13.

1
Adverbial phrases with "because of" explain why something happens, but they don't contain a full verb (unlike
adverbial clauses). They must contain either:

 A noun alone

 A noun phrase (noun with describing words)

Why Sentence A is Wrong vs. Sentence B

1A: "I would not change my plan because of I am extremely stubborn."

(Wrong - contains a full verb "am")

1B: "I would not change my plan because of my extreme stubbornness."

(Correct - "stubbornness" is a noun, "my extreme stubbornness" is a noun phrase)

adverbial phrases :

- subject + verb + object+ because of + noun

- subject + verb + object + because of + adjective + noun
- subject + verb + object + because of + article (a/an/the) + noun
- subject + verb + object + because of + article + adjective + noun
- subject + verb + object + because of + possessive + noun
- subject + verb + object + because of + possessive + adjective + noun
- subject + verb + object + because of + adjective + V1 + ing

Rule 1: Can contain just a noun

 The game was canceled because of rain.

 She succeeded because of luck.

 He cried because of pain.

 We arrived late because of traffic.

 The plants died because of drought.

Rule 2: Adjective + noun

 The event failed because of poor planning.

 She won because of hard work.

 He got sick because of bad weather.

 The machine broke because of constant use.

 They divorced because of irreconcilable differences.

Rule 3: Article (a/an/the) + noun

 The dog barked because of a noise.

  We stayed home because of the storm.

 He got a ticket because of an error.

 The baby woke up because of the thunder.

 She got promoted because of the opportunity.

Rule 4: Article + adjective + noun

 The trip was amazing because of the beautiful scenery.

 He failed because of the difficult test.

 We were happy because of the unexpected gift.

 The car stopped because of the empty tank.

 She was chosen because of the impressive presentation.

Rule 5: Possessive pronoun (my, your, his, etc.) + noun

 I missed class because of my illness.

 They won because of their teamwork.

 He was fired because of his laziness.

 The cake burned because of our distraction.

 The project succeeded because of her leadership.

Rule 6: Possessive pronoun + adjective + noun

 The team lost because of their poor performance.

 I chose this because of its bright color.

 She cried because of his cruel words.

 We succeeded because of our careful preparation.

 The house sold quickly because of its excellent condition.

Rule 7: With '-ing' nouns

 The garden flourished because of the regular watering.

 He got fat because of his constant snacking.

 The road flooded because of the heavy raining.

 She improved because of her daily practicing.

 The machine broke because of the continuous running.

Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Correct the sentences

Fix these wrong sentences by changing them to use "because of" correctly:

1. I was late because of I missed the bus.

(Hint: Change "I missed the bus" to a noun phrase)

2. We lost because of we didn't practice enough.

3. The flowers died because of you didn't water them.

4. The party was fun because of we had good music.

5. She fell because of the floor was wet.

Exercise 2: Complete the sentences

Fill in the blanks with proper noun phrases:

1. The picnic was canceled because of ________. (use an adjective + noun)

2. He became famous because of ________. (use possessive + noun)

3. The computer crashed because of ________. (use article + adjective + noun)

4. We became friends because of ________. (use possessive + adjective + noun)

5. The flight was bumpy because of ________. (use article + noun)

Exercise 3: Transform the clauses

Change these adverbial clauses into adverbial phrases with "because of":

1. I stayed home because I was sick. →

I stayed home because of ________.

2. She won the race because she trained hard. →

She won the race because of ________.

3. The cookies burned because we forgot them. →

The cookies burned because of ________.

4. They moved because the neighborhood was dangerous. →

They moved because of ________.

5. The show was good because the actors were talented. →

The show was good because of ________.

Exercise 4: Create your own

Write 5 original sentences using "because of" with:

1. Just a noun

2. Adjective + noun

3. Article + adjective + noun

4. Possessive pronoun + noun

 5. Possessive pronoun + adjective + noun

Answer Key

Exercise 1:

1. I was late because of missing the bus / the missed bus.

2. We lost because of not practicing enough / our lack of practice.

3. The flowers died because of not being watered / the lack of water.

4. The party was fun because of the good music.

5. She fell because of the wet floor.

Exercise 2: (sample answers)

1. the heavy rain

2. his talent

3. the sudden power surge

4. our shared interests

5. the turbulence

Exercise 3:

1. my sickness

2. her hard training

3. our forgetfulness

4. the dangerous neighborhood

5. the talented actors

Exercise 4: (sample answers)

1. The event was postponed because of rain.

2. She succeeded because of consistent effort.

3. The movie was scary because of the creepy music.

4. I failed because of my carelessness.

5. We won because of our excellent strategy.

Rule 1: "Because of" explains reasons

 The match was canceled because of the rain.

 She got promoted because of her excellent work.

 I chose this university because of its good reputation.

 The baby is crying because of hunger.

 We missed the flight because of heavy traffic.

Rule 2: "For" can replace "because of" (in some cases)

 He was punished for his bad behavior.

(Because of his bad behavior)

 She received an award for her bravery.

(Because of her bravery)

 I admire you for your patience.

(Because of your patience)

 They apologized for the mistake.

(Because of the mistake)

 The dog was scolded for chewing shoes.

(Because of chewing shoes)

Note: "For" sounds more natural when talking about punishments, rewards, or emotions.

Rule 3: These phrases can begin sentences

 Because of the storm, all flights were delayed.

 For your safety, please wear a seatbelt.

 Because of his injury, he couldn't play football.

 For this reason, we must act now.

