The Adjective Clause

Chapter 1

Introduction

The Adjective Clause

Recognize an adjective clause when you see one.

An adjective clause—also called an adjectival or relative clause—will meet three requirements:

·         First, it will contain a subject and verb.

·         Next, it will begin with a relative pronoun [who, whom, whose, that, or which] or a relative adverb [when, where, or why].

·         Finally, it will function as an adjective, answering the questions What kind? How many? or Which one?

The adjective clause will follow one of these two patterns:

relative pronoun or adverb + subject + verb

relative pronoun as subject + verb

Here are some examples:

Whose big, brown eyes pleaded for another cookie

Whose = relative pronoun; eyes = subject; pleaded = verb.

Why Fred cannot stand sitting across from his sister Melanie

Why = relative adverb; Fred = subject; can stand = verb [not, an adverb, is not officially part of the verb].

That bounced across the kitchen floor

That = relative pronoun functioning as subject; bounced = verb.

Who hiccupped for seven hours afterward

Who = relative pronoun functioning as subject; hiccupped = verb.

Avoid writing a sentence fragment.

An adjective clause does not express a complete thought, so it cannot stand alone as a sentence. To avoid writing a fragment, you must connect each adjective clause to a main clause. Read the examples below. Notice that the adjective clause follows the word that it describes.

Diane felt manipulated by her beagle Santana, whose big, brown eyes pleaded for another cookie.

Chewing with her mouth open is one reason why Fred cannot stand sitting across from his sister Melanie.

Growling ferociously, Oreo and Skeeter, Madison's two dogs, competed for the hardboiled egg that bounced across the kitchen floor.

Laughter erupted from Annamarie, who hiccupped for seven hours afterward.

Punctuate an adjective clause correctly.

Punctuating adjective clauses can be tricky. For each sentence, you will have to decide if the adjective clause is essential or nonessential and then use commas accordingly.

Essential clauses do not require commas. An adjective clause is essential when you need the information it provides. Look at this example:

The vegetables that people leave uneaten are often the most nutritious.

Vegetables is nonspecific. To know which ones we are talking about, we must have the information in the adjective clause. Thus, the adjective clause is essential and requires no commas.

If, however, we eliminate vegetables and choose a more specific noun instead, the adjective clause becomes nonessential and does require commas to separate it from the rest of the sentence. Read this revision:

Broccoli, which people often leave uneaten, is very nutritious.

Chapter  2

Contains

 THE ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

An adjective clause is a subordinate clause used to modify a noun or a pronoun in the main clause. It may be introduced by the pronouns who, whose, whom, which, or that (and sometimes when or where). These pronouns are called relative pronouns because they relate to a noun or a pronoun in the sentence. Occasionally, no relative pronoun is used, but it is implied or understood.

Is she the girl whom you met at the party? (whom relates to girl)

This is a book that I like. (that relates to book)

This is a book I like. (that is implied)

This is a house where Washington slept. (where relates to house)

Identifying Adjective Clauses. Underline the adjective clause in each of the following sentences. Circle the word it modifies.

Example: The book that he wrote has just been published.

1. Mike, whose ancestors came from Ireland, marched in the St. Patrick's Day parade.

2. The woman who lives next door is a registered nurse.

3. Williamsburg, Virginia, is a place that I'd like to visit.

4. Math, which is Dave's favorite subject, has always been easy for him.

5. There is the house that I'd like to buy.

6. Larry's letter, which he mailed Tuesday, reached me on Thursday.

7. Summer, which is my favorite season, will be here in another week.

8. Phil is reading The Call of the Wild, which is Jack London's most famous book.

9. We live just twenty miles from O'Hare Airport, which is the world's busiest airport.

10. Newton, Iowa, is the town where Barbara was born.

11. I'm taking golf lessons from Erika Lavery, who is a pro at the country club.

12. That dog that you found belongs to the Olsons.

13. Is that the jacket you want to buy?

14. There is a chance that Norm will win the election.

15. Is this the letter you were expecting?

16. Over there is the school that I attended.

17. Mr. Hartman is a history teacher who also coaches track.

18. Is that the antique show you visited?

19. The Harveys have a dog that is fourteen years old.

20. For dinner, we had chicken fried steak, which is my favorite dish.

1. Mike, whose ancestors came from Ireland, marched in the St. Patrick's Day parade.

2. The woman who lives next door is a registered nurse.

3. Williamsburg, Virginia, is a place that I'd like to visit . M:\9-TLC\TLC Web Design\Handouts Worksheets\Grammar.Punctuation.Writing\Clause-Adjective .doc

