Reduction of Adverb Clauses of Time
Adverb clauses that begin with the words ‘after, before, when and while’ can be reduced to adverbial phrases.
Clause: After he returned from France, he joined the army.
Phrase: After returning from France, he joined the army.
1. You must have the same subject in both clauses.
2. Delete the subject from the adverb clause.
3. Change the verb to ‘–ing’ form.
If the main verb of the adverb clause is used in a progressive tense , omit the subject and auxiliary verb.
Clause: While the plane was returning to the airport soon after takeoff, it burst into flames.
Phrase: While returning to the airport soon after takeoff, the plane burst into flames.
If the main verb of the adverb clause is NOT used in a progressive tense, omit the subject and add the suffix –ing to the verb.
Clause: Before she went out for dinner, Susan decided to wash her hair.
Phrase: Before going out for dinner, Susan decided to wash her hair.
Note that reduction is possible only when the subjects of the adverb clause and the main clause are the same.
Before Susan washed her hair, her mother cleaned the bathroom.
[The adverb clause in this sentence CANNOT be reduced to a phrase.]
After, before and while can be used with present or past tenses. However, we use ‘when’ only with present tenses while making reduction.
Clause: When we teach children, we should pay attention to their personal characteristics.
Phrase: When teaching children, we should pay attention to their personal characteristics.
When we delete ‘when’ or ‘as soon as’ in past form, we should replace them with "upon" or "on"
Clause: As soon as she finished the report, she gave it to the boss.
Phrase: Upon finishing the report, she gave it to the boss.
Clause: As soon as we woke up, we got our fishing poles and went to the lake.
Phrase: On waking up, we got our fishing poles and went to the lake.
Now study below examples:
Clause: I went to bed after I did my homework.
Reduce: I went to bed after doing my homework.
Clause: While I was watching TV, I saw an old friend on a channel.
Reduce: While watching TV, I saw an old friend on a channel.
Clause: When I read a book, I pay attention to the plot.
Reduce: When reading a book, I pay attention to the plot.
Clause: While the musician was producing music, he thought of the family he had left behind.
Phrase: While producing music, the musician thought of the family he had left behind.
Clause: I didn’t speak English very often before I came to the United States.
Reduce: I didn’t speak English very often before coming to the United States.
Reduction of Adverb Clauses of Condition with: if, unless, as if, as though, whether or not
Clause: If you are learning English, you must be patient.
Phrase: If learning English, you must be patient.
Phrase: If learning English, you must be patient.
Clause: If you don't warm up before taking exercise, you risk injuring yourself.
Phrase: If not warming warm before taking exercise, you risk injuring yourself.
Phrase: If not warming warm before taking exercise, you risk injuring yourself.
Clause: Unless you are told otherwise, you shouldn’t go there.
Phrase: Unless told orherwise, you shouldn’t go there.
Phrase: Unless told orherwise, you shouldn’t go there.
Clause: I can't reach the top shelf unless I use a stepladder.
I can't reach the top shelf unless using a stepladder.
Clause: He grinned at me, as if he was sharing a secret joke.
Phrase: He grinned at me, as if sharing a secret joke.
Clause: She talked as if / as though she was promoted that position.
Phrase: She talked as if / as though promoted that position
Phrase: She talked as if / as though promoted that position
Reduction of Adverb Clauses of concession with: although, despite, in spite of, though, and while:
Clause: She walked home by herself, although she knew that it was dangerous.
Phrase: She walked home by herself, although knowing that it was dangerous.
Phrase: She walked home by herself, although knowing that it was dangerous.
Clause: Although it was begun many years ago, the road is still not completed
Phrase: Although begun many years ago, the road is still not completed.
Phrase: Although begun many years ago, the road is still not completed.
Clause: Though he had only entered the contest for fun, he won first prize.
Phrase: Though having only entered the contest for fun, he won first prize.
Clause: Because/as/ since he was ill, he didn’t come to the party.
Phrase: Being ill, he didn’t come to the party.
Clause: Because it was injured seriously, it may die.
Phrase: Being injured seriously, it may die.
When the times of the two sentences are different and active;
Clause: Because/as/ since I had seen the movie, I didn’t go with them.
Phrase: Having seen the movie, I didn’t go with them.
Clause: Because/as/ since he had been dismissed from the factory, Ali had to look for a job months.
Phrase: Having been dismissed from the factory, Ali had to look for a job months.
Clause: Because she had always been interested in sports, Linda became an avid supporter of the team.
Phrase: Having always been interested in sports, Linda became an avid supporter of the team.
Phrase: He talked as if / as though the best.
Clause: When it is necessary, you can spend some of money.
Phrase: When necessary, you can spend some of money.
Clause: Although / though he was unhappy, he tried to smile.
Phrase: Although / though unhappy, he tried to smile.
Clause: While I was at school, I was very hard-working.
Phrase: While at school, I was very hard-working.
Clause: As it can be seen in her eyes, she loves him.
Phrase: As can be seen in her eyes, she loves him.
So/such as to and so/such…as to
Clause: I studied hard so that I could get a passing grade in the exam.
Phrase: I studied hard so as to get a passing grade in the exam.
Clause: The countess’s treatment of her servants was such that it caused great resentment.
Phrase: The countess’s treatment of her servants was such as to cause great resentment.
Clause: His work was so good that it made him internationally famous.
Phrase: His work was so good as to make him internationally famous.
Clause: He was in such bad health that he was obliged to resign.
Phrase: He was in such bad health as to be obliged to resign.
Phrase: Though having only entered the contest for fun, he won first prize.
Reduction of Adverb Clauses of reason with: because, as, since
When a clause introduced by because, as or since is reduced, because, as or since is omitted and the verb changes form:Clause: Because/as/ since he was ill, he didn’t come to the party.
Phrase: Being ill, he didn’t come to the party.
Clause: Because it was injured seriously, it may die.
Phrase: Being injured seriously, it may die.
When the times of the two sentences are different and active;
Clause: Because/as/ since I had seen the movie, I didn’t go with them.
Phrase: Having seen the movie, I didn’t go with them.
Clause: Because/as/ since he had been dismissed from the factory, Ali had to look for a job months.
Phrase: Having been dismissed from the factory, Ali had to look for a job months.
Clause: Because she had always been interested in sports, Linda became an avid supporter of the team.
Phrase: Having always been interested in sports, Linda became an avid supporter of the team.
The reduction of verb to be
Clause: He talked as if / as though he was the best.Phrase: He talked as if / as though the best.
Clause: When it is necessary, you can spend some of money.
Phrase: When necessary, you can spend some of money.
Clause: Although / though he was unhappy, he tried to smile.
Phrase: Although / though unhappy, he tried to smile.
Clause: While I was at school, I was very hard-working.
Phrase: While at school, I was very hard-working.
Clause: As it can be seen in her eyes, she loves him.
Phrase: As can be seen in her eyes, she loves him.
So/such as to and so/such…as to
Clause: I studied hard so that I could get a passing grade in the exam.
Phrase: I studied hard so as to get a passing grade in the exam.
Clause: The countess’s treatment of her servants was such that it caused great resentment.
Phrase: The countess’s treatment of her servants was such as to cause great resentment.
Clause: His work was so good that it made him internationally famous.
Phrase: His work was so good as to make him internationally famous.
Clause: He was in such bad health that he was obliged to resign.
Phrase: He was in such bad health as to be obliged to resign.