 Because of your help, we finished early.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Answer "Why?" with "because of"

Answer these questions using "because of":

1. Why is the ground wet?

(the recent rain) → The ground is wet because of the recent rain.

2. Why was the party canceled?

(the host's illness)
 3. Why are you happy?
(my good test score)

4. Why did the car stop?

(an empty fuel tank)

5. Why is she famous?

(her amazing talent)

Exercise 2: Replace "because of" with "for"

Rewrite these sentences using "for":

1. He was fired because of his laziness. → He was fired for his laziness.

2. She got a prize because of her painting.

3. I'm sorry because of the confusion.

4. They arrested him because of the theft.

5. We thanked her because of her kindness.

Exercise 3: Move the phrase to the beginning

Rewrite these sentences by moving the "because of" phrase to the start:

1. The streets flooded because of the heavy rain. → Because of the heavy rain, the streets flooded.

2. We were late because of traffic.

3. She couldn't sleep because of the noise.

4. The team won because of great teamwork.

5. I love this park because of its beautiful trees.

Exercise 4: Choose "because of" or "for"

Select the better option for each sentence:

1. He was rewarded ___ his honesty.

(because of/for) → for

2. ___ the snow, schools are closed today.

3. I apologized ___ being late.

4. ___ technical problems, the website is down.

5. She's known ___ her wonderful singing voice.

Exercise 5: Create your own sentences

Write 2 sentences for each rule:

1. Using "because of" in the middle

2. Using "for" instead of "because of"

 3. Starting a sentence with "because of"

Answer Key

Exercise 1:
2. The party was canceled because of the host's illness.
3. I am happy because of my good test score.
4. The car stopped because of an empty fuel tank.
5. She is famous because of her amazing talent.

Exercise 2:
2. She got a prize for her painting.
3. I'm sorry for the confusion.
4. They arrested him for the theft.
5. We thanked her for her kindness.

Exercise 3:
2. Because of traffic, we were late.
3. Because of the noise, she couldn't sleep.
4. Because of great teamwork, the team won.
5. Because of its beautiful trees, I love this park.

Exercise 4:
2. Because of
3. for
4. Because of
5. for

Exercise 5: Sample answers

1. a) The plants grew well because of the sunshine.

b) We lost because of our mistakes.

2. a) He was famous for his inventions.

b) They punished her for lying.

3. a) Because of the heat, we drank lots of water.

b) Because of your advice, I made a good decision.

Exercise – II

Practice A
Underline the adverbial phrases.

1. Our report was commended for its accuracy.

2. For their persistence in upholding justice, they will always be remembered.

3. Because of the elegance of its furnishings, this hotel is our first choice.

4. He almost ruined his fishing rod because of a momentary carelessness.

 5. For your generosity when we were in serious trouble, you’ve earned our gratitude.

6. A curfew has been imposed because of the riots.

7. Because of his sad experiences in childhood, he is very compassionate.

8. Children love her for her affectionate nature.

9. For the incisive humour of his lectures, Professor Lee is much admired.

10. That building has been restored and preserved because of its historical value.

Practice B
Tick the correct sentences.

1. Some cancers of the skin can develop because of prolonged exposure to the sun.

2. For his repeated failure to comply with the club rules, he was suspended for two months.

3. They are being criticised because of they are narrow-minded.

4. Because of he’s a judge, he must be careful in social situations.

5. She suspects that men want to marry her for her money.

6. Because of their vigilance, three lives were saved.

7. For your lack of cooperate, we cannot have you on our team.

8. We won our case because of you were persuasive.

9. I admire them for resilient.

10. For her remarkable ability to deal with people, Sue was promoted to the position of Human Resource
Manager.

Practice C
Underline the correct words in the brackets.

1. They were late for work (because / because of) the heavy snowing.

2. For (his compassion / his compassionate) towards the poor, he was warmly received.

3. Because of (his / the) obvious inexperience, he did not obtain respect.

4. We chose this machine for (its / its) versatility.

5. Those buildings are in bad shape because of (a poor / poor) maintenance.

6. For (good / the good) of mankind, some scientists devote their lives to research.

7. She won a prize for exemplary (behaviour / she behaved).

8. Because of his (fails / failure) to conform to club rules, he was asked to resign.

9. For (their / they) help on that occasion, they were given the day off.

10. He found himself speechless because of sheer (terror / terror-stricken).

Practice D
Rearrange the words in the boxes to complete the sentences.

1. [because — her — of — responsibility — shirk — tendency — to], we daren't trust her yet.

2. He is disliked by some [conform — for — his — refusal — to].

3. The universe is beyond our grasp [awesome — because — its — of — vastness].

4. [beauty — for — its — lyrics — of — the], the song stayed at the top of the charts for 10 weeks.

5. [a — because — misunderstanding — of — silly], we lost contact for years.

6. The entire platoon was punished [for — its — obey — orders — slowness — to].

Practice E
Circle the letters of the correct sentences.
1.
A. For their selfless dedication, they've won a place in our history.
B. They've won a place in our history because of their selfless dedication.
C. They've won a place in our history because of their selfless dedicated.

2.

A. Because of his good nature, he was taken advantage of by some people.

B. He was taken advantage of by some people because of good-natured.
C. He was taken advantage of by some people of his good nature.

3.

A. They were enchanted with her because of their beautiful voice.

B. They were enchanted with her because of her beautiful voice.
C. They were enchanted with her because she had a beautiful voice.

4.

A. We value this work for its artistic excellence.

B. We value this work because of its artistic excellence.
C. We value this work because of artistically excellent.

5.

