Adverb Clauses
Adverb clause = dependent
clause.
Ex. When the phone rang.
Main clause = independent
clause.
Ex. The baby woke up.
Adverb Clauses and Tenses
Adverb clause or
Dependent clause
Main Clause or
Independent clause
PRESENT FUTURE
PAST PERFECT PAST
FUTURE PRESENT
PAST PAST PROGRESSIVE
PAST PAST
PAST PAST PERFECT
PRESENT PRESENT
AFTER
Future tense is not used in this adverb
clause.
After she graduates, she will get a job.
I will leavebefore he comes.
WHEN
When I arrived, he was talking on the
phone.
When I see him tomorrow, I will ask
him.
WHILE, AS
During that time.
* Adverb clause is in past progressive.
While I was walkinghome, it began to
rain.
As I was walkinghome, it began to rain.
By the time
By the time he arrived, we had
already left.
By the time he comes, we will have
already left.
Since
From that time to the present
•The present perfect is used in
the main clause.
•I haven’t seen him since he left
this morning.
•I’ve known her ever since I was
a child.
Until
We stayed there until we finished
our lesson.
We stayed there till we finished our
lesson.
As soon as
Once
As soon as it starts raining, we will
leave.
Once I have a chance, I will throw
you an ice ball.
As long as
From the Beginning to the end.
I will never speak to him as long
as I live.
I will never speak to him so long
as I live.
Whenever
Every time
Whenever I see her, I say hello.
Every time I see her, I say hello.
The first time, the second
time…
The first time that I
went to New York,
I went to an opera.
I saw two plays the
last time (that) I
went to New York.
The next time
(that) I go to New
York, I’m going to
see a ballet.