ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

I. DEFINITIONS
A. INDEPENDENT CLAUSE : A complete sentence containing a subject & verb
I thanked the woman that helped me.
(independent clause)

B. DEPENDENT CLAUSE : an INCOMPLETE sentence usually introduced by a

relative pronoun (who (m), which, that, whose) that must be connected to an
independent clause.
I thanked my mother, who helped me clean the house.
(dependent clause)

C. ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
a dependent clause that must be joined to an independent clause
modifies a noun. It describes, identifies, or gives further information about
a noun.
Begins with a relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, which, that)
Placed in a sentence right after the noun they describe.
RESTRICTIVE adjective clauses are those that are necessary to identify
the noun they modify:
1. use the relative pronoun THAT instead of who or which
2. do NOT use a comma to separate the adjective clause
NONRESTRICTIVE adjective clauses simply give additional
information about the noun they modify & must be separated from the rest
of the sentence by commas.
EXAMPLES : NONRESTRICTIVE ADJECTIVE CLAUSES

1.

My BMW, which I bought last year, needs a tune-up.

(adjective clause)

2.

I thanked my mother, who helped me clean the house.

(adjective clause)

3.

Professor Wilson, who teaches chemistry 101, is an excellent lecturer.

(adjective clause)

4.

Hawaii, which consists of eight principal islands, is a favorite vacation spot.

(adjective clause)

EXAMPLES: RESTRICTIVE ADJECTIVE CLAUSES

1. The woman that cleans my house is my aunt.

(adjective clause)

2. The car that I drive to work needs a tune-up.

(adjective clause)

3. Professor Wilson who teaches chemistry 101 is an excellent lecturer.

(adjective clause)
4. The box which I gave Maria contains an expensive gift.
(adjective clause)

II. Relative Pronouns SUBJECT of the Adjective Clause

A. RELATIVE PRONOUNS
WHO
=
WHICH
=
THAT
=

People
things
people & things

(nonrestrictive clauses only)

(nonrestrictive clauses only)
( restrictive clauses only)

B. Example :
I thanked my mother. She helped me clean the house
1. identify the common word in both sentences
( I thanked my mother. She helped me clean the house)
2. Since the 2nd sentence will become the adjective clause,
1) remove the common word from the 2nd sentence and
2) replace it with the correct relative pronoun.

Remember!! Youre replacing the subject of the sentence & its a person. Thus,
choose a relative pronoun that acts as a subject, is a person, & is compatible with
a nonrestrictive clause.
who
I thanked my mother. She helped me clean the house

main clause

adjective clause

3. The adjective clause immediately follows its antecedent

(the noun the relative pronoun modifies)

I thanked my mother. She helped me clean the house

(antecedent) (rel.Pro)

main clause

adjective clause

B. Example :
* The book Alien is on the table. It is mine.
1. identify the common word in both sentences
(The book Alien is mine. It is on the table)
2. Since the 2nd sentence will become the adjective clause,
1. remove the common word from the 2nd sentence and
2. replace it with the correct relative pronoun
Remember!!! Youre replacing the subject of the sentence & its a thing. Thus,
you must choose a relative pronoun that acts as a subject, is a thing, & is
compatible with a nonrestrictive clause.
which
The book Alien is mine. It is on the table.

main clause

adjective clause

3. The adjective clause immediately follows its antecedent.

(the noun the relative pronoun modifies)
The book Alien, which is on the table, is mine.
(antecedent)

(rel.pro)

The book Alien, which is on the table, is mine

adjective clause
main clause

III. Relative Pronoun OBJECT of the Adjective Clause

A. RELATIVE PRONOUNS
WHOM
WHICH
THAT

= people
= things
= people & things
= people & things

(nonrestrictive clauses only)

(nonrestrictive clauses only)
(restrictive clauses only)
(restrictive clauses only)

B. Example :
The man was friendly. I met him
1. identify the common word in both sentences
(The man was friendly. I met him)
2. Since the 2nd sentence will become the adjective clause,
1). remove the common word from the 2nd sentence and
2). Replace it with the correct relative pronoun
Remember!!! Youre replacing the object of the sentence & its a
person, so you must choose a relative pronoun that acts as an object, is
a person & is compatible with a restrictive clause