A. Because his love of money, he sacrificed his free time.

B. For his love of money, he sacrificed his free time.
C. He sacrificed his free time because of his love of money.

Practice F
Underline the incorrect adverbial phrases in the passage and rewrite them correctly.

1. It was the junior college prize-giving ceremony and Lisa felt happy because of the college’s recognise
of its students’ achievements.

2. From Lisa’s group, Julia received the prize for the best overall result.

3. Because of her performed outstandingly in sports, Asha won the title ‘College Sports Star’.

4. The ‘Best Speaker’ title went to Fara for a brilliance of her debating.
 5. Sally, the new student, was the winner of the art prize because of the striking originality of her work.

6. For their excellent in the science subjects, Andy and Sheila shared a prize.

7. Lastly a new prize was announced. It was awarded to Lisa for her kind to other students. This
unexpected appreciate almost made Lisa cry.

Exercise – III

PRACTICE A

Underline the adverbial phrases in these sentences.

1. The diplomat was lauded for his unyielding integrity during the crisis.

2. Because of the unprecedented economic volatility, investors sought safer assets.

3. The manuscript was rejected for its verbosity and lack of coherence.

4. Due to her indefatigable perseverance, she surmounted all obstacles.

5. The treaty collapsed because of the parties’ mutual intransigence.

6. For his magnanimity in victory, he earned widespread admiration.

7. The experiment failed because of the researchers’ methodological negligence.

8. The artist was celebrated for her idiosyncratic aesthetic sensibilities.

9. Owing to the defendant’s incontrovertible alibi, the case was dismissed.

10. The ecosystem thrived because of its remarkable biodiversity.

PRACTICE B

Identify the correct sentences (✓) and rewrite the incorrect ones.

1. The project was abandoned because of their recalcitrance to compromise.

2. For his prevarication during the interrogation, he was deemed untrustworthy.

3. Because of the algorithm is inherently biased, the results were skewed.

4. She was ostracized for her heterodox views on the subject.

5. The ceasefire faltered because of both factions’ bellicosity.

6. For their obfuscation of the facts, the committee censured them.

7. Because of he exhibited unparalleled virtuosity, he won the competition.

 8. The theory gained traction for its elegant simplicity.

9. The negotiations stalled because of the delegates’ intractable positions.

10. For her sycophantic behavior, she was promoted undeservedly.

Practice C

Select the correct option (bold the answer).

1. The venture failed (because / because of) the investors’ capriciousness.

2. For (his erudition / his erudite) in medieval history, he was consulted often.

3. Because of (the / his) egregious oversight, the deal collapsed.

4. The artifact was preserved for (its / it’s) cultural significance.

5. The policy was criticized because of (its / their) draconian measures.

6. For (the greater good / greater good), sacrifices must be made.

7. He was reprimanded for (dereliction / derelict) of duty.

8. Because of their (ineptitude / inept), the project was doomed.

9. For (their / them) unflagging support, they were rewarded handsomely.

10. The audience was spellbound because of sheer (brilliance / brilliant).

Practice D

Rearrange the words to form grammatically correct sentences.

1. [because — of — the — CEO’s — hubris — staggering], the company faced insolvency.

2. The legislation was passed [for — welfare — public — the — ostensibly — of].

3. [because — of — his — interlocutors — with — sardonic — wit], he dominated debates.

4. The hypothesis was dismissed [for — empirical — its — rigor — lack — of].

5. [owing — to — their — perfunctory — analysis], the conclusions were flawed.

6. The regime fell [because — of — its — endemic — corruption — and — inefficiency].

Practice E
 Circle the letter(s) of the correct sentence(s).
1. A. For his obdurate refusal to cooperate, he was expelled.
B. He was expelled because of his obdurate refusal to cooperate.
C. He was expelled because his obdurate refusal to cooperate.

2. A. Because of their mendacity, trust was irrevocably broken.

B. For their mendacity, trust was irrevocably broken.
C. Trust was irrevocably broken because their mendacity.

3. A. The manuscript was rejected for its lack of scholarly rigor.

B. Because of it lacked scholarly rigor, the manuscript was rejected.
C. The manuscript was rejected because its lack of scholarly rigor.

Practice F

Rewrite the underlined adverbial phrases correctly (use "because of" or "for").

1. The philosopher was revered for his profound and esoteric insights.

2. Because of the team worked tirelessly, the breakthrough was achieved.

3. The treaty was ratified for the nations’ mutual benefit and security.

4. Owing to the CEO articulated a compelling vision, morale improved.

5. The theory was debunked for its logical inconsistencies and flawed premises.

6. Because of the artist demonstrated unparalleled creativity, the exhibition was groundbreaking.

7. The policy was abandoned for its unpopularity among constituents.

Error Analysis

Identify and correct all errors in this paragraph:

"Because of the scientist’s groundbreaking discoveries, she was awarded the prize. For her innovative
approach, the academic community celebrated her. However, because of she challenged established
paradigms, some peers resented her. The controversy arose for her unorthodox methodologies and
refusal to conform."

