Adverb Clause of Proportion

Adverb clause of proportion or proportion clause shows the result of an action in relation to another action.
The most important subordinating conjunctions in this category are "as" and "the . . . the". For example,

• As I listened to him speak, I slowly came to like him.

(At first I didn’t like him, but my opinion of him improved in proportion to the time I spent listening to him speak.)
The same effect is possible with the the... the :

• The more I listened to him, the more I liked him

Here is another example using the same construction

• The fatter I get, the more I want to eat.

Notice that in these examples a comparative adjective appears in both clauses of
each sentence. "The...the" can only be used when two such adjectives are present.

Adverb Clause of Comments

Another type of subordinate clause is the adverb clause of comment or comment clause. An adverb clause of comment generally functions as a disjunct or a conjunct and makes some comment on what is said in the main clause:

• This is, as you can see, a specimen of 3rd-century Roman pottery. 
• She was, as is well known, a member of the Republican Party. 
• What’s more, she was an active member of the party. 
• As you know, her husband is a well-known television personality. 
• What was worse, I was totally lost. 
• Foot-and-mouth disease is, as you probably already know, a highly infectious disease of cattle, sheep and pigs. 
• As I say, there's no harm done and we'd best just forget about it. 

The comment clause can come without an introductory conjunction:

• He is, I believe, a Buddhist. 
• It was, you see, the very last thing I had expected to happen.

Noun Clause Markers

Noun clauses are derived from statement, yes/no question, or wh question. Hence, there are three groups of noun clause markers including THAT, WH WORDS, and IF/WHETHER.

THAT

That he is innocent is well supported.
We believe that no one is perfect.

WH WORDS

how

I want to know how we can promote our products.

however

However we did was not helpful.

what

His remark was what we didn’t expect.

whatever

Whatever they did was for their kids.

when

Could you tell when he will come back?

whenever

Whenever you come is OK for me.

where

I don’t know where he lives.

wherever

Wherever the criminal goes needs investigation.

which

I can’t remember which book is mine.

whichever

I will accept whichever phone you give.

who

Who broke the glass is unknown.

whoever

Send whoever subscribe our services the email.

whom

I am grateful to whom support me.

whose

I don’t know whose house it is.

why

Tell us why you were so sad.

IF / WHETHER

If and whether are used interchangeably with same meaning.

I don’t know if / whether you like apple.

Reduced Noun Clause

Sam An Teng


In previous lessons, you have been explained how to reduce adjective clause to modifying adjective phrase (reduced adjective clause) and how to reduce adverb clause to modifying adverb phrase (reduced adverb clause). It is possible that we can reduce noun clause.
Normally it is possible to reduce noun clauses embedded in reported speech, indirect question, or subjunctive to infinitive or gerund phrase.

Reduction methods

Method 1: Reduce to infinitive phrase

We may reduce noun clause by deleting the clause marker (subordinator) and change the verb phrase to infinitive. For examples,

 

Advice

- He advised me that I should review the lessons.
→ He advised me to review the lessons.

- He told me that I should show him the passport.
→ He told me to show him the passport.

 

Request

- He asked me if I would pick him up.
→ He asked me to pick him up.

- Please inform where we will have the meeting.
→ Please inform us where to have the meeting.

 

Offer

- I'd like to know how I can help.
→ I'd like to know how to help.

- He offered that he would clean the car for me.
→ He offered to help clean the car for me.

 

Polite question

- I don't know what I should do.
→ I don't know what to do.

- She wondered how she could learn English faster.
→ She wondered how to learn English faster.

 

Reported speech

- He doesn't know how he should solve his problem.
→ He doesn't know how to solve his problem.

- He is not sure whether he should study economics or marketing.
→ He is not sure whether to study economics or marketing. 

Method 2: Reduce to gerund phrase

- I suggested that we make the decision faster.
→ I suggested making the decision faster.

- She acknowledged that she had taken the bribe.
→ She acknowledged having taken the bribe.

- She admitted that she broke the glass.
→ She admitted breaking the glass.

- My boss insists that we be early tomorrow.
→ My boss insists being early tomorrow.

The man denied that he stole the money.
→ The man denied stealing the money. 

Reduced Adverb Clause

You may have been familiar with reducing adjective clauses to modifying adjective phrases (participle phrase). Similarly, some adverb clauses may also be reduced to modifying adverb phrases, too.

For examples,

  •  While I was working there, I made contacts with lots of customers.
  → While working there, I made contacts with lots of customers.

  •  Before I resigned, I built a strong team there.
  → Before resigning, I built a strong team there.


