132 Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression

LESSON 21
INCOMPLETE ADVERB CLAUSES

A) Full Adverb Clauses

An adverb clause consists of a connecting word, called an adverb clause marker (or subordinate
conjunction), and at least a subject and a verb.
~

The demand for economical cars increases when gasoline becomes more expensive.
In this example, the adverb clause marker when joins the adverb clause to the main clause. The
adverb clause contains a subject (gasoline) and a verb (becomes).
An adverb clause can precede the main clause or follow it. When the adverb clause comes first, it
is separated from the main clause by a comma.
When gasoline becomes more expensive, the demand for economical cars increases.
The following markers are commonly seen in the Structure section:

u,~

because cause Because the speaker was sick, the program was
canceled.
since cause Since credit cards are so convenient, many people
use them.
although opposition Although he earns a good salary, he never saves
(contrary cause) any money.
even though opposition Even though she was tired, she she stayed up late.
(contrary cause)
while contrast Some people arrived in taxis while others took the
subway.
if condition lfthe automobile had not been invented, what
would people use for basic transportation?
unless condition I won't go unless you do.
when time Your heart rate increases when you exercise
while time Some people like to listen to music while they are
studying.
as time One train was arriving as another was departing.
since time We haven't seen Professor Hill since she returned
from her trip.
until time Don't put off going to the dentist until you have a
problem.
once time Once the dean arrives, the meeting can begin.
before time Before he left the country. he bought some traveler's
checks.
after time She will give a short speech after she is presented
with the award.
 Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression 133

In Structure items, any part of a full adverb clause-the marker, the subject, the verb, and so on­
can be missing from the stem.

B) Clause Markers with -ever

Words that end with -ever are sometimes used as adverb clause markers. (In some sentences, these
words are actually noun-clause markers, but they are seldom used that way in Structure items.)
The three -ever words that you are likely to see in the Structure Section are given in the chart
below:

wherever any place Put that box wherever you

that ... can find room for it.
whenever any time They stay at that hotel
that ... whenever they're in Boston.
however anyway However you solve the
that. .. problem, you'll get the same
answer.

C) Reduced Adverb Clauses

When the subject of the main clause and the subject of the adverb clause are the same person or
thing, the adverb clause can be reduced (shortened). Reduced adverb clauses do not contain a main
verb or a subject. They consist of a marker and a participle (either a present or a past participle) or a
marker and an adjective.
When astronauts are orbiting the earth, they don't feel the force of gravity.
(full adverb clause)
When orbiting the earth, astronauts don't feel the force of gravity.
(reduced clause with present participle)
Although it had been damaged, the machine was still operational.
(full adverb clause)
Although damaged, the machine was still operational.
(reduced clause with a past participle)
Although he was nervous, he gave a wonderful speech.
(full adverb clause)
Although nervous, he gave a wonderful speech.
(reduced clause with an adjective)
You will most often see reduced adverb clauses with the markers although, while, if, when, before,
after, and until. Reduced adverb clauses are NEVER used after because.
 Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression 133

In Structure items, any part of a full adverb clause-the marker, the subject, the verb, and so on-
can be missing from the stem.

B) Clause Markers with -ever

Words that end with -ever are sometimes used as adverb clause markers. (In some sentences, these
words are actually noun-clause markers, but they are seldom used that way in Structure items.)
The three -ever words that you are likely to see in the Structure Section are given in the chart
below:

wherever any place Put that box wherever you

that ... can fmd room for it.
whenever any time They stay at that hotel
that ... whenever they're in Boston.
however anyway However you solve the
that ... problem, you'll get the same
answer.

C) Reduced Adverb Clauses

When the subject of the main clause and the subject of the adverb clause are the same person or
thing, the adverb clause can be reduced (shortened). Reduced adverb clauses do not contain a main
verb or a subject. They consist of a marker and a participle (either a present or a past participle) or a
marker and an adjective.
'When astronauts are orbiting the earth, they don't feel the force of gravity.
(full adverb clause)
'When orbiting the earth, astronauts don't feel the force of gravity.
(reduced clause with present participle)
Although it had been damaged, the machine was still operational.
(full adverb clause)
Although damaged, the machine was still operational.
(reduced clause with a past participle)
Although he was nervous, he gave a wonderful speech.
(full adverb clause)
Although nervous, he gave a wonderful speech.
(reduced clause with an adjective)
You will most often see reduced adverb clauses with the markers although, while, if, when, before,
after, and until. Reduced adverb clauses are NEVER used after because.
134 Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression

D) Prepositional Phrases with the Same Meaning as Adverb Clauses

There are also certain prepositions that have essentially the same meaning as adverb-clause markers
but are used before noun phrases or pronouns, not with clauses.

because of because/since He chose that university because of its fine

reputation.
due to because/since The accident was due to mechanical failure.
on account of because/since Visibility is poor today on account of air
pollution.
in spite of although/even though He enjoys motorcycle riding in spite of the
danger.
despite although/even though Despite its loss, the team is still in first place.
during when/while Her father lived in England during the war.

In structure items where the correct answer is an adverb-clause marker, one of these words often
appears as a distract or.

T Sample Items
No one knows what color dinosaurs were _ _ _ _ _ _ no sample
of their skin has survived.
(A) because of
(B) because that
(C) it is because
(D) because

Choice (A) is incorrect; because of can only be used before nouns or pronouns. In
choice (B), that is unnecessary. In (C), the phrase it is is used unnecessarily.

