Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

What does an adverbial clause primarily modify?

1. A noun or pronoun

2. A verb

3. An adjective

4. An adverb

The correct answer is: A verb

An adverbial clause primarily modifies a verb, providing additional information about the action taking place in a sentence. This can include details such as the time, place, reason, condition, or manner of the action described by the verb. For instance, in the sentence "She ran because she was late," the adverbial clause "because she was late" explains why she ran, enhancing the understanding of the verb "ran." While adverbial clauses can interact with other parts of speech, their main function is to clarify or add context to verbs. Understanding this function is crucial for grasping sentence structure and improving writing clarity.