Dependent clauses may work like adverbs, adjectives, or nouns in complex sentences.

1. Adverbial clauses

Like a single-word adverb, an adverbial clause describes a verb (in the sentence's main clause) and answers one of these questions

                           where?           why?           how?           when?            to what degree?

An adverbial clause begins with a subordinating conjunction, which makes the clause subordinate (dependent).

Common subordinating conjunctions:

after | in order (that) | unless
although | insofar as | until
as | in that | when
as far as | lest | whenever
as soon as | no matter how | where
as if | now that | wherever
as though | once | whether
because | provided (that) | while
before | since | why
even if | so that |
even though | supposing (that) |
how | than |
if | that |
inasmuch as | though |
in case (that) | till | 

 

  Example of adverbial clause answering when?

        

      When will the flowers bloom?   Answer:  when spring arrives

 

   Example of adverbial clause answering why?

       

        Why didn't the poor woman have money?  Answer:  because she had lost her job

 

   Example of adverbial clause answering where?

        

       Where is there fire?   Answer:  where there is smoke

 

   Example of adverbial clause answering how?

        

        How did he answer the question?  Answer:  as if he knew the subject quite well

 

       Example of adverbial clause answering to what degree?

        

        To what degree of lateness will Jones arrive?  Answer:  (later) than Smith (will arrive)

 

    Another example of an adverbial clause answering to what degree?

        

       To what degree is he young?  Answer: (younger) than his brother (is)