Relative Adverbs
Relative Adverbs :
Relative adverbs introduce subordinate clauses and are similar in their use to relative pronouns.
I know a farmhouse {in which | where} we can spend the night.
WHERE is an adverb of place, modifying can spend. But it also introduces the subordinate clause, as the relative pronoun WHICH does. Hence WHERE is called a relative adverb.
The principal relative adverbs are where, whence, whither, wherever, when, whenever, while, as, how, why, before, after, till, until, since.
Because of their similarity to conjunctions, these words are often called conjunctive adverbs .
1. He had a fever when he was in Spain.
2. Work while it is day.
3. As the ship passed, we observed that her decks were crowded with Malays. [Time.]
4. Keep to the right, as the law directs. [Manner.]
5. You started before I was ready.
6. Wait until the car stops.
7. Since you came, it has rained constantly.
AS and SINCE in the sense of because and WHILE in the sense of although are classed as conjunctions.
The clauses introduced by relative adverbs may be either adjective or adverbial.
Note : In “The more you waste, the sooner you will want" (and similar sentences) THE is not an article, but an old case-form of the pronoun that, used as an adverb of degree. We may expand the sentence as follows: “To what extent you waste more, to that extent you will want sooner." Thus it appears that the first THE has a relative force, and the second THE a demonstrative force.
An interrogative adverb introduces a question.
Where, when, whence, whither, how, why, may be used as interrogative adverbs. Thus……
1. Where are you going?
2. Why must you go?
Relative Adverbs :
Relative Adverbs To HOME PAGE
