+350.+ Most subordinate conjunctions are used to make adverb clauses.
These clauses will answer some one of the questions answered by adverbs.
They will tell _how_, _when_, _where_ or _why_ the action expressed in
the verb in the principal clause occurred. There are six classes of
these subordinate conjunctions which are used to introduce adverb
clauses. They introduce:
+351.+ +Adverb clause of time.+ These clauses will answer the question
_when_ and are introduced by such subordinate conjunctions as, _before_,
_since_, _as_, _while_, _until_, _when_, _after_ and _as soon as_.
Notice in the following sentences the difference made in the meaning of
the sentences by the use of the different conjunctions:
We waited _until_ you came.
We waited _after_ you came.
We waited _as_ you came.
We waited _before_ you came.
We waited _since_ you came.
We left _while_ you were gone.
We left _when_ you were gone.
We left _as soon as_ you were gone.
+352.+ +Adverb clause of place.+ These answer the question _where_, and
are introduced by the conjunctions, _where_, _whence_, _whither_.
I will go _where_ you go.
The wind blows _whither_ it listeth.
He went _whence_ he came.
+353.+ +Adverb clauses expressing cause or reason.+ These will answer
the question _why_. They are introduced by such subordinate conjunctions
as, _because_, _for_, _since_, _as_, _whereas_, _inasmuch as_, etc.
Note the difference in the meaning of the following sentences expressed
by the use of different conjunctions:
I will come _because_ you expect me.
I will come _since_ you expect me.
I will come _as_ you expect me.
I will come _for_ you expect me.
I will come _inasmuch as_ you expect me.
+354.+ +Adverb clauses of manner.+ These clauses will answer the
question _how_, and are introduced by such subordinate conjunctions as,
_as_, _as if_, _as though_, etc.
Study _as though_ you were in earnest.
Come _as if_ you had been called.
Do _as_ I say, not _as_ I do.
In these clauses of _manner_, introduced by _as if_, and _as though_,
_were_ is used in the present form with either singular or plural
subjects. For example:
He writes as if he _were_ informed of the facts.
They talk as though they _were_ confident of success.
You act as though I _were_ your slave.
+355.+ +Adverb clauses of comparison.+ These clauses are introduced by
the subordinate conjunctions _than_ and _as_. The verbs are often
omitted in these dependent clauses introduced by _than_ and _as_. For
example: _He is taller than I_. The complete sentence would be: _He is
taller than I am_. _He is not so tall as I._ Here the sentence would be:
_He is not so tall as I am_.
When the pronoun occurs in these dependent clauses, be sure to use the
proper form of the pronoun. It may be the subject or the object of the
verb which is not expressed. For example; it is incorrect to say: _I am
not so tall as him_. The correct form is: _I am not so tall as he_. The
complete sentence would be: _I am not so tall as he is_, and the pronoun
should be in the subject form, for it is the subject of the verb _is_,
which is understood and omitted.
The use of the _subject_ or of the _object_ form may make a difference
in the meaning of your sentence. For example, you say: _I admire them as
much as he_. You mean that you admire them as much as he admires them.
But if you say, _I admire them as much as him_, you mean that you admire
them as much as you admire him. Quite a different meaning!
Be careful in the use of your pronouns in this way, for you can express
quite a different meaning. For example, if you say, _I care more for you
than he_, you mean, I care more for you than he cares for you. But if
you say, _I care more for you than him_, you mean, I care more for you
than I care for him. A mistake like this might mean a great deal to you
some time, if the one to whom you had been speaking had been studying a
course in Plain English!
+356.+ +Adverb clauses of condition.+ These clauses are introduced by
such conjunctions as, _if_, _provided_, _supposing_, _unless_, _except_,
_otherwise_, _though_, _notwithstanding_, _albeit_, and _whether_. For
example:
I will come _if_ you need me.
I will come _provided_ you need me.
I will go _notwithstanding_ you need me.
I will not go _unless_ I am called.
He will not go _except_ he is called.
He will not go _though_ he is called.
He came, _otherwise_ I would go.
He will go _whether_ you go or stay.
When subordinate clauses beginning with _if_, _though_ or _unless_ are
joined to clauses containing _might_, _could_, _would_ or _should_, the
verb _were_ is sometimes used with a singular subject, in such sentences
as:
If this _were_ true, I should know it.
Unless I _were_ positive, I would not say so.
Though our leader _were_ lost, yet we would not despair.
If he _were_ here, he would explain it himself.
If I _were_ with you, I might make you understand.
Sometimes in sentences like these, _if_ is omitted in the clause, and
the verb placed first. For example:
_Were_ he here, he would deny these slanders.
_Were_ he truly class-conscious, he would oppose this war.
_Were_ this fact known, the people would never submit.
These clauses express something which is uncertain, or which is to be
decided in the future; a supposition contrary to a fact or a wish.
Occasionally you will find the verb _be_ used instead of _is_, in
clauses of this kind introduced by _if_, _though_, _unless_, _except_,
_lest_, etc. For example:
If it _be_ true, I will hear it.
Though he _be_ guilty, we will not desert him.
In subordinate clauses connected by _if_, _unless_, etc., with a
principal clause which expresses future time, the present form of the
verb is used in the subordinate clause. For example:
If they are willing, we will join them.
Unless he comes, I shall not leave.
If it rains, we will not go.
+357.+ +Adverb clauses expressing purpose.+ These are introduced by such
subordinate conjunctions as, _that_, _in order that_ and _lest_. For
example:
Take good care _that_ you understand this lesson.
I will go today _in order that_ I may meet him.
Watch these carefully _lest_ they be stolen.
Read the labor press _that_ you may know the truth.
Notice that _that_, when used in this way, as a pure conjunction, means
_in order that_. For example, the sentence above might read:
Read the labor press _in order that_ you may know the truth.
+358.+ +Adverb clauses expressing result.+ These are introduced by the
subordinate conjunction _that_, as for example:
They were so late _that_ I could not go.