Mastering the Adverbial clause of place (Misplaced Words) is essential for improving your English syntax and avoiding awkward sentence structures. An adverbial clause of place indicates where an action occurs and usually starts with subordinating conjunctions like where or wherever.
What is an Adverbial Clause of Place?
An adverbial clause of place is a dependent clause that functions as an adverb by modifying a verb, adjective, or adverb in the main clause, telling us the location or direction of an action. For a deeper understanding of how sentence placement impacts meaning, you can also review our guide on Adverbial clause of cause (Misplaced Words) to refine your structural accuracy.
Where Can an Adverbial Clause of Place Be Placed?
Generally, this type of clause can be positioned either before or after the Principal Clause depending on the emphasis you want to create. Here are standard examples of correct placement:
- Wherever you go, I'll go too. (Clause placed before the principal clause)
- You can sleep wherever you like. (Clause placed after the principal clause)
Common Mistakes to Avoid with Imperative Sentences
A frequent error occurs when writers place an adverbial clause of place before a principal clause that has a short imperative form (a command). With imperative verbs, the adverbial clause of place must follow the principal clause.
| Incorrect Structure (Wrong) | Correct Structure (Right) |
|---|---|
| Where you like sit. | Sit where you like. |
| Wherever you like sleep. | Sleep wherever you like. |
For more advanced rules regarding structural modifiers, you can also explore our comprehensive lesson on the Adverbial clause of Manner (Misplaced Words).
Key Takeaways
- An adverbial clause of place tells us where an action happens using words like where and wherever.
- It can generally be placed before or after the principal clause in declarative sentences.
- With imperative sentences, the clause must always follow the main verb, never precede it.
Quick Practice
Test your understanding! Correct the following sentence: "Where you prefer sit." Write your answer in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an adverbial clause of place?
An adverbial clause of place is a dependent clause that acts as an adverb to specify the location where the action of the main verb takes place.
Can an adverbial clause of place start a sentence?
Yes, it can start a sentence (preceding the principal clause) when used with declarative sentences, but it should not precede an imperative verb form.