Notice: An adverb clause can be reduced only if the subject of the adverb clause and the subject of the main clause are the same. The modifying phrase modifies the subject of the main clause.

  •  While I was sitting in the class, I fell asleep.
  → While sitting in the class, I fell asleep.       [Correct]

  •  While teacher was teaching, I fell asleep.
  → While teaching, I fell asleep.         [Incorrect]

HOW TO REDUCE ADVERB CLAUSES

Method 1: Omit the subject and verb "to be" in the adverb clause.

For examples,

  •  While he was walking to his school, he met his old friend.
  → While he was walking to his school, he met his old friend.
  → While walking to his school, he met his old friend.

  •  She identifies a problem while she is installing a new software.
  → She identifies a problem while she is installing a new software.
  → She identifies a problem while installing a new software.

Method 2: If there is no verb to be, omit the subject and change verb to -ing form.

For examples,

  •  Before he got rich, he worked very hard.
  → Before he got rich, he worked very hard.
  → Before getting rich, he worked very hard.

  •  She has been working in a law firm after she has graduated in laws.
  → She has been working in a law firm after she has graduated in laws.
  → She has been working in a law firm after having graduated in laws.
  or; → She has been working in a law firm after graduating in laws.

The difference in meanings

Expressing the meaning of "being at the same time". 

For examples,

  •  While he was studying at university, he also worked as a sales freelancer.
  → While he was studying at university, he was also working as a sales freelancer.
  → While studying at university, he also worked as a sales freelancer.
  → Studying at university, he also worked as a sales freelancer.
        [We can also omit the clause marker "while". The sentence conveys the same meaning]

  •  While they are flying, passengers can enjoy funny video clips.
  → While they are are flying, passengers can enjoy funny video clips.
  → While being flying, passengers can enjoy funny video clips.
  or → Being flying, passengers can enjoy funny video clips.
  or → While flying, passengers can enjoy funny video clips.
  or → Flying, passengers can enjoy funny video clips.

Expressing the meaning "cause and effect" 

Notice:

1. "because" is omitted, but the –ing phrase expresses the cause and effect relationship.
2. "Having + past participle" gives the meaning not only of "because" but also of "before." 

For examples,

  •  Because he was late for a meeting, he ran up the stairs very fast.
  → Because he was late for a meeting, he ran up the stairs very fast.
  → Being late for a meeting, he ran up the stairs very fast.
  or → Late for a meeting, he ran up the stairs very fast.
  or → Having been late for a meeting, he ran up the stairs very fast.

  •  Because they hadn't studied hard, they failed in the final exams.
  → Because they hadn't studied hard, they failed in the final exams.
  → Having not studied hard, they failed in the final exams.
  or → Not studying hard, they failed in the final exams.
  or → Having had not studied hard, they failed in the final exams.

  •  Because she was sick, she went to see a doctor.
  → Because she was he was sick, she went to see a doctor.
  → Being sick, she went to see a doctor.
  or → Having been sick, she went to see a doctor.

Upon 

"Upon + v-ing" expresses the meaning of "when" or "shortly after".

For examples,

  •  Upon he finishes his study in Japan, he will come back to Cambodia.
  → Upon finishing his study in Japan, he will come back to Cambodia.

Note: "On" can be used to replace "Upon". For examples,

  •  Upon he gets the new position, he need to learn a lot of new things.
  → Upon getting the new position, he need to learn a lot of new things.
  or → On getting the new position, he need to learn a lot of new things.

Adverb Clause

An adverb clause is a subordinate clause which functions as adverb in another sentence. Like an adverb, adverb clause answers to the questions such as "when?", "where?", "why?", "with what goal/result?", and "under what conditions?.


Adverb clause usually begins with subordinative conjunctions such as: after, before, until, while, because, since, as, so that, in order that, if, unless, whether, though, although, even though, where…

គួរចងចាំៈ Adverb clause ជាអនុប្រយោគដែលដើរតួនាទីជាគុណកិរិយានៅក្នុង ប្រយោគ មួយទៀត។ ដូចគ្នាទៅនឹង គុណកិរិយា វាឆ្លើយទៅនឹងសំនួរ ដែលបង្ហាញពីពេលវេលា ទីកន្លែង គោលបំណង និងលក្ខខណ្ឌ ជាដើម។ Adverb clause ផ្តើមដោយ សន្ធានស័ព្ទដូចជា after, before, until, while, because, since, as, so that, in order that, if, unless, whether, though, although, even though, where… ជាដើម។

Types and Meanings of Adverb Clauses 

An adverb clause usually appears just before or just after the main clause. It shows different meanings in sentence such as time, place, condition, etc. You will some common meanings it shows and the common subordinators (in brackets) below.

