EF34 adverb clauses

 

EF34

Good morning, everyone.

We will get started at 11:00.

Friday is the happiest day!

 

Today’s agenda:

·      Begin complex sentences- adverb clauses

·      Begin descriptive writing

 

 

Sentence types:

*SIMPLE subject + verb

SV   SSV   SVV   Imperative-command   Interrogative-question

 

*COMPOUND   , SOBA   , so   , or   , but   , and

SV, so SV.  We had a day off yesterday, so today feels like Monday.

SV, or SV. This weekend, you could help your husband takes pictures, or you could practice your English.

 

SVV, but SV.

The baby is crying and fussing, but the parents don’t know what is wrong.

fuss(v)- complain

fussy(adj) – complains a lot, picky

She is very fussy about what she eats.

The little kid is very picky about food.

 

 

EF56 ; semicolons

I COULD TEACH THIS LATER IF YOU WANT.

It is nice now, but it will rain tomorrow.

It is nice now; however, it will rain tomorrow.

 

 

*COMPLEX

-adverb clauses

-noun clauses NEXT WEEK

-adjective clauses NEXT WEEK

 

Those are all the sentence types in English. I really hope you are practicing these. It is the only way to get better.

 

 

ADVERB CLAUSES-

adverbs- modify verbs

usually ‘ly’ words – quickly, slowly, easily, well

The dog runs quickly. She plays piano beautifully. He writes Arabic goodly well.

 

adverb clause – modify verb

MOST COMMON WORDS- because   if   when

 

because -reason

Mary is tired because she could not sleep last night. adverb clause SV

Because Mary could not sleep last night, she is tired.

 

Your choice.

Mary could not sleep last night and is tired. SIMPLE

Mary could not sleep last night, so she is tired. COMPOUND

Mary is tired because she could not sleep last night. COMPLEX

 

if- maybe yes, maybe no

Call me if you are free tomorrow.

If you are free tomorrow, call me.

 

when – time

Hakim was hyperactive when he was a child.

When Hakim was a child, he was hyperactive.

He could not sit still. He had ants in his pants.

 

-when -time

-while-time, two activities happening at the same time

I was making supper while my wife was watching a movie.

Your kids are in daycare while you are in English class.

I was making supper while when the phone rang.

I don’t want you to drive while when you are tired.

I don’t want you to drive while you are looking at your cell phone.

I don’t want you to drive while you are falling asleep.

 

DIFFERENT USE OF WHILE

for a while   I have been waiting for a while.

Luis was watching while you were playing piano.

 

-whenever- any time

Call me whenever you want to go dancing.

I have some coffee whenever I feel tired.

You are welcome to visit whenever you want.

The door’s open whenever you’re in town.

 

-before- time

The kids went to bed before midnight. SIMPLE

The kids went to bed before SV.

The kids went to bed before I did. COMPLEX

Before Miko came to Canada, she didn’t know much about it.

 

-after- time

The kids did their homework after school. SIMPLE

The kids did their homework after SV.

The kids did their homework after school finished. COMPLEX

 

-until- waiting for a time

Cheryl will stay at the office until the work is done.

May is waiting until her son comes home.

Until May’s son comes home, she is waiting. SOUNDS STRANGE

 

-than – comparing two things

Dave is taller than his brother (is).

Vancouver is more expensive than Calgary (is).

You speak better English than me/I (do). GRAMMAR BOOK

You speak better English than me. VERY COMMON USAGE, SPOKEN

Mei is taller than her sister.

 

-as--- as--- comparison, two things the same

Mei is as tall as her sister (is).

I can run as fast as you.

 

I can run like the wind. SIMPLE

 

SIMILES

He is as skinny as a bamboo (is).

He is as thin as spaghetti (is).

She is as tall as a tree.

I am as busy as an ant. I am as busy as a beaver.

Shirin is as smart as Einstein.

Shirin is as smart as a whip.  – very smart

whip-

smart- two meanings 1. brainy, intelligent 2. hurt

 

I want to speak English as well as you (do).

 

MORE SIMILES

My mother is as deaf as a post.

I am as blind as a bat without my glasses.

He is as slippery as a snake/eel. – you cannot trust him

The little boy is as happy as a clam.

 

 

-because

 

-since -two meanings 1.reason 2.time

1.reason

Mel quit the math class since the work was too hard.

I came to Vancouver since I got a job offer.

 

2.time

The store has been open since 1894. SIMPLE

Luis Raul has lived in Vancouver since 2019. SIMPLE

Luis Raul has lived in Vancouver since SV 2019.

Luis Raul has lived in Vancouver since he moved here in 2019.

COMPLEX

 

-if

 

-unless – opposite of ‘if’

We will go to the beach if it is sunny.

We will go to the beach unless it is rainy.

Let’s go grab a coffee unless you’re busy.

Let’s go grab a coffee if you’re not busy.

 

-although-same meaning

-even though

-though – more for speaking, not so much for writing, a bit casual

 

Junko likes English class even though it is hard sometimes.

Even though it is hard sometimes, Junko likes English class.

Even though English class is hard sometimes, Junko likes it.

 

Mary likes living in Canada although her life is hard here.

 

C-57

1.    while I eat lunch

I watch TV while I eat lunch. simple present – habitual action, always

I was watching TV while I was eating lunch.

2.    before they had any children

They travelled all over the world and had money before they had any children.

 

 

HOMEWORK

Try some of the adverb clause exercises. Email some to me if you like.

ahaley@vsb.bc.ca