PRACTICE A Answers

Underlined adverbial phrases:

1. for his unyielding integrity during the crisis

2. Because of the unprecedented economic volatility

3. for its verbosity and lack of coherence

4. Due to her indefatigable perseverance

 5. because of the parties’ mutual intransigence

6. For his magnanimity in victory

7. because of the researchers’ methodological negligence

8. for her idiosyncratic aesthetic sensibilities

9. Owing to the defendant’s incontrovertible alibi

10. because of its remarkable biodiversity

PRACTICE B Answers

Correct sentences (✓) and corrected versions:

1. ✓

2. ✓

3. Incorrect → Because the algorithm is inherently biased, the results were skewed.

4. ✓

5. ✓

6. ✓

7. Incorrect → Because he exhibited unparalleled virtuosity, he won the competition.

8. ✓

9. ✓

10. ✓

PRACTICE C Answers

Correct options bolded:

1. because of

2. his erudition

3. the

4. its

5. its

6. the greater good

 7. dereliction

8. ineptitude

9. their

10. brilliance

Practice D Answers

Rearranged sentences:
2. The legislation was passed ostensibly for the welfare of the public.
3. Because of his sardonic wit with interlocutors, he dominated debates.
4. The hypothesis was dismissed for its lack of empirical rigor.
5. Owing to their perfunctory analysis, the conclusions were flawed.
6. The regime fell because of its endemic corruption and inefficiency.

PRACTICE E Answers

Correct sentences circled:

1. A and B

2. A and B

3. A

PRACTICE F Answers

Corrected adverbial phrases:

1. ✓ (no change)

2. Because the team worked tirelessly, the breakthrough was achieved.

OR: Because of the team’s tireless work, the breakthrough was achieved.

3. ✓ (no change)

4. Because the CEO articulated a compelling vision, morale improved.

OR: Because of the CEO’s compelling vision, morale improved.

5. ✓ (no change)

6. Because the artist demonstrated unparalleled creativity, the exhibition was

groundbreaking.
OR: Because of the artist’s unparalleled creativity, the exhibition was groundbreaking.

7. ✓ (no change)
Error Analysis Answer

Corrected paragraph:
"Because of the scientist’s groundbreaking discoveries, she was awarded the prize. For her innovative
approach, the academic community celebrated her. However, because she challenged established
paradigms, some peers resented her. The controversy arose for her unorthodox methodologies and
refusal to conform."

Errors fixed:

1. "because of she challenged" → because she challenged (clause)

OR: because of her challenge to (phrase)

2. "for her unorthodox methodologies" → ✓ (already correct)

13.2

Adverbial phrases that show purpose tell us why someone does something. They often use:

 in order to

 so as to

 to

 in order not to

 so as not to

 not to

Rule 1: Use the base form of the verb after "in order to," "so as to," or "to"

❌ Wrong: "She exercises to staying healthy."

✅ Correct: "She exercises to stay healthy."

Examples:

1. He studies hard to pass his exams.

2. They left early in order to catch the first train.

3. She saved money so as to buy a new laptop.

4. We whispered not to wake the baby.

5. I turned off the lights to save electricity.

Exercise 1: Correct the mistakes.

 1. She went to the market in order to buying vegetables.

2. They ran fast to caught the bus.

3. He reads books so as to improving his vocabulary.

4. She locked the door in order to not losing her keys.

5. We practice daily to becoming better.

Rule 2: For negative purpose, use "in order not to" or "so as not to" (NOT "in order to not")

❌ Wrong: "He spoke softly in order to not disturb others."

✅ Correct: "He spoke softly in order not to disturb others."

Examples:

1. She wore sunglasses so as not to be recognized.

2. He double-checked his work in order not to make mistakes.

3. They left quietly not to wake the neighbors.

4. I set an alarm so as not to be late.

5. She avoided junk food in order not to gain weight.

Exercise 2: Rewrite correctly.

1. She drove slowly in order to not cause an accident.

2. He hid his phone so as to not get caught.

3. They whispered in order to not be heard.

4. She saved money so as to not run out later.

5. He wore gloves in order to not leave fingerprints.

Rule 3: Avoid starting a negative phrase with "not to" (unless paired with a positive phrase)

❌ Wrong: "Not to fail, he studied hard."

✅ Correct: "In order not to fail, he studied hard."
✅ Also correct (when paired with a positive phrase):

 "He studied hard not to fail but to succeed."

Examples:

1. In order not to miss the flight, they arrived early.

 2. So as not to offend anyone, she chose her words carefully.

3. She worked extra hours not to impress her boss but to earn more money.

4. He exercised daily not to lose weight but to stay fit.

5. In order not to disturb the meeting, he stepped outside.

Exercise 3: Fix the errors.

1. Not to be late, she set three alarms.

2. He saved money not to be broke later.

3. They practiced daily not to lose the match.

4. Not to get sick, she took vitamins.

5. He spoke softly not to wake the baby.

Bonus: Placement & Punctuation

 You can place the adverbial phrase at the beginning (add a comma) or end (no comma).

o "To save time, we took a shortcut."

o "We took a shortcut to save time."

Exercise 4: Rearrange the sentences correctly.

1. (to finish early / they worked fast)

2. (in order not to burn the cake / she set a timer)

3. (so as not to be seen / he hid behind the door)

4. (to stay warm / they lit a fire)

5. (in order to pass the test / he studied all night)

Exercise 5 : (Mixed Rules)

A. Correct the mistakes:

1. She woke up early in order to not missing the sunrise.

2. He exercises daily to staying fit.

3. Not to be rude, she smiled politely.

4. They spoke quietly so as to not disturbing others.

B. Rewrite using "in order not to" or "so as not to":

1. He locked the door to not let thieves in.

2. She avoided sugar to not gain weight.

C. Combine using "not to... but to...":

1. She joined the club. (not to waste time / to learn new skills)

Answers:

(Check your work!)