CLAUSES OF TIME

It begins with subordinating conjunction like when, before, after, until, since, while, etc. For examples,
Before you go, turn off the radio.
 It is only six months since we left our parents.

CLAUSES OF PLACE

It begins with subordinating conjunction like where, or wherever. For examples,
Put the gun where the children can't find it.
You can sit wherever you want.

CLAUSES OF MANNER

It begins with subordinating conjunction like as, as if / as though. For examples,
Everything worked out as he expected.
We must behave as if everything were normal.

CLAUSES OF REASON

It begins with subordinating conjunction like because, since, or as. For examples,
Because we couldn’t get the motor running, we had to row back to the dock.
Since no one else will volunteer, I'll do t he cooking.

CLAUSES OF CONCESSION

It begins with subordinating conjunction like although, though, or even though. For examples,
While the large universities have many advantages, I still prefer a small college.
Although she uses only two fingers, she is a very fast typist.

CLAUSES OF CONDITION

It begins with subordinating conjunction like if, unless, etc. For examples,
I'll drop in later if anything new comes up.
Unless the traffic is very bad, we should arrive by eight.

CLAUSES OF RESULT

It begins with subordinating conjunction like so... that, or such . . . that. For examples,
The test was so difficult that I couldn't finish it.
It is such an expensive car that I can't afford.

CLAUSES OF PURPOSE

It begins with subordinating conjunction like so that, in order that, or lest. For examples,
He studies hard so that/in order that he can get scholarship.
He studies hard lest he will not fail in the exam.

CLAUSES OF COMPARISON

It begins with subordinating conjunction like as . . . as, so . . . as, and than). For examples,
Your book isn't as long as mine (is).
A turkey costs more than a chicken (does).
Do you need George any more than (you do) me?
Do you need George any more than I (do)?
 It's more difficult than it seems.

Note: The clause of comparison is different from all the other types of adverb clause in two respects: (i) It is used to modify an adjective or an adverb rather than a verb. (ii) It may be elliptical; that is, some words in the clause may not be expressed (words in parentheses in the following sentences).

Reduced Adjective Clauses

In previous lessons, you have learned that adjective clause is a subordinate clause that modifies noun or pronoun. Look at the examples below:

Here are two sentences:

• Samnang is a teacher. He teaches at a university.

We can rewrite as:

• Samnang is a teacher who teaches at a university.

If you want to change this style of writing, you can also rewrite as:

• Samnang is a teacher teaching at a university.

In the last sentence "Samnang is a teacher teaching at a university.", "teaching at a university" is an adjective phrase reduced from the adjective clause "who teaches at a university".

There are some basic rules applied when you want to reduce the adjective clauses, as:

1. Omit the relative pronoun

You can omit the relative pronoun from the adjective clause when it is the object (A good rule to remember: If the word after the RP is a verb, you must have the RP there. If the word after the RP is not a verb, you probably don’t need it. ) 

For examples,

• I will talk to a consultant. I met him at a party.
• I will talk to a consultant whom I met at the party.
• I will talk to a consultant I met at the party.

• We will start our project soon. We finalized it last week.
• We will start our project which we finalized it last week soon.
• We will start our project we finalized it last week soon.

However, you can't delete in this sentence.

• We can't finalize the project yet. It is very complicated.
• We can't finalize the project which is very complicated yet.
• We can't finalize the project very complicated yet.

2. Reduce an adjective clause to a participle phrase

Adjective clauses can often be reduced to phrases, but the relative pronoun (RP) must be the subject of the verb in the adjective clause.

a. delete RP + BE

For examples,

• The university that are investing on human resources will sustain in the future.
• The university investing on human resources will sustain in the future.

• The dean who was appointed yesterday graduated in the UK.
• The dean appointed yesterday graduated in the UK.

b. delete RP + (Auxiliary Verb) and change the Verb to VERB-ING

For examples,

• The students who do more research at home perform a lot better.
• The students doing more research at home perform a lot better.

• The students who experienced real working environment also learn faster.
• The students experiencing real working environment also learn faster.

3. Reduce an adjective clause to a prepositional phrase

Adjective clauses can often be reduced to phrases, but the relative pronoun (RP) must be the subject of the verb in the adjective clause.

For examples,

• Did you see the book that is on the table?
• Did you see the book on the table?

• She hasn't finished her paragraph which is about her best friend yet.
• She hasn't finished her paragraph about her best friend yet.

