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Topic: Adverb Clause of Manner |
10 September 2002 |
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As the name suggests, an adverb clause of manner tells us
'how' you do something. As all adverbs and adverb clauses modify the verb,
telling us 'how' we do something, this is the most difficult to understand.
The connectors used in an adverb clause of manner are as, as if,
and as though. They all have the same meaning.
For example:
Good students come to class on time as the teacher tells them to.
He ate as if he were starving for months.
She acts as if it's a joke.
When someone's pager goes off in the cinema, Sam looks as though he wanted
to tear the owner to pieces.
'As if' and 'as though' have a sense of comparison. However, the comparison
can be either realistic or unrealistic. If it's realistic, we use normal tenses of the verbs
to agree with the main clause. If it's not, we use 'more past'.
For example:
Realistic Comparison
If it's realistic, we use normal tenses of the verbs to agree with the main clause.
She acts as if it's a joke.
It's possible that it's a joke. Therefore, we use the present tense to agree with the
present tense in the main clause.
He cried as though he is in pain.
Maybe he's really in pain.
Unrealistic Comparison
If it's unrealistic, we use 'more past'.
He cried as though he were a baby.
He's not a baby.
He ate as if he were starving for months.
It's impossible for anyone to starve for months.
| * We use 'were' with every subject. |
| If the main clause is |
the adverb clause should be |
Present simple |
past simple |
| Present continuous |
past continuous |
| Past simple |
past perfect |
| Present perfect |
past perfect |
| Future simple (will) |
past simple (would) |
Can |
could |
| May |
might |
| Shall |
should |
| Must |
had to/ must have + v3 |
Note that as can be an adverb clause connector of time and reason.
For example:
We will keep you informed as the decision is made. (time)
As no one was in the house to stop it, the fire caught on very quickly. (reason)
She cleaned her room as her parents told her to. (manner) |
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Exercise: Adverb Clause of Manner |
| Directions: Put the given verbs in brackets in the right form. |
 1. The house is quiet as though nobody ________ (be) home. |
| 2. The room was very messy as if there ________ (be) a bomb explosion. |
| 3. Don't talk to me as if I ________ (be) a child. |
| 4. Don't look at me as though it ________ (be) my fault. |
| 5. As it ________ (be) stated on the manual, you should turn off the machine before cleaning it. |
| 6. He walked into the furniture as if he ________ (be) blind. |
| 7. He walked into the furniture as if he ________ (be) drunk. |
| 8. He acts as if he ________ (do not) know me. |
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Answers |
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