Exercise 1:
1. buying → buy
2. caught → catch
3. improving → improve
4. losing → lose
5. becoming → become
Exercise 2:
1. in order not to cause
2. so as not to get
3. in order not to be
4. so as not to run
5. in order not to leave
Exercise 3:
1. In order not to be late
2. in order not to be broke
3. in order not to lose
4. In order not to get sick
5. so as not to wake
Exercise 4:
1. To finish early, they worked fast.
2. In order not to burn the cake, she set a timer.
3. So as not to be seen, he hid behind the door.
4. To stay warm, they lit a fire.
5. In order to pass the test, he studied all night.
Final Exercise:
A1. in order not to miss
A2. to stay
A3. In order not to be rude
A4. so as not to disturb
B1. in order not to let thieves in
B2. so as not to gain weight
C1. She joined the club not to waste time but to learn new skills.
Grammar Builder Exercise

Practice A: Underline the adverbial phrases that show purpose.

1. To heighten environmental awareness, the minister suggested launching a publicity campaign.

2. My uncle is saving as much money as he can in order to retire in comfort.

3. She chose her words carefully so as not to offend her client.

4. In order to increase your chances of a promotion, you should work extra hard.

5. I’m practising conscientiously so as to become a good violinist.

6. We’ll work extra hours to make sure the goods are ready on time.

7. In order to earn the respect of your team members, you must be a firm and fair leader.

8. She lets her children share in the housework so as to teach them useful skills.

9. They quickly settled the issue out of court in order not to attract media attention.

10. The computer system will be improved so as to protect it against hackers.

Practice B: Rearrange the words in the boxes to complete the sentences.

1. [bankrupt — go — in — not — order — to.] They’re cutting costs drastically.

2. He’ll try to persuade everybody [contest — for — him — in — “Most Popular Resident” —
the — to] — vote.]

3. We’d better tell the truth [suspense — as — the — not — prolong — so — to.]

4. [a — child’s — develop — to — self-esteem.] Parents should not be afraid to provide

challenges.

5. He keeps quiet most of the time [arguing — avoid — in — his — order — to — roommate —
with.]

Practice C: Tick the correct sentences.

1. The doctor prescribed an antibiotic to control the infection.

2. In order not to seemed too eager, he sauntered in late.

3. The manager pointed out the new employee’s strength so as to boost his morale.

4. To arouse my curiosity, the children deliberately spoke in whispers.

5. So as to not make expensive mistakes, Julie takes professional advice on legal matters.
 6. We’re interviewing the victims of the fire not to meddle but to find out their needs.

7. In order get a promotion, most people have to work hard.

8. The prisoners conforming to the ways of his group so as not to be ostracise.

9. To equip students for the IT age, our schools have included computer lessons in the
curriculum.

10. We’ve been learning the latest dances in order not to felt awkward at the next ball.

Practice D: Underline the correct words in brackets.

1. The dentist made small talk with Sally so as to (put / puts) her at ease.

2. To (galvanize / galvanized) his soldiers into action, the captain said the high command might
make an unscheduled inspection.

3. In order not (seem / to seem) inexperienced, he told us that he had been in the industry for
many years.

4. They studied the map carefully so as (not / not to) take a wrong turn along the way.

5. Jane wandered around the new house in order to (get / got) the feel of the place.

6. So as to (ensure / ensured) he assembled the cabinet correctly, he studied the diagrams in the
do-it-yourself manual.

7. He has come not to complain but to (help / helping) us learn from our mistakes.

8. He kept his problems to himself so as (not to / to not) upset us.

9. In order to (ran / run) unencumbered up the steep slope, he threw down his backpack.

10. She told us everything (not / so as not) to be blamed.

Practice E: Join the sentences. Change the underlined ones into adverbial phrases beginning
with the words in brackets.

1. He wants to hone his debating skills (in order to). He often practices speaking before a mirror.

2. You are saying these things. You want to humor me (to).

3. She doesn’t want to be outdone (in order). She’s attempting the highest peak when we go
mountain-climbing.

4. I wanted to let Susan know when I’ll be back (to). I left a note on the refrigerator door.

5. Ben stood still, hardly daring to breathe. He didn’t want to awaken the sleeping tiger (in
order).
 6. Nancy does not want to forget important dates (so as). Nancy always carries a notebook with
her.

Practice F: Rewrite the paragraph correctly using adverbial phrases showing purpose.

Original paragraph:
"In order to overcame her paralyzing shyness, Diana tried various techniques from magazine articles.
One involved imagining the people she was shy of in their pajamas so as to lost her awe of them.
Unfortunately, this made her even more nervous and she hastily recolored them in proper clothes to
restoring her composure. Another technique was rather more successful. In order to not be tongue-
tied, she asked people questions about themselves, their families, schools or jobs, hobbies, favorite
colors and so on. The people responded happily but she had to keep on asking them questions so as
not to gave them a chance to question her back. To copes with this need, Diana compiled a list of
questions long enough to qualify for the Guinness Book of World Records."

Exercise – III

Practice A: Underline the sophisticated adverbial phrases showing purpose

1. To ameliorate the company's public image, the CEO implemented comprehensive

transparency protocols.

