Adjective Clauses
An adjective clause is used to describe
a noun:
The car, which was red, belonged to Young-Hee.
A relative pronoun is usually used to introduce
an adjective clause:
Young-Hee, who is a Korean student, lives in
Victoria.
The main relative
pronouns are:
|
Pronoun
|
Use
|
Example
|
|
Who
|
used for humans in subject position
|
Hans, who is an architect, lives in Berlin.
|
|
Whom
|
used for humans in object position
|
Marike, whom Hans knows well, is an interior decorator.
|
|
Which
|
used for things and animals in subject or object
position
|
Marike has a dog which follows her everywhere.
|
|
That
|
used for humans, animals and things, in subject
or object position (but see below)
|
Marike is decorating a house that Hans designed.
|
There are two main
kinds of adjective clause:
1. Non-defining clauses
Non-defining clauses give extra information
about the noun, but they are not essential:
The desk in the corner, which is covered in books,
is mine.
Explanation: We don't need this information
in order to understand the sentence. “The desk in the corner is mine” is a good
sentence on its own — we still know which desk is referred to. Note that
non-defining clauses are usually separated by commas, and “that” is not
usually used in this kind of context.
2. Defining clauses
Defining clauses give essential information
about the noun:
The package that arrived this morning is on the
desk.
Explanation: We need this
information in order to understand the sentence. Without the relative clause,
we don't know which package is being referred to. Note that “that” is
often used in defining relative clauses, and they are not separated by commas.
Examples of Adjective Clauses
Adjectives modify nouns and pronouns, giving
a description or more information. An adjective
clause is simply a group of words with a subject and
a verb that provide a description. The clause starts with a pronoun such as
who, whom, that, or which or an adverb such as when, where and why.
Adjective Clauses In Action
Adjective clauses do not change the basic
meaning of the sentence. In some cases, when they provide more information into
a sentence, they need to be set off with commas.
Here are several examples of sentences with the
adjective clauses underlined:
- Pizza,which most people love, is not very healthy.
- The peoplewhose names are on the listwill go to camp.
- Grandpa remembers the old dayswhen there was no television.
- Fruitthat is grown organicallyis expensive.
- Studentswho are intelligentget good grades.
- Eco-friendly carsthat run on electricitysave gas.
- I know someonewhose father served in World War II.
- Making noise when he eats is the main reasonwhy Sue does not like to eat with her brother.
- The kidswho were called firstwill have the best chance of getting a seat.
- Running a marathon,a race of twenty-six miles, takes a lot of training.
- I enjoy telling people about Janet Evanovichwhose latest book was fantastic.
- The peoplewaiting all night outside the Apple storeare trying to purchase a new iPhone.
- "Hewho can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in aweis as good as dead." - Albert Einstein
- “Thosewho do not complainare never pitied.” - Jane Austen
- “People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thoughtwhich they avoid.” - Søren Kierkegaard
- “Never go to a doctorwhose office plants have died.” - Erma Bombeck
Combine
the two sentences to make one, using an adjective clause.
For example, "I met Mary in the hall. She is a tour guide." becomes
"I met Mary, who is a tour guide, in the hall."
- The man was sick. He looked very pale.
…………………………………………………
- He was sitting in the emergency room. It was very crowded.
…………………………………………………
- A nurse was nearby. He called to her.
…………………………………………………
- The nurse called a doctor. He came quickly.
…………………………………………………
- The doctor asked him to lie down. She looked very worried.
…………………………………………………
- She gave the man an injection. It made him go to sleep.
…………………………………………………
7. The Olympic snowboarding event was exciting. Many people watched it on TV.
…………………………………………………
8. It was the first time snowboarding had been included in the Olympics.
Snowboarding is a new sport.
…………………………………………………
9. The competition was very exciting. A Canadian won it.
…………………………………………………
10. The winner,
Ross Rebagliati, lives in Whistler, BC. Many young snowboarders admire him.
…………………………………………………
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