Subordinate Clauses: Manner Clause

A "Manner Clause" is used to say how someone does something, or how something is done. This something is expressed in the main clause.

The conjunctions used are:

• as
• as if / as though
• as + adverb + as

Examples:

• Good students come to class on time as the teacher tells them to.
• He behaved as if nothing had happened.
• He cried as though he were a baby.
• Our instructor asked us to fill out the questionnaire as carefully as we could.

Some observations:

1. The conjunctions "as if" and "as though" have the same meaning.
2. Note that, the form "verb+ing" is not used for making a manner clause. We use a prepositional phrase formed with "by/without + verb in ing" to express manner. Examples: 1) He began his speech by telling a joke. 2) She dressed without making a sound.