Learning and Finding 13 Errors in Adverbial Clauses

Review of Adverbial Clauses

Adverbial Clause. An adverbial clause is a dependent clause introduced by an adverbial subordinator. It is used to modify the verb of the independent clause and tells when (time), where (place), why (reason), for what purpose, how, how long, or how far. It is also used to show contrast: concession (unexpected result) and direct apposition.

Place an adverbial clause either before or after an independent clause. If the adverbial clause comes before an independent clause, it is followed by a comma. If it comes after an independent clause, do not use a comma (except with whereas/while).

     

     The south of the country continues to grow richer, while the north grows poorer.

     Whereas knowledge can be acquired from books, skills must be learned through practice.

Types of Adverbial Clauses

There are different types of adverbial clauses, each with its own subordinators

ADVERBIAL SUBORDINATORS

Time:

when, whenever, while, as soon as, after, since, as, before, until

--> Whenever I had to speak in front of people, I was paralyzed by fear.

Place:

where, wherever, everywhere, anywhere

--> I saw unfriendly, critical faces everywhere I looked.

Manner, Distance, and Frequency: as, as + adverb + as, as if/as though

--> I tried as hard as I could to calm myself.

--> I tried to act as if I were not afraid.

Reason:

because, since, as

--> Since I need to make speeches for career advancement, I enrolled in a speech class.

Purpose:

so that, in order that

--> I took a speech class so that I could overcome my fear of public speaking.

Result:

so + adjective/adverb + that

such a(n) + noun + that

so much/little + noun + that

so many/few + noun + that

--> At first, making a speech made me so nervous that I got stomachache before every class.

--> During the semester, I made so many speeches that I lost some of my fear.

Concession (unexpected result):

although, even though, though

--> Even though I am a politician, I still don't enjoy speaking in public.

Contrast (direct apposition):

while, whereas

--> As a child, I never tried out for school plays, whereas my best friend usually got a starring role.

You can use adverbial clauses to improve your writing style. We know that good writing in English requires the use of subordinate structures. Adverbial clauses are a common kind of subordinate clause.

How far you have mastered adverbial clauses.

EDITING PRACTICE:  Adverbial Clauses

Edit the following essay for errors in adverbial clauses. There are thirteen errors. Look for these kinds of mistakes:

An incorrect sentence connector (subordinator or coordinator) is used:

    I made an appointment with my history professor, so I could ask his advice about graduate schools.

  

Corrected: I made an appointment with my history professor so that I could ask his advice about graduate school.

There are too many sentence connectors: 

   Even though I am studying five hours a night, but I am still getting low grades.

   

Corrected: Even though I am studying five hours a night, I am still getting low grades.

                                                           OR

                    I am studying five hours a night, but I am still getting low grades.

A subordinator is used with the wrong clause: 

   Because we arrived late, we had a flat tire.

Corrected: We arrived late because we had a flat tire.

Commas should be added or deleted: 

   He doesn't eat meat, because he is a vegetarian.

Corrected: He doesn't eat meat because he is a vegetarian.

Addicted to the Net

1A lot of people enjoy surfing the Net. 2They look for interesting Websites and chat with people all over the world. 3However, some people spend such many hours on-line that they are Internet addicts. 4Although an average person spends about eight to twelve hours per week, but an addict spends eight to twelve hours per day on-line. 5Because addicts spend so much time interacting with the computer so it can affect their lives negatively. 6They become social recluses, because they stop going out and talking to people face to face. 7They avoid real-life social situations, preferring instead to be in a dimly lit room with only the glowing screen to light up their lives.

8Internet addiction negatively affects not only the addicts themselves, but also the people around them. 9For example, John's marriage to Maria broke up until he insisted on spending so many hours on the Net. 10As soon as he arrived home from work he was at his computer. 11While he finished dinner, he would disappear into his computer room again. 12He paid so little attention to her, that she finally divorced him.

13As college students are especially technologically skilled they can easily become nonstop Net-surfers. 14Many colleges provide computers at several locations around campus since students can use them at any time day or night. 15As a result, students can spend too much time surfing the Net instead of "surfing" their textbooks. 16Last semester, nine freshmen at Berkshire College flunked out although they became Internet addicts.

17In short, even though the Internet is an excellent source of information and entertainment, but we must not let it take over our lives.

Model answer

In sentence 3 there is one mistake: An incorrect sentence connector is used.

Incorrect: However, some people spend such many hours on-line that they are Internet addicts.

