What Is an Adverb Clause of Result?
An adverb clause of result is used to express the result or consequence of an action. We introduce it using ‘that‘ and usually linked to a so (which is an adverb) or such (which is an adjective) in the main clause.
Result Clause Example
I like wild animals, so I watch videos about them on YouTube.
This sentence consists of the following three parts.
Main clause: I like wild animals
Conjunction: so (begin the subordinate clause and link it to the main clause)
Subordinate clause: I watch videos about them on YouTube.
The subordinate adverbial clause of result, modifying the verb ‘like’ in the independent clause
We make result clauses in the following way to explain a result.
so + adjective + (that)
so + adverb + (that)
such + noun + that
Some comets are so bright that people think they are planets or stars.
We can drop the subordinating conjunction ‘that‘ in informal English.
- It was so cold I waited no longer.
We can also introduce it using, therefore, consequently, or as a consequence, etc.
- The animal biologist killed certain species of animals consequently/therefore, they are becoming extinct.
Explaining a Result Using ‘Because of and a result of
To describe a result, we use the preposition phrase because of + noun or as a result of + noun. Put the because of/as a result of clause at the beginning or end position in a sentence.
- Because of the great distances involved, it is hard to see any details.
- Pollution has been increasing as a result of air traffic.
Examples Adverb Clause of Result
- The bus was so slow that we were almost three hours late.
- The man was nervous that he tore his documents.
- So heavy snow was it that many died.
- She didn’t study well, so she failed all her papers.
- It is such a big bacterium that everyone can see it without a microscope.
- I searched the book so carefully that I found fifty new collective nouns.
- The rain is sometimes so heavy that it can damage trees.
- The snow fell so fast that my car was soon covered up.
- It was so much dark that I couldn’t see who was crying.
- So heavy was the rain that whole roofs were ripped off.
- His sister is such an intelligent girl that she can easily qualify for an exam.
- The lecture was delivered in such a low voice that few could understand it.
- The stranger gave me such a lot of fruits that I couldn’t carry them home.
- There was so much dark in the room that I couldn’t see the baby.
- The boy was late; therefore, he was punished.
- The police officer ran so quickly that he caught the thief.
- So angry was the man that he couldn’t speak.
- Such a trouble I did for my friends that they avoided inviting me.
Adverb Clause of Result vs. Adverb Phrase of Result
The following examples clarify the difference between the adverb clause of result and the adverb phrase of result.
- Adverb Phrase of Result: We don’t trust the man well enough to accept his offer.
- Adverb Clause of Result: We don’t trust the man so well that we should accept his offer.
- Adverb Phrase of Result: They were lucky enough to get there in time.
- Adverb Clause of Result: They were so lucky that they got there in time.
- Adverb Phrase of Result: The boy is too little to understand me.
- Adverb Clause of Result: The boy is so little that he can’t understand me.
