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Complex Sentence: Adverbials: correct answers

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There are five types of subordinate clauses in English: the subject, the predicative, the attributive, the object and several types of adverbial clauses.

Adverbials happen to be the thing this challenge is about.

MediumB1 | IntermediateB1PhraseAdverbDependent clauseComplex sentenceClause

Correct answers

Question 1

Create a correct sentence.

So full was the train that commuters had to stand all the way.

Starting a sentence with So full creates an adverbial clause of result. Using so+adjective means you invert the position of verb and subject: So full was the train. The second part of the sentence is the independent clause and follows the normal word order ... commuters had to stand all the way

Question 2

The students work hard. Why?

Choose the correct order.

The students do their work well to make sure the teacher is happy.

The students do their work well to make sure the teacher is happy.

To make sure the teacher is happy is the subordinate clause, and an adverbial clause of reason. This is the answer to a why question. The students do their work well is the independent main clause. To make sure links the two clauses.

Question 3

Choose the correct sentence(s).
  1. Correct. Even though links the two sentences and creates an adverbial of concession.
  2. Incorrect. There are two independent clauses here that are not linked in any way. The comma is not enough to indicate a relationship - there is information missing. Even if you read the two as seperate sentences, it has stopped making sense (if he was so careful, why was his knee sore?).
  3. The sentence starts with although..., creating the adverbial (subordinate) clause of concession. The comma separates from the ordinary clause that it relates to: his knee was really sore after the performance.
  4. Very careful had been the dancer has incorrect word order; the dancer is the subject and it should go before the verbs had been and adjective very careful. It also misses a link between the two sentences, so this is incorrect in many ways.

Question 4

The manager keeps a close eye on the employees to ensure they do their work well.
Which of the following statements is true:
  1. Correct. It gives a reason.
  2. Incorrect. It does not refer to time.
  3. Incorrect. It is a dependent or subordinate clause as you cannot use it by itself.
  4. Correct. You have to insert a comma between the two parts.

Question 5

My suit is pink-and-blue. I was at a party.

Choose the correct order.

I went to the party wearing a pink-and-blue suit.

I went to the party wearing a pink-and-blue suit.

I went to the party is the independent main clause. It follows normal word order (Subject/Verb/Object). wearing a pink-and-blue suit says something about HOW I went to the party, and functions as an adverbial. pink-and-blue is an adjective, and comes before suit.

Question 6

Choose the correct sentence(s).
  1. Correct! After I insulted him is an adverbial clause of reason.
  2. Incorrect. After I insulted him is the dependent clause. After that, normal word-order applies: Subject/Verb(s)/Object: The waiter/would not serve/me.
  3. Incorrect - This is a dependent clause with who, and can form the subject of a full sentence: The waiter who would not serve me after I insulted him went home early that day. (Compare to: He went home early that day.)
  4. Correct! You can put the adverbial at the start of the sentence or at the end. After I insulted him...

Question 7

Choose the correct sentence(s).
  1. Comparing two parts: Which part of the church is oldest? Here it means that the rest of the church is oldest. Older than the tower is the rest of the church. If you want to say the tower is oldest, use The tower is older than the rest of the church.
  2. Correct! The chilli is so hot (independent clause) / that it feels like my mouth is on fire (dependent clause) - it functions as an adverbial clause of comparison.
  3. Incorrect: It looks as if the doctor cannot help the patient. It is an adverbial clause of comparison. The word order is incorrect.

Question 8

Which one of these has a dependent clause?
  1. Incorrect - this is a simple sentence. The capital city of the United Kingdom is an adverb of place, it is not a clause (it has no verbs).
  2. Correct! Wherever they were sent is a dependent clause, it cannot stand on its own. It is an adverbial clause of place.
  3. Incorrect - this is a simple sentence. London is an adverb of place.

Question 9

We submitted our proposal on time. They did not look at it.

Choose the correct order.

Our proposal was not considered although we submitted it on time.

Our proposal was not considered although we submitted it on time.

The second part although we submitted it on time is a clause of concession. Both parts use standard word order.

Question 10

Select the order.

Little did he know that his girlfriend was going to propose at the top of the tower that evening.

Little did he know that his girlfriend was going to propose at the top of the tower that evening.

Sentences starting with little take inverted word order, where the first verb comes before the subject (Little did he know). The dependent clause takes normal word order Subject/Verb/ObjectPlace/ObjectTime: his girlfriend/ was going to propose/at the top of the tower/that evening.

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