Introduction
LESSON 21 LESSON 21
132 Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression
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 whenever however
C) Reduced Adverb Clauses
any place that ...
any time that ...
anyway that ...
Put that box wherever you can fmd room for it.
They stay at that hotel whenever they're in Boston.
However you solve the problem, you'll get the same answer.
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.
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 due to
on account of in spite of despite during
because/since because/since because/since
although/even though although/even though when/while
He chose that university because of its fine reputation.
The accident was due to mechanical failure.
Visibility is poor today on account of air pollution.
He enjoys motorcycle riding in spite of the danger.
Despite its loss, the team is still in first place.
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. ...