5. Earth: Adding circumstances

Your task is to add a circumstance to each short clause.
A circumstance is a group of words (often a prepositional phrase) that tells us
where, when, or how the process happens.

Write a prepositional phrase for the type of circumstance shown in brackets for each clause.

5.1. Example

Clause: Lava cools (time)
With circumstance: Lava cools after an eruption.

Adding circumstances

Rewrite each short clause by adding a circumstance.
Keep the meaning the same.
The first one has been done for you.
process + circumstance

Simple clause (noun + verb)

With added circumstance

Lava cools.

Lava cools (time) ___________ an eruption.

Magma rises.

Magma rises (place) ___________ the upper mantle.

Rock melts.

Rock melts (place) _____________ Earth’s crust.

Crust sinks.

Crust sinks (place) _______________ the mantle.

Plates diverge.

Plates diverge (place) _________________ mid-ocean ridges.

Plates converge.

Plates converge (place) _________________ subduction zones.

Volcanic gases escape.

Volcanic gases escape (place) ________________ the atmosphere.

Seismic waves travel.

Seismic waves travel (place) ________________ the crust.

Volcanoes erupt.

Volcanoes erupt (time) ____________________ major seismic events.
Reveal Answer Key
Process + Circumstance

Simple clause

With added circumstance

Lava cools.

Lava cools after an eruption.

Magma rises.

Magma rises through the upper mantle.

Rock melts.

Rock melts beneath Earth’s crust.

Crust sinks.

Crust sinks into the mantle.

Plates diverge.

Plates diverge at mid-ocean ridges.

Plates converge.

Plates converge at subduction zones.

Volcanic gases escape.

Volcanic gases escape into the atmosphere.

Seismic waves travel.

Seismic waves travel through the crust.

Volcanoes erupt.

Volcanoes erupt during major seismic events.