_ _ _ _ _ _ rises to the surface of the earth, a volcano is formed.

(A) Liquid magma
(B) Whenever liquid magma
(C) Liquid magma, which
(D) That liquid magma

Choice (A) creates two clauses, but there is no connecting word to join them. (C)
creates a sentence with a main clause and an adjective clause, but the main clause
has two subjects (liquid magma and a volcano). (D) creates a noun clause. In a
correct sentence, when a noun clause begins a sentence, the clause itself is the
subject of the verb in the main clause, but this sentence already has a subject
(volcano).
 Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression 135

_ _ _ _ _ _ invisible to the unaided eye, ultraviolet light can be detected

in a number of ways.
(A) Although is
(B)Despite
(C) Even though it
(D) Although

The best answer completes a reduced adverb clause. In choice (A), the adverb clause
lacks a subject and is not a correct reduction because it contains a verb. In choice
(B), despite cannot be used with an adjective (only with a noun phrase or pronoun).
(C) does not supply a verb for the adverb clause and is not a correct reduction
because it contains a subject.
Because _ _ _ _ _ _ , alabaster can be easily carved.
(A) is soft
(B) softness
(C) of its softness
(D) of soft

Choice (A) lacks a subject in the adverb clause. Choice (B), a noun, could only be
used with because of In (D), because of is followed by an adjective; to be correct,
it must be followed by a noun phrase or pronoun. ...

Exercise 21

Focus: Completing structure problems involving adverb clauses, reduced adverb clauses, and related
prepositional expressions. (Note: Two or three items do not focus on one of these structures. These
items are marked in the answer key with an asterisk.)
Directions: Choose the one option-CA), (B), (C), or (D)-that correctly completes the sentences,
and then mark the appropriate blank. The first one is done as an example.
1. Small sailboats can easily capsize _ _ _ _ _ _ they are not handled carefully.
_ _ (A) but
_ _ (B) which
~ (C) if
_ _ CD) so
2. they are tropical birds, parrots can live in temperate or even cold climates.
_ _ (A) Despite
_ _ (B) Even though
___ CC) Nevertheless
_ _ (D) But
3. added to a liquid, antifreeze lowers the freezing temperature of that liquid.
_ _ (A) That
_ _ (B) Asis
._ _ (C) It is
_ _ (D) When
136 Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression

4. advertising is so widespread in the United States, it has had an enormous effect

on American life.
_ _ (A) Why
___ (B) The reason
___ (C) On account of
___ (D) Since
5. towards shore, its shape is changed by its collision with the shallow sea bottom.
___ CA) During a wave rolls
___ (B) As a wave rolls
_ _ _ (C) A wave rolls
___ (D) A wave's rolling
6. are increasingly linked over long distances by electronic communications, but
many of them still prefer face-to-face encounters.
___ CA) Although people
_ _ (B) Despite people
_ _ (C) Today people
___ CD) The fact that people
7. together in one place, they form a community.
_ _ CA) When people who live
_ _ (B) When people living
_ _ _ (C) Whenever people live
___ CD) Whenever living people
8. managed by an independent governor and board of directors, the Bank of Canada
is owned by the Canadian government.
_ _ (A) And yet
_ _ (B) In spite of it
_ _ (C) Although
_ _ (D) It is

9. pieces of rope are of different thickness, the weaver's knot can be used to join
them.
_ _ (A) Two of
_ _ (B) What two
_ _ (C) Two such
_ _ CD) If two
10. , the seeds of the Kentucky coffee plant are poisonous.
___ (A) Until they have been cooked
_ _ (B) Cooking them
___ (C) They have been cooked
_ _ (D) Cooked until
11. Natural silk is still highly prized _______ similar artificial fabrics.
_ _ CA) although is available
___ (8) despite there are available
_ _ _ (C) in spite of the availability of
___ (D) even though an availability of
12. Cattle ranches are found almost _ _ _ _ _ _ in Utah.
___ CA) wherever
_ _ CB) everywhere
_ _ CC) overall
___ (D) somewhere
 Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression 137

13. through a prism, a beam of white light breaks into all the colors of the rainbow.
___ (A) When shines
_ _ (B) It shines
_ _ _ (C) It is shone
___ (D) When shone
14. most people think of freezing as a relatively modern method of food preservation,
it is actually one of the oldest.
_ _ (A) Even
_ _ (B) As though
_ _ _ (C) However
_ _ (D) Even though
15. large bodies of water never freeze solid is that the sheet of ice on the surface
protects the water below it from the cold air.
___ (A) Because
_ _ (B) Why do
___ (C) The reason that
___ (D) For the reason
16. granted by the Patent Office, it becomes the inventor's property and he or she
can keep it, sell it, or license it to someone else.
___ (A) Once a patent is
_ _ _ (B) When a patent
___ (C) A patent, once
___ (D) A patent, whenever it
17. Owls can hunt in total darkness _ _ _ _ _ _ their remarkably keen sense of smell.
___ (A) since
___ (B) because of
_ _ _ (C) the result
_ _ (D) that
[ H. most bamboo blooms every year, there are some species that flower only two or
three times a century.
___ (A) Whenever
_ _ (B) That
_ _ (C) While
___ (D) However