2. The scientist conducted multiple trials in order to substantiate her groundbreaking hypothesis.

3. He articulated his points meticulously so as not to engender any misunderstandings.

4. In order to circumvent potential litigation, the firm retained eminent legal counsel.

5. Researchers are compiling extensive data to corroborate their revolutionary findings.

Practice B: Rearrange these complex phrases to form grammatically sophisticated sentences

1. [mitigate - financial - in - order - to - repercussions - the - economic - downturn - of]

2. [not - diplomatic - so - as - to - a - crisis - international - exacerbate]

3. [to - the - board - persuade - shareholders - convened - an - emergency - meeting - in - order]

4. [cognitive - function - enhance - to - neuroscientist - the - devised - innovative - techniques]

5. [scrutiny - public - avoid - in - not - order - to - the - politician - carefully - phrased - his -
responses]

Practice C: Identify which sentences demonstrate correct usage of adverbial phrases (no ticks)

1. The surgeon operated with exceptional precision in order to not compromise the patient's
recovery.
 2. To elucidate complex quantum theories, the professor employed vivid analogies.

3. So as to not jeopardize the delicate negotiations, the ambassador refrained from public
comments.

4. In order to ascertain the veracity of the claims, investigators scrutinized the evidence
meticulously.

5. The architect designed innovative structures to not merely impress but to revolutionize urban
landscapes.

Practice D: Select the most sophisticated correct option

1. The defense attorney presented alternative scenarios so as to (obfuscate/obfuscating) the

prosecution's argument.

2. To (facilitate/facilitation) cross-cultural understanding, the university established exchange

programs.

3. In order not to (appear/appearing) disingenuous, she provided verifiable documentation.

4. The algorithm was refined so as (to optimize/optimizing) predictive accuracy.

5. He maintained strict confidentiality so as (not to/not) undermine the sensitive investigation.

Practice E: Transform these into complex adverbial constructions

1. The organization implemented new protocols. They wanted to mitigate cybersecurity

vulnerabilities (in order to)

2. She reviewed the contract thoroughly. She aimed to discern any potential liabilities (so as to)

3. The researchers conducted longitudinal studies. Their objective was to establish causal
relationships (to)

4. He tempered his criticism. He didn't want to demoralize the team (in order not to)

5. The journalist verified all sources. She sought to avoid disseminating misinformation (so as
not to)

Practice F: Rewrite this sophisticated paragraph with proper adverbial phrases

"In order to not be perceived as antiquated, the institution embarked on comprehensive modernization
initiatives. The administrators sought to overhaul outdated systems so as to keeping pace with
technological advancements. To not alienate traditional stakeholders, they implemented changes
gradually. The board commissioned extensive studies in order to identifying the most efficacious
approaches. So as to ensuring smooth transition, they allocated substantial resources for staff
retraining."
Practice A Answers:

1. To ameliorate the company's public image, the CEO implemented comprehensive

transparency protocols.

2. The scientist conducted multiple trials in order to substantiate her groundbreaking

hypothesis.

3. He articulated his points meticulously so as not to engender any misunderstandings.

4. In order to circumvent potential litigation, the firm retained eminent legal counsel.

5. Researchers are compiling extensive data to corroborate their revolutionary findings.

Practice B Answers:

1. In order to mitigate the financial repercussions of the economic downturn...

2. So as not to exacerbate an international diplomatic crisis...

3. The board convened an emergency meeting in order to persuade shareholders...

4. The neuroscientist devised innovative techniques to enhance cognitive function...

5. The politician carefully phrased his responses in order not to avoid public scrutiny...

Practice C Correct Sentences:

2. To elucidate complex quantum theories, the professor employed vivid analogies.

3. In order to ascertain the veracity of the claims, investigators scrutinized the evidence
meticulously.

4. The architect designed innovative structures to not merely impress but to revolutionize urban
landscapes.

Practice D Answers:

1. obfuscate

2. facilitate

3. appear

4. to optimize

5. not to

Practice E Answers:

1. In order to mitigate cybersecurity vulnerabilities, the organization implemented new

protocols.

2. She reviewed the contract thoroughly so as to discern any potential liabilities.

3. The researchers conducted longitudinal studies to establish causal relationships.

 4. He tempered his criticism in order not to demoralize the team.

5. The journalist verified all sources so as not to disseminate misinformation.

Practice F Corrected Version:

"In order not to be perceived as antiquated, the institution embarked on comprehensive modernization
initiatives. The administrators sought to overhaul outdated systems so as to keep pace with
technological advancements. So as not to alienate traditional stakeholders, they implemented changes
gradually. The board commissioned extensive studies in order to identify the most efficacious
approaches. So as to ensure a smooth transition, they allocated substantial resources for staff
retraining."

Note: I've corrected:

 "so as to keeping" → "so as to keep"

 "To not alienate" → "So as not to alienate" (more formal)

 "in order to identifying" → "in order to identify"

 "So as to ensuring" → "So as to ensure"

13.3 , 13.4
Rule 1: -ing Phrases Show Related Actions

 The -ing phrase describes either:

a) What's happening at the same time as the main action, OR
b) The result of the main action

1. Same Subject: The person/thing doing the -ing action must be the same as in the main
sentence.

o ✅ Correct: "John fell asleep, snoring loudly." (John fell + John snored)

o ❌ Wrong: "The phone rang, John answering it." (Phone rang ≠ John answered)

2. Comma Needed: Always use a comma when the -ing phrase comes after the main clause.

o "She tripped on the step, dropping her groceries."

Rule 2: Where to Put the -ing Phrase

1. AFTER the main clause = Shows result (what happened because of the first action)

o "The glass slipped from my hand, breaking into pieces."

(First: glass slipped → Result: it broke)

2. BEFORE the main clause = Shows what happened first (like a background action)
 o "Hearing a strange noise, I turned on the lights."
(First: heard noise → Then: turned on lights)

Rule 3: Adding "hence/therefore/thus" (Optional)

These words make the cause-effect relationship stronger, but only use them when the result isn't
already obvious:

✅ Good:

 "He forgot his keys, thus locking himself out."

