What is an Adverb Clause of Reason?
Adverbial clause of reason tells you why something happens, i.e., it is to express the reason for something and answer the question why.
Example
The baby cried loudly because something dropped on his head.
This sentence consists of two clauses i.e., the first clause, ‘The baby cried loudly,’ is the complete sentence that tells us what happens. The second clause starting with the conjunction ‘because,’ is a subordinate clause that tells the reason, i.e., why the baby cried. Such subordinate clause, which tells us reason and functions as an adverb in a sentence, is called a subordinate adverb clause of reason.
The above sentence consists of the following parts.
Two Finite Verbs: cried and dropped
Main Clause: The baby cried loudly
Conjunction: because (join the two clauses)
Subordinate Clause: something dropped on his head. (it modifies the verb ‘cried’ in the main clause.
The following are some subordinating conjunctions that usually begin a subordinate adverbial clause of reason.
- As/Since
- For
- Because
- Because of
- The reason for
- In case
- Seeing
- Due to
- Seeing as
- Seeing that
Adverb Clause of Reason Examples
The following are examples of adverbial clauses of reason. In each sentence, the adverb clause states the reason or cause of the action expressed in the main clause.
- As we were late, we walked quickly to the school.
- I went to his home for I had something to tell him.
- Since I had no money, I didn’t pay him.
- She looked after the baby so that I could go and purchase clothes on my own.
- I often came from the office late because of/due to the traffic.
- He was awarded due to the fact that he works with honesty.
- Since I had to work hard, I didn’t have time to study history books.
- They camped in that village as it was too dark to go on.
- We did not buy the toys because we did not like their color.
- Seeing that she knows English, she had better do the talking.
- The students did it because their teacher told them to do it.
- Since he didn’t complete it, he was fined. (avoid using so and therefore in the main clause)
- As some students were absent, they were punished.
- As the gatekeeper was not there, we spoke to his son.
- His English is improving because he studies hard. (why his English is improving? The adverb clause of reason answers this question)
Adverb Phrase of Reason vs. Clause of Reason
Both adverb phrases of reason and clause of reason have the same function. But they are different in structure from each other. We can turn a phrase into a subordinate clause by making a subject-verb combination in it.
Examples
- I was absent for three days because of my illness. (because of my illness is an adverb phrase that tells the reason)
- I was absent for three days because I was ill. (because I was ill is an adverb clause that tells the reason)
- Adverb Phrase of Reason: Having another problem we were unable to reach.
- Adverb Clause of Reason: As we had another problem, we were unable to reach.
- Adverb Phrase of Reason: We work in this way according to your directives.
- Clause of Reason: We work in this way as the manager has directed us.
- Adverb Phrase of Reason: I am glad to have you with us.
- Clause of Reason: I am glad because I have you with us.