That,
The man was friendly. I met him

Main clause

adjective clause

3. The adjective clause immediately follows its antecedent

(the noun the relative pronoun modifies)
The man that, I met was friendly
(ant)
(rel.pro)

The man that I met was friendly

Main clause
Adjective clause
B. Example :
* The movie wasnt very good. We saw it last night
1. identify the common word in both sentences
(The movie wasnt very good. We saw it last night.)
2. Since the 2nd sentence will become the adjective clause,:
1). Remove the common word from the 2nd sentence and
2). Replace it with the correct relative pronoun.
Remember!! Youre replacing the object of the sentence & its a thing. Thus,
you must choose a relative pronoun that acts as an object, is a thing, & is
compatible with a restrictive clause.

That,
The movie wasnt very good. We saw it last night.

Main clause

adjective clause

3. The adjective clause immediately follows its antecedent.

( the noun the relative pronoun modifies)
The movie that we saw wasnt very good

(ant) (rel.pro)

The movie that we saw wasnt very good

Adjective clause

Main clause

IV. Relative Pronoun- POSSESSION

A. Relative Pronoun WHOSE
B. Example :
I know the man. His bicycle was stolen
1. identify the common word in both sentences
(I know the man. His bicycle was stolen)
2. Since the 2nd sentence will become the adjective clause,:
1). Remove the common word from the2nd sentence
2). Replace it with the correct relative pronoun
Remember !!! Youre replacing the possessive in the sentence so you must
choose a relative pronoun that denotes possession.
whose
I know the man. His bicycle was stolen

main clause

adjective clause

3. The adjective clause immediately follows its antecedent

(the noun the relative pronoun modifies)
I know the man whose bicycle was stolen
(ant)
(rel.pro)

I know the man whose bicycle was stolen

main clause

adjective clause

Quiz Time
Directions: Put the two sentences together to create one sentence by making an
adjective clause. Note: There may be more than one answer.
1. I love movies. Movies are exciting.
2. Do you have a dog? The dog is large with white fur.
3. She is the lady. The lady helped me find the magazine I was looking for.
4. Mount Everest is very dangerous to climb. Mount Everest is the highest mountain in
the world.
5. Cars are very efficient. The cars run on electricity.
6. Dr. Jones writes books. Dr. Jones is a retired university professor.
7. This is the ring. My mother gave me the ring for my wedding.
8. New York's Long Island has a booming real estate market. Long Island is shaped like
a fish.
9. The manager is from Brazil. She is in my office.
10. The music is rock and roll. I listen to the music.
ANSWER :
1. I love movies. Movies are exciting.
Answers: I love movies that are exciting.
I love movies which are exciting.
2. Do you have a dog? The dog is large with white fur.
Answers: Do you have a dog that is large with white fur?
Do you have a dog which is large with white fur?
3. She is the lady. The lady helped me find the magazine I was looking for.
Answers: She is the lady who helped me find the magazine I was looking for.
She is the lady that helped me find the magazine I was looking for.

4. Mount Everest is very dangerous to climb. Mount Everest is the highest mountain in
the world.
Answer: Mount Everest, which is the highest mountain in the world, is very dangerous to
climb.
5. Cars are very efficient. The cars run on electricity.
Answers: Cars which run on electricity are very efficient.
Cars that run on electricity are very efficient.
6. Dr. Jones writes books. Dr. Jones is a retired university professor.
Answer: Dr. Jones, who is a retired university professor, writes books.
7. This is the ring. My mother gave me the ring for my wedding.
Answers: This is the ring that my mother gave me for my wedding.
This is the ring which my mother gave me for my wedding.
This is the ring my mother gave me for my wedding.
8. New York's Long Island has a booming real estate market. Long Island is shaped like
a fish.
Answer: New York's Long Island, which is shaped like a fish, has a booming real estate
market.
9. The manager is from Brazil. She is in my office.
Answers: The manager who is in my office is from Brazil.
The manager that is in my office is from Brazil.
10. The music is rock and roll. I listen to the music.
Answers: The music that I listen to is rock and roll.
The music which I listen to is rock and roll.
The music I listen to is rock and roll.