Clauses · CEFR B1 · Independent

Adverb clauses — English clauses

A clause that behaves like an adverb — telling when, why, or in spite of what. It can go before or after the main clause; before it, it takes a comma.

The shape

main clause + when / because / although / so that + clause

Attach a reason, a time or a contrast to a sentence.

In Hindi

ऐसा उपवाक्य जो क्रियाविशेषण की तरह काम करे। मुख्य वाक्य से पहले आए तो अल्पविराम लगता है।

CoCap explains every structure in both languages, because a rule you understand in Hindi is a rule you can use in English.

The mistake to fix first

The sentence Indian-English speakers actually produce, and the reason it is wrong.

Commonly said	Correct English
Because he was late. He missed the train.	Because he was late, he missed the train. A "because" clause cannot stand alone as a sentence.

Commonly said

Correct English

Because he was late. He missed the train.

Because he was late, he missed the train.

A "because" clause cannot stand alone as a sentence.

Easy to confuse with

Close enough to be mixed up with this one. Knowing the difference is most of knowing either.

Questions people ask

What is the adverb clauses used for?: A clause that behaves like an adverb — telling when, why, or in spite of what. It can go before or after the main clause; before it, it takes a comma. In practice: attach a reason, a time or a contrast to a sentence.
How do you form the adverb clauses?: main clause + when / because / although / so that + clause.
What is the most common mistake with the adverb clauses?: Saying “Because he was late. He missed the train.” instead of “Because he was late, he missed the train.”. A "because" clause cannot stand alone as a sentence.

Where adverb clauses fits

Where this structure sits in the ladder, and what surrounds it.

Adverb clauses is a CEFR B1 structure — the independent band — and it belongs to clauses. CoCap’s syllabus files every structure this way so you can learn in order instead of jumping between whatever a search happened to return.

Reading it is not the same as saying it.

CoCap turns this page into practice: Hindi sentence in, English sentence out, corrected one thing at a time. Free, no card.

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