Relative Adverbs Explained: 3 Examples of Relative Adverbs

The English language features three relative adverbs: “where,” “when,” and “why.” They have an adverbial function because they modify adjectives or verbs. Adjectives can in turn modify nouns or noun phrases. As an example, consider the sentence: "The store where I buy my groceries is closing." The phrase "where I buy my groceries" is a relative adjective clause because it modifies the noun phrase "the store.” The word "where" is itself a relative adverb.

Adverb clauses and adjective clauses are known as dependent clauses (or subordinate clauses). This means they would not function as their own complete sentences. They appear in complex sentences, bracketed from independent clauses with the use of a comma.

As a type of dependent clause, relative clauses can be introduced by relative adverbs and typically aren’t bracketed with commas. There are two types of relative clauses:

• Relative adverb clauses: In most cases, relative adverb clauses serve as verb modifiers. They provide additional information about a verb. For example, in the sentence, “I read where I sleep because it’s comfortable,” the relative adverb clause “where I sleep” is modifying the verb “read.”
• Relative adjective clauses: Relative adjective clauses provide additional information by modifying nouns or noun phrases. For example, in the sentence, “The house where I grew up is getting renovated,” the relative adjective clause “where I grew up” is modifying the noun “house.”

Relative clauses can also begin with relative pronouns—like “who,” “whom,” “whose,” “that,” or “which”—and then go on to describe a noun or a noun phrase.

The relative adverbs “where,” “when,” and “why” provide additional information about a place, time, or reason. In a sentence, they function by modifying other parts of speech. When a relative adverb begins an adjective clause, it modifies a noun or noun phrase. When a relative adverb begins an adverb clause, it modifies a verb. The following sentences show how common relative adverbs function in the English language.

1. 1. Where: "The building where I work was built in 1922." In this sentence, "where" is an adverb of place. It works within a larger adjectival phrase to modify a noun—the building.
2. 2. When: "I will call you when I get home." In this sentence, "when" is an adverb of time. It provides additional information about the future-tense verb "will call."
3. 3. Why: "The reason why I work so hard is to have savings for retirement." In this sentence, "why" is an adverb of reason. It is modifying the noun "reason" and providing additional context.

“Where,” “when,” and “why” can modify the subject of a sentence, or they can appear in the predicate of a sentence. Consult the following examples of relative adverbs in the context of a sentence.

1. 1. Where: “The gym where I work out is closed for renovations.”
2. 2. When: “Let me know when you are back in town.”
3. 3. Why: “Could this be the reason why everyone is running late tonight?”

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