Adverbial clauses

• Adverbial clauses


  Clauses that modify the main clause, like an adverb
• For the purposes of this course, a "clause" is indistinguishable from a "sentence"
• Subordinating conjunction


  A type of linking word which links clauses (or units smaller than a clause) and subordinates one clause to another
• Coordinating conjunction


  A type of linking word which links clauses (or units smaller than a clause) and coordinates the clauses
• Subordinating conjunctions


  Do not have to be in the middle of the sentence
• Coordinating conjunctions


  Have to be in the middle of the sentence
• Coordinating conjunctions


  • and
  • but
  • or
• Subordinating conjunctions link clauses, coordinating conjunctions link phrases of the same type
• Adverbial clauses are semantically dependent on the main clause and cannot stand alone
• The 'door test' can be used to identify adverbial clauses - the adverbial clause cannot be a standalone sentence
• Subordinating conjunctions (SCs)


  Useful devices for linking events in a narrative
• Subordinating conjunctions are assessed in many language assessments, e.g. the Formulating Sentences subtest of the CELF
• Language impaired individuals


  • Have great difficulties using subordinating conjunctions to introduce adverbial clauses
  • Have lower clausal density (number of clauses per sentence)
• Range of meanings expressed by subordinating conjunctions


  • Summarised in an online table
• Iconic clause order


  Order of mention = order of occurrence
• Non-iconic clause order


  She missed the lecture because the bus was late
• When children produce complex sentences they have a strong bias towards 'iconic' clause order
• Children find it easier to comprehend complex sentences where clause order is 'iconic'
• Clinicians can manipulate clause order when teaching complex sentences
• Metalinguistic approaches can be used to teach complex sentences (e.g. Ebbels et al. 2013)