sentences.

1. Espen is not responsible for what Oliver did.

2. Susan wonders if Patrick knows how to cook.
3. We have no idea where the baby is.
4. Whether my sister can find a better job is not certain.
5. Sally is valuable for what she knows about database searching.
6. Do you know where Lorne lives?
7. Ask the students what they thought about the movie.
8. Can you tell me what time it is?
9. Why you did not hire me is hard to understand.
10. Do you know where Markus went last night?

B. Rewrite the following questions as noun clauses.

1. Where are you going?

2. Would you like a cookie?
3. How does she like her eggs?
4. Are you a police officer?
5. How much wood could a woodchuck chuck?
6. When does the next bus come?
7. Where are my keys?
8. Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar?
 9. Do you prefer bacon or sausage?
10. Can you open this can for me?

C. Combine the following sentences and questions with noun clauses.

1. Ask that man. + Where is the post office?

2. Could you please tell me. + Where is the bathroom?
3. The boss asked. + Were you feeling ill?
4. My aunt revealed. + Where did my uncle go?
5. She wondered. + Who gave him the book?
6. Ask your students. + Did they understand the book?
7. We have no clue (about). + Where is the party?
8. Please inquire (about). + Does he want cheddar or Gouda?
9. Do you know? + What time does train leave?
10. Can you find out? + Is your friend a vegetarian?

A Combining Sentences
Combine each pair of sentences into one.
Name: Date:
Copyright ©2011 WorksheetWorks.com
( 1 ) David took out the garbage. Shelly took out the garbage.
( 2 ) The sky was now dark. The sun already went down.
( 3 ) Cats make wonderful pets. Dogs make wonderful pets.
( 4 ) The school was open. Students filled the classrooms.
( 5 ) The train will be a little late today. There is track maintenance going
on.
( 6 ) The baseball team came home. The baseball team celebrated their
victory.
( 7 ) The harvest was very good this year. We sold a lot of corn.
( 8 ) This computer is very powerful. This computer has lots of memory.
David found his way back to camp with his compass. Angela found her way
back to camp by following the sun.
(9)
(10) Thank you for you business. Please come back soon.A Combining
Sentences
Combine each pair of sentences into one.
ANSWER KEY
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bining.html
Noun Clause Worksheets
Answers

A. Identify the noun clauses in the following sentences.

11. Espen is not responsible for what Oliver did.

12. Susan wonders if Patrick knows how to cook.
13. We have no idea where the baby is.
14. Whether my sister can find a better job is not certain.
15. Sally is valuable for what she knows about database searching.
16. Do you know where Lorne lives?
17. Ask the students what they thought about the movie.
18. Can you tell me what time it is?
19. Why you did not hire me is hard to understand.
20. Do you know where Markus went last night?

B. Rewrite the following questions as noun clauses.

11. Where are you going? where you are going

12. Would you like a cookie? if you would like a cookie
13. How does she like her eggs? how she likes her eggs
14. Are you a police officer? whether you are a police officer
15. How much wood could a woodchuck chuck? how much wood a
woodchuck could chuck
16. When does the next bus come? when the next bus comes
17. Where are my keys? where my keys are
18. Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar? who stole the cookies
from the cookie jar
19. Do you prefer bacon or sausage? if you prefer bacon or sausage
20.Can you open this can for me? if you can open this can for me

C. Combine the following sentences and questions with noun clauses.

1. Ask that man where the post office is.

2. Could you please tell me where the bathroom is.
3. The boss asked if you were feeling ill.
4. My aunt revealed where my uncle went.
5. She wondered who gave him the book.
6. Ask you students whether they understood the book.
7. We have no clue about where the party is.
8. Please inquire about whether he wants cheddar or Gouda.
9. Do you know what time the train leaves?
10. Can you find out if your friend is a vegetarian?