(The connection between forgetting keys and being locked out needs explanation)

❌ Unnecessary:

 "She dropped the vase, therefore breaking it."

(Dropping → breaking is obvious, so just say: "She dropped the vase, breaking it.")

Never use them with obvious result words like "causing":

❌ Wrong: "It rained all day, therefore causing floods."
✅ Correct: "It rained all day, causing floods."

Examples:

1. The phone rang loudly, startling everyone.

2. Checking his watch, Mark realized he was late.

3. She practiced daily, improving her skills significantly.

4. The storm damaged power lines, leaving thousands without electricity.

5. He forgot his umbrella, therefore getting soaked in the rain.

Exercises:

1. The dog barked loudly, ______ (wake) the neighbors.

2. ______ (see) the dark clouds, we canceled the picnic.

3. The teacher explained clearly, ______ (help) students understand.

4. She dropped her keys, ______ (therefore/lose) them in the grass.

5. ______ (not/check) the recipe, I added too much salt.

6. The car skidded on ice, ______ (cause) a minor accident.

7. ______ (hear) the alarm, everyone evacuated the building.

Main Clause (action) , -ing phrase (result)

 OR

-ing phrase (first action) , Main Clause (next action)

Examples:

1. Same-time action:
"She smiled at me, holding the door open."

2. Result:
"The dog chased its tail, getting dizzy."

3. First action (before):

"Realizing his mistake, he apologized immediately."

4. With "therefore":
"The road was icy, hence making driving dangerous."

Test Yourself:
Which is correct?
A) "The baby cried, the mother picking him up."
B) "The baby cried, making the mother pick him up."

Part 2: Time Phrases (After/Before/When/While)

Rules:

1. Use -ing verbs after these words (never regular verbs):

o Correct: "After eating, I washed the dishes"

o Wrong: "After ate, I washed..."

2. Special case for "when":

o Can use past participle (only for passive actions):

"When watered regularly, plants grow well" (=when they are watered)

o For active actions, use -ing: "When watering plants, wear gloves"

3. For passive actions with after/before/while, always use "being + past participle":

o "After being cleaned, the room looked new"

o Wrong: "After cleaned, the room..."

Examples:
 1. Before leaving home, lock all windows.

2. She listens to music while working.

3. When opened carefully, the package won't tear. (passive)

4. After being repaired, the computer worked perfectly.

5. He checks his emails when arriving at the office.

Exercises:

1. She always stretches ______ (after/finish) her workout.

2. ______ (while/drive), don't use your phone.

3. The documents must be signed ______ (before/submit).

4. ______ (when/plant) in spring, flowers bloom best.

5. The cake tastes better ______ (after/cool) completely.

6. ______ (before/being served), food should be checked for temperature.

7. He takes notes ______ (when/attend) lectures.

Mixed Practice:

1. The audience clapped loudly, ______ (encourage) the performer.

2. ______ (after/being informed) of the delay, passengers grew impatient.

3. ______ (not/look) both ways, the child ran across the street.

4. Glass breaks easily ______ (when/drop) on hard surfaces.

5. The team celebrated, ______ (therefore/making) lots of noise.

6. ______ (while/being examined) by the doctor, stay still.

7. ______ (before/give) a speech, practice several times.

Tips:

 -ing phrases: Imagine the action is happening NOW ("causing", "making")

 Time phrases: Think "during/after/before/when" + ongoing action (-ing)

 Passive actions: Always use "being + past verb" (being cleaned, being told)
Exercise – II

Practice A

Underline the adverbial phrases of result.

1. The demonstrators refused to disperse, leaving the police no choice but to arrest them.

2. The lecture had been well-advertised, drawing a large crowd.

3. A fresh breeze blew, tempering the heat of noon.

4. Two friends joined us, making up a foursome for a game.

5. The speaker kept contradicting himself, bewildering the audience.

6. Someone yawned, causing the rest of us to do the same.

7. He acted swiftly and wisely, preventing a crisis.

8. We left the building unlocked last night, exposing it to vandals.

9. Finally the rains came, enabling the farmers to plough their lands.

10. Her grandchildren arrived, making her much more cheerful.

Practice B

Circle the letters of the correct sentences.

1. A) We celebrated from dusk to dawn, turning night into day.

B) We celebrated from dusk to dawn, thus turning night into day.
C) We celebrated from dusk to dawn, turned night into day.

2. A) He had excellent scores in the game, thus qualified for inclusion in the next round.
B) He had excellent scores in the game, hence qualifying for inclusion in the next round.
C) He had excellent scores in the game, therefore qualifying for inclusion in the next round.

3. A) Cycling furiously, Joe and I arrived well before the others.

B) Arriving well before the others, Joe and I cycled furiously.
C) Joe and I cycled furiously, hence arriving well before the others.

4. A) Showing no signs of a thaw, the ice forced us to stay at home.

B) The ice showed no signs of thawing, thus forcing us to stay at home.
C) The ice showed no signs of thawing, hence forced us to stay at home.

5. A) The play was deeply moving, thus making some of the audience cry.
B) The play was deeply moving, was making some of the audience cry.
C) The play was deeply moving, making some of the audience cry.
Practice C

Tick the correct sentences.

