Adverb clauses bring variety of information to sentences – time, place, manner, condition, concession, purpose, and more. Information on place, provided by adverb clause of place, is the topic of this post.
Learn more: This post covers just one adverb clause. Learn other types of adverb clause.
What is adverb clause of place?
Adverb clauses of place provide information about position or direction. They’re introduced mainly by subordinating conjunctions where (for specific place or direction) and wherever (for non-specific place or direction), also known as place subordinators. Of the examples below, third and the last provide information about direction; others, about place:
Where ignorance is bliss, it’s a folly to be wise. [The adverb clause provides information about a specific place, a place where ignorance is bliss.]
Climbers often encounter severe weather conditions where the mountain peaks touch the clouds.
The errand person went where he was asked to. [The clause provides information about specific direction.]
Wherever the company decides to establish a new branch, it conducts a thorough feasibility study. [The adverb clause provides information about a non-specific place. The company could decide to establish a new branch anywhere.]
Sherpa was trying to get a measure of the place; rest had collapsed wherever they could.
The migratory birds fly wherever the warm currents take them. [The clause provides information about non-specific direction.]
Subordinating conjunction where can be pre-modified by focusing adverbs such as just, right, only, exactly, precisely, simply, specifically, and strictly. Examples:
We stopped for lunch just where the trail opens into a meadow. [Focusing adverb just pre-modifies where.]
They planted the oak tree right where the old one had stood.
They could set up the equipment only where the ground was level and firm.
The instructions were to meet simply where the bridge begins.
The meeting will be held strictly where the sign indicates.
So far, we’ve looked at adverb clauses expressing predominantly one meaning: place. But adverb clauses are notorious for expressing multiple meanings simultaneously. Next up is such mix of meanings, one of which is place.
Mixed signals: An adverb clause may convey multiple meanings simultaneously
Adverb clauses introduced by where sometimes convey meaning of contrast and meaning of place, at the same time. Examples:
Where average players give up, great players get motivated. [The clause not only conveys meaning of place, but also shows contrast between average and great players.]
Where the guests grew tired and left early, Emily stayed and helped clean up the mess.
Where Mark hesitated at the edge of the diving board, Sarah jumped without a second thought.
Though the above clauses can be called adverb clause of place or adverb clause of contrast, grammatically they’re both clauses rolled into one.
