Adverb Clauses

Adverb clauses

Old English has a number of words that can either be simple adverbs, or subordinate conjunctions introducing adverb clauses. Here are the most common ones:

þā (then, when)

As an adverb, þā means then:

Þā fōr sēo cwēne tō Rōme.
(Then the queen went to Rome).

As a subordinate conjunction, þā means when:

Þā sēo cwēne fōr tō Rōme, iċ wæs æt hāme.
(When the queen went to Rome, I was at home.)

Very frequently, when þā is used as a subordinate conjunction, the main clause begins with the adverb þā, to make a "when...then" construction.

Þā sēo cwēne fōr tō Rōme, þā wæs iċ æt hāme.
(When the queen went to Rome, then I was at home.)

Very very frequently, the subordinate conjunction is doubled, like so:

Þā þā sēo cwēne fōr tō Rōme, þā wæs iċ æt hāme.

Note the syntax: in the subordinate clause, the subject comes before the verb. In the main clause, the verb comes before the subject.

þonne (then, when)

þonne works exactly like þā.

Adverb:
Þonne cōm se biscop tō  Lundene.
(Then the bishop came to London.)

Subordinate conjunction with adverb:
Þonne iċ eom glæd, þonne singe iċ.
(When I am glad, then I sing.)

Þonne is much less frequently doubled than þā.

þǣr (there, where)

þǣr works exactly like þā and þonne.

Adverb:
Iċ lifie þǣr.
(I live there.)

Subordinate conjunction with adverb:

Þǣr iċ lifie, þǣr bēoþ  gigantas.
(Where I live, there are giants.)

Doubled:
Þǣr þǣr iċ lifie, þǣr bēoþ  gigantas.

swā (thus, so, in this way)

Adverb:
Swā God fremede þā weorolde.
(Thus God made the world.)

Subordinate conjunction with adverb:
Swā God fremede þā weorolde, swā  fremede se smið fela nægla.
(Just as God made the world, so the smith made many nails.) 

Doubled:
Swā swā God fremede þā weorolde, swā  fremede se smið fela nægla.