1. Feeling himself exhausted, he had fallen asleep.

2. They cleared the rainforests recklessly, thus losing their heritage.

3. The river overflowed its banks, flooding the plain.

4. She hung up two paintings, brighten the room.

5. His efforts were fuelled by pride, therefore resulting in failure.

6. Your proposal is highly original, hence meriting serious consideration.

7. Dawn broke, awakened birds and babies.

8. Causing a lot of debate, she set one idea against another.

9. We had been slackening, therefore getting poor results.

10. A group of revellers gatecrashed our party, creating real confusion.

Practice D

Complete the sentences with the correct verb forms.

1. Brownie jumped onto the table, [toppled | toppling] a statuette.

2. He promoted his friends, [causing | hence causing] much resentment.

3. The humidity is high, [make | making] us feel lethargic.

4. Her outlook on life is positive and dynamic, [resulting | therefore resulting] in success.

5. Our action proved wise, [break | breaking] the deadlock.

6. Their strategy [failed | worked], filling them with despair.

7. Ted’s business grew, bringing him [affluence | poverty].

8. The organisers kept changing the rules, [upsets | upsetting] the participants.

9. I overspent, [eaten | eating] into my pension fund.

10. She works steadily, [meeting | meets] all deadlines.

Practice E

Rewrite the sentences correctly using adverbial phrases showing result.

 1. Her articles were witty and concise, thus attracted more discerning readers.

2. Their attempts at covering up were useless, therefore resulting in ugly paintwork.

3. Those opal earrings suit her, enhance her delicate beauty.

4. Delighting the youngsters, the idea of the trip was suggested last night.

5. He kept losing at cards, ends up with nothing.

6. This morning’s exertion was too much for him, trigger a bad headache.

Practice F

Rewrite the paragraph by joining sentences with adverbial phrases of result.

Driving a car can change a person. (It makes a monster out of a man or woman.) It exposes you to
spicy language. (It widens your vocabulary greatly.) Soon you are an expert at exchanging insults.
(You shock family and friends travelling with you.) You cannot bear to be overtaken. (You often
break the speed limit to even the score.) After some time, you may realise the lunacy of it all. (You
revert to your sane self.) You start to drive sensibly. (You learn to return rudeness with courtesy.)

Time Phrases Practice 1

Underline the adverbial phrases indicating time.

1. While travelling in Africa, we took some splendid pictures.

2. She let me down badly after promising to help me.

3. He showed no fear when threatened by the robber.

4. Before accepting the offer, you should consider it carefully.

5. When bargaining at a bazaar, some people are very successful.

6. We had a brief problem before landing safely in Madrid.

7. After graduating from college, he set up a business.

8. I was daydreaming while watching the documentary.

9. When given a free hand, you did a good job.

10. Ada looks chic after having her hair styled.

Time Phrases Practice 2

Underline the correct words in the brackets.

 1. The matador never regained his strength after (being gored / gored) by a bull.

2. While (loitered / loitering) in the street, he was scrutinising every passer-by.

3. When (complimented / complimenting) for being elegant, she just laughed.

4. I sat by the river for hours before (catch / catching) one tiny fish.

5. After (mastering / was mastering) the technique of roller-blading, she bought a pair of skates.

6. You need patience and perception when (handled / handling) people.

7. Laura added two points while (keyed / keying) in her report.

8. Before (commit / committing) ourselves to any investment, we must evaluate the risks.

9. She gets flustered when (hurried / hurry) into giving an answer.

10. After (sending / sent) my family an e-mail, I gave way to jet lag.

Time Phrases Practice 3

Tick the correct sentences.

1. She fell asleep while tried to study the new book.

2. When practised faithfully, good values become a part of us.

3. He learnt to be tough while sailing alone.

4. We are going to try everything before given up hope.

5. After looking through an encyclopaedia, we solved the puzzle.

6. While were cruising down the river, they saw a crocodile.

7. The bull chased the boys when madden by their teasing.

8. Before fleeing the country, he said ‘goodbye’ to only one person.

9. He broke down in court when found guilty.

10. After realise the seriousness of my mistake, I apologised.

Time Phrases Practice 4

Complete the sentences by rearranging the words to form adverbial phrases.

1. You should have consulted us [an — before — decision — important — making — such].

2. [an — as — excuse — used — when], a headache sometimes becomes real.

 3. [after — all — analysing — errors — our — tactical], we made a new plan.

4. He worked seven days a week [being — for — prepared — job — the — top — while].

5. We are giving him a last chance [action — before — legal — taking].

6. [disappearance — investigating — millionaire — of — the — the — while], the inspector

himself vanished.

Time Phrases Practice 5

Rewrite sentences as adverbial phrases with the given starters.

1. You are born with certain talents (when). You should develop them.

2. The princess was smiling and waving. She was passing by in her chauffeured limousine
(while).

3. He pursued his dream for years (after). He suddenly lost interest.

4. She wanted to see her son. She was going on a long journey (before).

5. They were exploring the cave (while). They found a strange object.

6. I plan to hitchhike around the world. I’ll graduate from college (after).

Time Phrases Practice 6

Rewrite the paragraph with correct time phrases.

A Hollywood star once gave a strange reply when asking the secret behind her unlined face. She said:
‘While am acting, I portray emotions through my eyes and not my facial muscles.’ She added this
piece of advice: ‘In everyday life too, you must think before you allow yourself to smile. The loveliest
woman will look a wreck after smiled recklessly over the years. When smiled into the camera or at
anyone, I never let my eyes crinkle up at the corners.’ After read this, are you prepared to give up
‘smiling recklessly’ to avoid wrinkles?