Adverbial Clauses
What Is It?
An adverbial clause modifies a verb, adjective, or entire clause, showing time, cause, contrast, purpose, etc.: subord + S + V.
Why Use Adverbial Clauses?
- Detail — answers when, why, how, where.
- Flexibility — can lead or follow the main clause.
- Logical flow — clarifies relationships between events.
When to Choose Adverbial Clauses
Migration playbooks, postmortems, narrative case studies.
Forming Adverbial-Clause Sentences
| Meaning | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Time | After + S + V, main | “After logs rotated, disk cleared.” |
| Cause | Because + S + V, main | “Because cache warmed, hits sped up.” |
| Concession | Although + S + V, main | “Although traffic spiked, CPU held.” |
| Purpose | So that + S + can/will + V | “Deploy at night so that users won’t notice.” |
Tips for Writing with Adverbial Clauses
- Vary position to improve rhythm.
- Comma-use: lead with clause = comma; follow = none.
- Use precise subordinators; avoid vague as.
- Trim redundant words (“because of the fact that” → “because”).
Exceptions & Nuances
Short time clauses may drop the subject (“When ready, push”). Keep full form in formal writing.