Correct:  However, some people spend such many hours on-line so that they are Internet addicts.

In sentence 4 there is one mistake: There are too many sentence connectors.

Incorrect: Although an average person spends about eight to twelve hours per week, but an addict spends eight to twelve hours per day on-line.

Correct: Although an average person spends about eight to twelve hours per week, an addict spends eight to twelve hours per day on-line.

               OR

            An average person spends about eight to twelve hours per week, but an addict spends eight to twelve hours per day on-line.

In sentence 5 there are two mistakes: Comma should be added and there are too many sentence connectors.

Incorrect: Because addicts spend so much time interacting with the computer so it can affect their lives negatively.

Correct:  Because addicts spend so much time interacting with the computer, it can affect their lives negatively.

In sentence 6 there is one mistake: Comma should be deleted.

Incorrect: They become social recluses, because they stop going out and talking to people face-to-face.

Correct:  They become social recluses because they stop going out and talking to people face-to-face.

In sentence 8 there is one mistake: Comma should be deleted.

Incorrect: Internet addiction negatively affects not only the addicts themselves, but also the people around them.

Correct:  Internet addiction negatively affects not only the addicts themselves but also the people around them.

In sentence 9 there is one mistake: An incorrect sentence connector is used.

Incorrect: For example, John's marriage to Marta broke up until he insisted on spending so many hours on the Net.

Correct:  For example, John's marriage to Marta broke up because he insisted on spending so many hours on the Net.

In sentence 10 there is one mistake: Comma should be added.

Incorrect: As soon as he arrived home from work he was at his computer.

Correct:  As soon as he arrived home from work, he was at his computer.

In sentence 12 there are two mistakes: Comma should be deleted and An incorrect sentence connector is used.

Incorrect: He paid so little attention to her, that she finally divorced him.

Correct:  He paid so little attention to her so that she finally divorced him.

In sentence 13 there is one mistake: Comma should be added.

Incorrect: As college students are especially technologically skilled they can easily become nonstop Net-surfers.

Correct:  As college students are especially technologically skilled, they can easily become nonstop Net-surfers.

In sentence 14 there is one mistake: An incorrect sentence connector is used.

Incorrect: Many colleges provide computers at several locations around campus since students can use them at any time day or night.

Correct:  Many colleges provide computers at several locations around campus so that students can use them at any time day or night.

In sentence 16 there is one mistake: An incorrect sentence connector is used.

Incorrect: Last semester, nine freshmen at Berkshire College flunked out although they become Internet addicts.

Correct:  Last semester, nine freshmen at Berkshire College flunked out because they become Internet addicts.

In sentence 17 there is one mistake: There are too many sentence connectors.

Incorrect: In short, even though the Internet is an excellent source of information and entertainment, but we must not let it take over our lives.

Correct:  In short, even though the Internet is an excellent source of information and entertainment, we must not let it take over our lives.

               OR

               In short, the Internet is an excellent source of information and entertainment, but we must not let it take over our lives.

The following is the essay that has been improved.

Addicted to the Net

1A lot of people enjoy surfing the Net. 2They look for interesting Websites and chat with people all over the world. 3However, some people spend such many hours on-line so that they are Internet addicts. 4Although an average person spends about eight to twelve hours per week, an addict spends eight to twelve hours per day on-line. 5Because addicts spend so much time interacting with the computer, it can affect their lives negatively. 6They become social recluses because they stop going out and talking to people face-to-face. 7They avoid real-life social situations, preferring instead to be in a dimly lit room with only the glowing screen to light up their lives.

8Internet addiction negatively affects not only the addicts themselves but also the people around them. 9For example, John's marriage to Marta broke up because he insisted on spending so many hours on the Net. 10As soon as he arrived home from work, he was at his computer. 11While he finished dinner, he would disappear into his computer room again. 12He paid so little attention to her so that she finally divorced him. 

13As college students are especially technologically skilled, they can easily become nonstop Net-surfers. 14Many colleges provide computers at several locations around campus so that students can use them at any time day or night. 15As a result, students can spend too much time surfing the Net instead of "surfing" their textbooks. 16Last semester, nine freshmen at Berkshire College flunked out because they become Internet addicts. 

17In short, the Internet is an excellent source of information and entertainment, but we must not let it take over our lives.

Net: shortened from Internet

Surfing the Net: exploring the Internet

This is only my own model answer. Perhaps, you have your own model answer. Please feel free to discuss and try to find the best model answer.

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