4. Math, which is Dave's favorite subject, has always been easy for him.

5. There is the house that I'd like to buy.

6. Larry's letter, which he mailed Tuesday, reached me on Thursday.

7. Summer, which is my favorite season, will be here in another week.

8. Phil is reading The Call of the Wild, which is Jack London's most famous book.

9. We live just twenty miles from O'Hare Airport, which is the world's busiest airport.

10. Newton, Iowa, is the town where Barbara was born.

11. I'm taking golf lessons from Erika Lavery, who is a pro at the country club.

12. That dog that you found belongs to the Olsons.

13. Is that the jacket you want to buy?

14. There is a chance that Norm will win the election.

15. Is this the letter you were expecting?

16. Over there is the school that I attended.

17. Mr. Hartman is a history teacher who also coaches track.

18. Is that the antique show you visited?

19. The Harveys have a dog that is fourteen years old.

20. For dinner, we had chicken fried steak, which is my favorite dish.

Chapter 3

Parts of a Sentence: The Adjective Clause

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A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. Some clauses are dependent: they can't stand alone and need an independent clause, or sentence, to support them.
These dependent clauses can be used in three ways: as adjectives, as adverbs and as nouns. This article focuses on adjective clauses.

What is an adjective clause?

An adjective clause is a dependent clause that acts as an adjective. That is, it modifies the noun or pronoun that comes before it:

Dr. Bondar, who went into space in 1992, was our first female astronaut.
(clause modifies noun Dr. Bondar)

Anyone who is afraid of doing too much will end up doing too little.
(clause modifies pronoun anyone)

What words are signs of an adjective clause?

Most adjective clauses start with the relative pronouns which, who and that:
Which is used for animals or things:

The spaniel barked at the squirrel, which ran up a tree for safety.

The squirrel dropped a large acorn, which landed on the spaniel's head.

Who is used for people (and occasionally for animals seen as persons):

Everyone who went on the cruise had a great time.

My cat Lulu, who loves catnip, will enjoy this catnip mouse.

Who can change its form to whom (when it's an object) or whose (to show ownership):

Sarah Jacobs, whom we met at the art show, is a well-known sculptor.

The man whose bike was stolen needs a ride home.

Note that we can avoid the awkward phrase of which by applying whose to animals or things:

The ferret whose leash broke is running in the park.
(not the leash of which broke)

Luke towed away the car whose battery had died.
(not the battery of which had died)

That can apply to people, animals or things:

The mayor congratulated the firefighter that won the award.

The dog that ate my socks has indigestion.

We enjoy the carnival that comes to town every summer.

Note that we sometimes omit that when it is the object of a verb or preposition:

The girl Jason took to the party is a close friend of Kristen's.
(= that Jason took to the party; that is object of verb took)

I can't find the envelope I put the cheque in.
(= that I put the cheque in; that is object of preposition in)

Are there any other words that can begin an adjective clause?

Yes, the relative adverbs when, where and why can start an adjective clause:

Noon is the hour when the sun is overhead.
(clause modifies noun hour)

The shop where we bought the camera was near the bridge.
(clause modifies noun shop)

I don't know the reason why Michel was late.
(clause modifies noun reason)

When does an adjective clause need commas?

The use of commas depends on whether the clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence.
Essential clauses don't take commas:

The woman who hosted the party is my cousin.

Here, the clause who hosted the party is essential because it identifies the woman. Without that clause, we would not know which woman the writer meant. Because the clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence and cannot be omitted, we don't set it apart with commas.
Non-essential clauses take commas:

Alana Bishop, who hosted the party, is my cousin.

The sentence Alana Bishop is my cousin would be clear by itself. The clause who hosted the party is just extra information that may be interesting but is not essential. Since the clause is merely giving secondary information that could be omitted, we set it off with commas.
Note that with essential clauses referring to animals or things, we normally use that, although which is also acceptable:

The books that (or which) I borrowed from the library are overdue.

However, with non-essential clauses, we must use which for animals or things and who for people:

Andy's parrot, which is a cockatiel, is called Kiki.

Please send a schedule to Mrs. Bashan, who has joined our aerobics class.