Engl 111

Adjective clauses

Adjective clauses are sometimes called relative clauses and are used to modify a noun or a pronoun
which they describe. They are dependent clauses. Dependent clauses start with a relative pronoun: that,
which, who, whom and others (though whom has fallen out of everyday use and often sounds overly
formal when used). The correct relative pronoun depends on what noun the relative clause describes.

Comma Rules for Adjective Clauses:

 Don't use commas if the information is necessary; i.e., it is required to identify its noun. It tells
which one of the noun you are writing about. A necessary or essential adjective clause is
necessary to the meaning of the sentence.(NI)
 The boy who broke the window is at the door.
(The underlined part of the sentence is an essential adjective clause. It describes The boy. More
importantly though, it identifies the boy. It is not just additional information. It is essential for
understanding.)

 Use commas if your clause is non-essential; i.e., if the added information is extra. (EI)
 Simon Baxter, who is a deep-sea fisherman, is training to be a lion tamer.
(The underlined part of the sentence is a non-essential clause. It describes Simon Baxter, but it
does not identify him. It's just additional information about him. You could have put brackets
around this text or even deleted it.)

***** The relative pronoun that always begins an essential clause. (Don’t use comma with “that”)

Remember the basic rules: no name (we need the adjective clause) = no comma
AND if the noun is the only one = commas

 The student who got 100% on the test was happy. (no name we need the adj. clause = no
commas)

 Chelsea, who got 100% on the test was happy. (name – we know who = commas)

Practice 1: For each sentence below, underline the adjective clause. Draw an arrow to the clause the
clause modifies. Write NI if the clause gives necessary information. Write EI if the clause gives extra
information. Add commas if necessary. When you're done, check your answers at the bottom of the last
page.

1. ______ Mr. Harrison who came to our house for Thanksgiving is a friend of my parents.
2. ______ We stayed at a castle where a ghost is said to still appear.
3. ______ On her website are Tracy's newest photographs which she took in northern Spain.
4. ______ My uncle Charlie who is recovering from the flu will not be at the reunion.
5. ______ Those are the cookies that I made for the bake sale.

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Complex Sentences with Adjective Clauses
A complex sentence is a sentence that combines one independent clause with at least one dependent
clause. ... An independent clause forms a complete thought. A dependent clause, also called a
subordinating clause, does not form a complete thought and is dependent upon an independent clause for
meaning.

Important points about adjective clauses:

1. Place the adjective clause after the noun it modifies and as close to it as possible.
 The box contained the birthday present. The box fell off the table.
o The box that fell off the table contained the birthday present.
(“that fell off the table” modifies The box)

o The box contained the birthday present that fell off the table.
(“that fell off the table” modifies the birthday present)

2. When a relative pronoun is the subject of the adjective clause, make the verb in the clause
agree with the noun it modifies.

o Mary , who works night and day, is an excellent lawyer.

S V

( “who” modifies Mary. Mary is singular subject. The verb in the adjective clause will be
singular)

o Students who work hard excel the course.

S V

( “who” modifies Students. Students are plural. The verb in the adjective clause will also be
plural.)

3. Do not use double pronoun.

The police said the accident that it happened last night was unavoidable.
(The relative pronoun “that” is the subject of the clause. Do not double the pronoun.)

4. Choose appropriate relative pronoun.

Pronoun Use Example
This student who comes from Japan is a
Who used for humans in the subject position
very nice person.
Marie, whom Hans knows well, is an
Whom used for humans in the object position
interior decorator.
used for things and animals in the subject or Marie has a dog which follows her
Which
object position everywhere.
The highway that George travels on every
used for humans(informal language), animals
That day is usually very crowded during rush
and things, in the subject or object position
hour.

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Practice 2: Correct the sentences. (Use commas if needed.) When you're done, check your answers at
the bottom of the last page.

6. Anyone will go away happier and wiser who read all of this.
_________________________________________________________________________________
7. Pizza is not very healthy which most people love it.
_________________________________________________________________________________
8. Students get good grades who is intelligent.
_________________________________________________________________________________
9. The lady who she lent me her phone had an accident.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Practice 3: Choose the correct relative pronoun. Use formal language. [who/ that/ which] When
you're done, check your answers at the bottom of the last page.

10. The doctor ___________ treated me was wearing a turban.

11. He bought all the tools __________ are required to fix his old car.
12. Give me the plate ____________ is on the table.

Subject Pronouns: Who, Which, and That

who people Extra and necessary information

which animals and things Extra and necessary information
that People (informal) animals and things; Necessary information only

S V
 I have a friend. She lives in New England.

S V
o I have a friend who lives in New England.
Here the relative pronoun ‘who’ is the subject of the clause ‘who lives in New England’. It also connects
the two clauses.
Comma Rule:
 Extra information : with comma
 Necessary information : without comma

Practice 4: Combine each of the following pairs of sentences using appropriate relative pronouns.
Use formal language. Add commas if needed. When you're done, check your answers at the bottom of
the last page.

13. My father hardly received any formal education. He went on to become a great leader.
_________________________________________________________________________________

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14. The car dashed against a tree. It was going at over 100 mph.
_________________________________________________________________________________
15. Bring me the file. The file is on the table.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Object Pronoun : Whom, Which, That, O(no pronoun)

Whom. who(informal) people Extra and necessary information

which animals and things Extra and necessary information
that People (informal) animals and things; Necessary information only
O People and things Necessary information only

 An object pronoun is placed at the beginning of the adjective clause, before the subject of the second
sentence .
describes

The man is a writer. We met him at the theatre yesterday.

S V O

The man whom we met at the theatre is a writer.

O S

Practice 5: Practice 4: Combine each of the following pairs of sentences using appropriate relative
pronouns. Use formal language. Add commas if needed. When you're done, check your answers at the
bottom of the last page.

16. He is a cheerful boy. Everybody loves him.

_________________________________________________________________________________
17. The parcel reached me this morning. My brother sent it.
_________________________________________________________________________________
18. The doctor wrote the prescription. The patient asked for the prescription.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Relative adverbs : When and Where

When: Extra and necessary information Time

Where: Extra and necessary information Place

Use where in relative clauses to modify a noun referring to a place.

Use when in relative clauses to modify a noun referring to a time.

*** When and where replaces the prepositional phrase in sentence.

*** When can replace then.

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***Where can replace there.

Prep. Phrase
 This is a swimming pool. I used to swim (in the pool).

This is the pool where I used to swim.

Prep. Phrase
 The coffeehouse is in my neighborhood. He got a job (in a coffeehouse).

The coffeehouse where he got a job is in my neighborhood.

 Six o'clock was the time. We were supposed to be there then.

Six o'clock was the time when we were supposed to be there.

Answer key:
1) EI 2) NI 3) EI 4) EI 5) NI
6. Anyone who reads all of this will go away happier and wiser.
7. Pizza, which most people love, is not very healthy.
8 Students who are intelligent get good grades.
9.The lady who lent me her phone had an accident.
10. who.
11. which/that
12. which/that
13. My father, who hardly received any formal education, went on to become a great leader.
14. The car which was going at over 100 mph dashed against a tree.
15. Bring me the file which is on the table.
16. He is a cheerful boy whom everybody loves.
17. The parcel which my brother sent reached me this morning.
18. The doctor wrote the prescription that the patient asked for.

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