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ADVERB CLAUSES OF
TIME AND REASON
An adverb clause of
time answers the question when;
an adverb clause of reason answers the question why.
Think about when and why
questions as you read the following sentences.
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Many people
feel depressed when it rains.
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When
it rains,
many people feel depressed.
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Many people
are depressed because there has
been so much rain.
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Because there
has been so much rain, many
people feel depressed.
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Punctuation Note:
Reread the sentences above,
paying close attention to the punctuation. When do we use
a comma with a dependent clause? The dependent clause has
to come first in the sentence; otherwise, do not use a comma.
Another way to remember this is to make sure you never place
a comma in front of words like because and when (subordinators).
[DC, IC. or IC
DC.]
TALKING ABOUT THE
WEATHER: THERE vs.
IT
When we talk about
the weather, we use the filler subjects there and it. These
subjects actually have no meaning, but they are followed by
very different predicates. Study the examples below.
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Filler
ubject
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Predicate (Rest of sentence)
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It
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is raining. |
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It
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always rains this time
of year. |
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There
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is a lot of rain today. |
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There
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has been a lot of thunder,
too. |
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It
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has been hot and humid,
too. |
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There
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is a cool breeze coming
in. |
You have probably noticed
that it
is followed by a verb. There is
followed by a form of the verb be and a noun.
The noun functions as the real subject of the sentence. [There
is / There are + noun subject]
In the following sentences,
note the use of a time clause attached to independent clauses
with filler subjects there
or it.
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There will
be rain when the dragonfly flies low.
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When the
dragonfly flies low, it will rain.
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It will rain
when the dragonfly flies low.
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