Grammar

Adverb clauses

1. Adverb Clauses of Comparison

2. Adverb Clauses of Contrast
3. Adverb Clauses of Concession

1. Adverb Clauses of Comparison

 Adverb clauses improve coherence in comparison/contrast essay.

 Similarity is indicated by the subordinators: just as and in the same way:

Just as Boston, Montreal has four seasons.

Borges is considered to be among the greatest modern writers in the same

way Misshima is.

So is often used in the main clause following the clause that contains just as:

Just as Bill is a fine student, so is his sister.

Just as I wrote a letter to the senator, so did Sharon.

2. Adverb Clauses of Contrast

 While and Whereas are used to indicate contrast, and like most other adverbial
clauses , they can occur at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.

Whereas the northern lights are called the aurora borealis, the southern lights are
called the aurora australis.

The average male gorilla cranial capacity is 550cc, while that of the female is
about 460 cc.

 Used at the end of a sentence to indicate contrast while and whereas require a
comma before them.
 3. Adverb Clauses of Concession

 An adverb clause of concession is a clause that admits a contrast or an unexpected idea.

 The subordinators although, though and even though roughly mean despite the fact that. This type f
clause is useful to concede a point. For example if you are emphasizing contrast in a paper, it may be
necessary to admit that there are similarities and vice versa.

Although both the Speed Demon and the Road Runner are quite similar, they differ in
safety feature.

Although villages lack some services, they still provide a better environment to raise
children in.

He refuses to retire, even though he is 70 years old.

Though she was quite tired, Mary continued to work hard

Adverbials of Time and Sequences

There are many adverbial expressions to indicate time and sequence. These expressions fall
into two groups:

Adverbial Expressions have two types/groups

1.Time expressions of more than one word [when they introduce a sentence, they are
followed by a comma] Examples:

By + time = by nine o'clock, the avenue is lined with people

At+ Time= At a round ten o'clock, the excitement mounts

After + Time = After eleven o'clock, the people go home

Before+ time = Everyone gets there before nine o'clock

After + Noun = after about an hour, the parade passes by.

Before + Noun = Before the parade, everyone is excited

During + Noun = During the morning, the people have a good time.

2. One-word expressions of sequence

First, there is the welcome sound of sirens

Next, the masked men arrived on horseback

Second, they wave and the crowd waves back

Last, the big floats come

Finally, the parade is over

Do Exercise 5 on page 288 (too simple)

Prepositions in Time Expressions

Preposition + Use

At + time of day [ at night]

In + part of the day, month, year, season [ in the morning, in 2008]

On + day or date [ the office is closed on weekends. He was born on April 15, 1990]

By + point in time [ you must be there by 10 A.M., by noon]

During + amount of time [ I never sleep during the day]

Until + Point in time [ She works until five every day, my pay has to last until the end of the month]

Note: On time and in time

They have different meanings. See the examples:

We arrived at the theatre on time [This means we arrived at the designated time]

We arrived at the theater in time to get a snack before the play. [T

his means we arrived before it was too late]

Do EX 6 on page 290 on your own. Note there may be more than one answer. Do EX 7 on page 291.

Articles

 Articles give information about a noun being: indefinite or definite or generic,

The Indefinite Article: a, an, some [to signal an unspecified item; we do not know which specific
item is being referred to]

She needs a napkin

A man is at the door
A picnic is always fun.

 In the plural, the indefiniteness is indicated with some or with no article at all. When no article is
used the noun itself is emphasized. With some, the indefiniteness is also emphasized.
 She needs some napkins
Some men are at the door
Picnics are always fun

 A singular count noun requires an article, even if an adjective precedes it:

I need a new car

 The only time an article is not necessary before a single count noun is when another determiner is
used instead:

I need this new car

We need another new car
She borrowed my car

 A noncount noun cannot be preceded by the indefinite article a. It can be preceded by some

I requested new information.

I bought some gasoline this morning.

Do Exercise on page 8 (on your own)

The Definite Article: the

The definite article THE signals a specific or particular person, place, or thing. Nouns can be made
specific in several ways:

1. When the noun is first mentioned it is unspecified, then we use the

We bought a new car last year. After we got the car home, one of its tires went flat.
I ordered some soup from the delicatessen, when the soup arrived it was cold. [delɪkəˈtesn]

2. The noun has a modifying phrase or clause in the sentence that identifies it as a specific ite:

The information that I got from this book was helpful

The information in this book is helpful
The cars in the driveway just had their tires stolen

The luggage in the cars was also stolen

3.The situation identifies the noun. When both the writer and reader are familiar with the item that is
being referred to, THE is used.

This information was located on the company's website

The European Renaissance began in Italy in the seventeenth century

4.The noun is specific because it is unique:

When I look at the sky, I am filled with wonder

 Hurricanes usually come from the south

5. Superlatives, ranking adjectives, and ordinal numbers make a noun specific

He was definitely the most exciting singer

The main speaker is next
The first person in line got the prize.

Do Ex. 9 and 10on page 293, 294 (on your own)

Articles with Quantifiers

 Quantifiers are used with nouns to indicate the amount or number of the noun. Examples and
Chart on page 295

Some students spoke out about the new rules.

Neither student was late.

John has a little money

Quantifiers
With Plural Nouns With Singular Count Nouns With Noncount Nouns
Few (students) One (student) Little (money)
A few each A little
several Every some
some Either/neither much
many no any
any all
Most no
all
no
both
Two, three, and so on

Note on a few/little, and few/little

These words refer to a small quantity or amount of something. A few and a little have a positive meaning.

I have a few friends. (And I am happy about it)

I have a little money. (It is enough. I can help you)

Few and Little have a negative meaning

I have few friends ( I am unhappy about it)

I have little time (I cannot help you)

On a related note, take these examples:

Some of the students did the homework [students must have been mentioned earlier to use THE or
assumption is the hearer is familiar with the students referred to]

I used most of the money [same]

A note on agreement

One of the students is late.

Each of the students has agreed to help.

Every one of the apples is rotten [this means every single one]

None of the teachers is coming. [There will be no teachers there]

In informal usage, the following is also acceptable: [ None of the teachers are coming] avoid in formal
discourse.