4. Reduce an adjective clause to an appositive

For examples,

• You who are students should plan about your future jobs.
• You students should plan about your future jobs.

• Piseth, who is a curriculum developer, has been working very hard.
• Piseth, a curriculum developer, has been working very hard.

Adjective Clauses

An adjective clause (also called relative clause) is a dependent clause which modifies a noun or pronoun. It answers the questions like "which?" or "what kind of?” 

For examples,

• He was a skillful manager. [ "skillful" is adjective modifying noun "manager". ]
• He was a manager who is skillful. [ "who is skillful" is an adjective clause modifying -- in the same way as "skillful" in last example -- the noun "manager". ]

The adjective clause often begins with relative pronouns, relative possessive adjective, or relative adverbs. 

Relative Pronouns: who, whom, which, that   

- WHO replaces nouns and pronouns that refer to people. 

For example,  

• I met a man. He runs a successful business. → I met a man who runs a successful business.

- WHOM replaces nouns and pronouns that refer to people. 

For example,

• The manager introduced a new product to the market. I ask him a lot of questions. → The manager whom I asked a lot of questions introduced a new product to the market.

- WHICH replaces nouns and pronouns that refer to animals or things.

For example,

• The product looked excellent. Many were interested in it. → The product which many were interested in looked excellent.

- THAT replaces nouns and pronouns that refer to people, animals or things. 

For examples,

• I met a man. He runs a successful business. → I met a man that runs a successful business.
• The manager introduced a new product to the market. I ask him a lot of questions. → The manager that I asked a lot of questions introduced a new product to the market.
• The product looked excellent. Many were interested in it. → The product that many were interested in looked excellent.

Note: These relative pronouns can be omitted when they are objects of verbs. When they are objects of prepositions, they can be omitted when they do not follow the preposition. But they can’t be deleted in non-defining clause. 

Relative Possessive Adjective: whose 

- WHOSE replaces possessive forms of nouns and pronouns. It can refer to people, animals or things. 

For examples,

• The man is happy. + I found the man’s wallet. → The man whose wallet I found is happy. 
• The girl is employed. + Her study performance was good.→ The girl whose study performance was good is employed. 

Relative Adverbs: when, where, why 

- WHEN replaces a time (in + year, in + month, on + day,...). It cannot be a subject.

For example, 

• I will never forget the day. + I graduated on that day. → I will never forget the day when I graduated. 

- WHERE​ replaces a place (in which + location)

For example,

• That was the hotel. + I stayed there. → That was the hotel where I stayed.

- WHY replaces reason (in which + reason)

For examples,

• Money is the problem. She decides to apply for loan because of it.→ Money is the problem why she decides to apply for loan.

គួរចងចាំៈ Adjective clause ជាអនុប្រយោគដែលបញ្ជាក់ន័យ ឲ្យនាម ឬ ស័ព្ទនាម ពោលគឺ វាមានតួនាទីជាគុណនាម។ វាចាប់ផ្តើមដោយពាក្យដូចជា who, whom, that, which, whose, when, where, និង why។

Function of adjective clause 

Modifying a Noun 

For examples,

• The children are going to visit the museum. + They are on the bus. → The children who are on the bus are going to visit the museum. 

Here are some more examples: 

• The car that she is driving is not hers. 
• Some firefighters never meet the people whom they save. 
• Did I tell you about the author whom I met? 

Modifying a Pronoun 

For examples, 

• They are searching for the one who borrowed the book. 
• Is there someone who can help me? 
• I want to meet anybody who is generous.

How to combine two sentences using adjective clause

A sentence that contains one adjective clause and one independent clause is the result of combining two clauses that contain a repeated noun. You can combine two independent clauses to make one sentence containing an adjective clause by following these steps: 

Step 1. You must have two clauses which contain a repeated noun (or pronoun, or noun and pronoun which refer to the same thing). Here are two examples: 

• The book is on the table. + I like the book. ["the book" is repeated.]
• The man is here. + The man wants the book. ["the man" is repeated.]

ជំហានទី១- រកនាម ឬគុណនាមដែលដូចគ្នា (សំដៅលើវត្ថុ ឬមនុស្សតែម្នាក់) នៅក្នុងប្រយោគ​ទាំងពីរ។

Step 2. Delete the repeated noun and replace it with a relative pronoun in the clause you want to make dependent. 

• The book is on the table. + I like which. [Replace "the book" with "which".]
• The man is here. + who wants the book. [Replace "the man" with "who".]

