ADVERBIAL CLAUSES - Finite & Non-finite

Adverbial clauses are a group of words with a verb that remit adverbial ideas (time, place, contrast, condition, manner, comparison, reason or cause, purpose, result or circumstance). Finite adverbial clauses usually contain a SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION (see entry on SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION), which makes it easier to identify. Non-finite adverbial clauses, however, hardly ever (almost never, almost) have a subordinating conjunction, making them more difficult to identify and more open to interpretation.

FINITE ADVERBIAL CLAUSES

Most finite adverbial clauses have a SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION, which will aid in determining the adverbial idea.

e.g. DESPITE THE FACT (THAT) SHE SMELLS LIKE ROTTEN FISH, I LIKE HER.
- “Despite the fact (that)” is a subordinating conjunction used to show CONTRAST
- “Despite the fact (that) she smells like rotten fish” is a finite adverbial clause of contrast.
- “I like her” is the main clause.

NON-FINITE ADVERBIAL CLAUSES

Reducing adverbial clauses is common, but confusing. They can be reduced in three ways: GERUND, PAST PARTICIPLE, and INFINITIVE. When this occurs, quite often the SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION is removed, thus leaving the sentence open to interpretation.

e.g. SORTING THROUGH ALL HER BELONGINGS, SHE FOUND THE OLD PHOTO OF HER FIRST BEAU.
- “Sorting through all her belongings” is a dependent clause that can be interpreted THREE ways:
1) “By sorting through all her belongings” (referring to the MANNER in which she found the photo) – non-finite adverbial clause of manner reduced by gerund; or
2) “Because she sorted through all her belongings” (referring to what CAUSED her to find the photo) – non-finite adverbial clause of cause (reason) reduced by gerund.
3) "As she sorted through all her belongings" (referring to the time she found the photo) - non-finite adverbial clause of time reduced by gerund.

e.g. HE TOOK UP ANTHROPOLOGY, STIMULATED BY OUR ENTHUSIASM.
- “stimulated by our enthusiasm” can be interpreted as “because he was stimulated by our enthusiasm” – non-finite adverbial clause of cause reduced by the past participle.

e.g. HE OPENED THE CRATE TO LOOK FOR THE DEED.
- “to look for the deed” can be interpreted as “so that he could look for the deed” – non-finite adverbial clause of purpose reduced by the infinitive.