ជំហានទី២- លុបនាមឬគុណនាមដែលនៅក្នុងប្រយោគទី២ ហើយដាក់ជំនួសដោយ relative pronoun មួយ។
 

Step 3. Move the relative pronoun to the beginning of its clause (if it is not already there). The clause is now an adjective clause. 

• The book is on the table. + which I like. [Move "which" to the front.]
• The man is here. + who wants the book. ["who" is in front, so there is no need to move.]

ជំហានទី៣- ប្តូរទីតាំង relative pronoun នោះទៅខាងមុខនៃប្រយោគ (ក្នុងករណី វាមិនស្ថិត នៅខាងមុខប្រយោគដូចក្នុងឧទាហរណ៍ទី១)។ ពេលនេះ ប្រយោគទីពីរនិងក្លាយជា adjective clause ពេញលេញ។

Step 4. Put the adjective clause immediately after the noun phrase it modifies (the repeated noun): 

• The book which I like is on the table. [Place "which I like" next to the noun "the book" in the first clause.]
• The man who wants the book is here. [Place "who wants the book" next to the noun "the man" in the first clause.]

ជំហានទី៤- ដាក់ adjective clause នោះឲ្យនៅជាប់បន្ទាប់ពីនាម ឬស័ព្ទនាម ដែលវា បញ្ជាក់​ន័យឲ្យ។ ចូរចងចាំថា ការដាក់ relative clause មិនត្រូវកន្លែង នាំឲ្យប្រយោគ ថ្មីមានន័យ​ស្រពិច​ស្រពិល៕

Noun Clauses

A noun clause is an subordinate clause that is used in the same way as a single noun.  For examples,

• He will teach a new lesson. [ "a new lesson" is a noun phrase functioning as object of the verb "teach".]
• He will teach what is important to start a business. [ Instead of using "a new lesson", we use the noun clause "what is important to start a business" which also function as object of the verb "teach".]

Noun clause normally begins with one of these words: that, if, whether, how, what, when, where, which, who, whom, whose, why, however, whatever, whenever, wherever, whichever, whoever, and whomever. 

គួរចងចាំៈ Noun clause ជាអនុប្រយោគ ដែលគេប្រើដូចគ្នាទៅនឹងនាម ឬកន្សោមនាមដែរ (មានតួនាទី ជាប្រធាន កម្មបទ...)។ វាចាប់ផ្តើមដោយ clause marker ដូចជា that, if, how, what... ជាដើម។

Functions of noun clause

Like a noun, a noun clause acts as: 

a. Subject 

For example,

• Whoever doesn't perform well will not get much bonus. 
• Which market segments they want to focus is still unknown. 
• What he proposed was good. 

b. Direct object 

For examples,

• We've discovered what pleases the customers.
• She is listing what she needs to buy.
• They tell me how to fix the computer. 

c. Indirect object 

For examples,

• The law agent provides whoever wants to start a business consultations.
• The bank gave whoever opens new account a giveaway.
• He brought whoever has worked for the company new technology.

d. Object of a preposition 

For examples,

• The internet has revolutionized the ways of how people communicate. 
• It offers a lot of advantage to whoever uses it.
• I am thinking of how to include more features into the product.

e. Subjective complement (Predicate nominative) 

For examples,

• The encouragement was what motivated her to try hard.
• That was why I decided to study here. 
• His joke was what made us feel uncomfortable. 

f. Objective complement 

For examples,

• You can call him what you wish. 

g. Appositive 

For examples,

• My plan that I become a business owner may happen one day. 
• We that are older understand life better than children.

Clauses

by Sam An Teng

A clause is a word group that contains a verb and its subject and that is used as a sentence or as a part of a sentence. 

Note:  

• Every clause has a subject and verb, but not every clause expresses a complete thought. 
• Do not confuse with phrase. A phrase does not contain both a verb and a subject.

Types of clauses

There are two types of clauses: dependent and independent clause.

Independent clauses

Independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand by itself as a complete sentence. For examples,

• They work in marketing department. 
• What products are they going to launch this year? 
• The company didn't perform well last year.

Dependent clauses  

Dependent clause does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. There are three subordinate clauses, i.e. adjective, adverb, and noun clause.  For examples,  

• What you have proposed is acceptable. [noun clause] 
• Tell me what your marketing strategies are. [noun clause] 
• The man who is standing over there is a product development manager. [adjective clause] 
• His team has come up with products that have more features for customers. [adjective clause] 
• If the products are fit for the customers, we will maintain sales increase of 10%. [adverb clause] 
• There will be some promotion when the new product are available.  [adverb clause]