TOPIC 8

ADJECTIVAL PHRASES + CLAUSES

1. Adjectival Phrases

An adjectival phrase is used to describe

(a) the subject of a sentence:

The man in the blue shirt is my

father.

(b) the object of a sentence:

The rich man lives in a bungalow with a big swimming

pool.

2. Adjectival Clauses

An adjectival clause tells us more about the noun, pronoun or noun phrase in the
sentence.

(a) ‘Which’ and ‘that’ are two relative pronouns used to introduce adjectival
clauses:

These are the stamps that he gave me.

I saw an eel which was about two metres long.

The car which is parked outside his house belongs to his

brother.

(b) "Who’, ‘whom’, ‘whose’, ‘when’, ‘where’ and ‘why’ are also used to
introduce adjectival

clauses:
The boy who caught the thief is my classmate.

The girl whom we met just now is the Head Prefect of my

school.

The policeman is talking to the man whose son has been

kidnapped.

I can still remember the day when I first met you.

He showed me the place where he had found the cat.

I know the reason why you were late for school this morning.

(c) The relative pronoun may be left out of the clause. This is called a contact
clause:

The man (whom) I spoke to just now is my

uncle.

The book (which) you gave me is very

interesting.

She is the prettiest girl (that) I have ever

seen.

(A) Rewrite these sentences using the adjectival phrases in the brackets.

1. The girl is waving to us. (in the red dress)

_____________________________________________________________________________________

2. The policeman questioned the man. (with the moustache)

_____________________________________________________________________________________

3. She was wearing a dress. (with long sleeves)

_____________________________________________________________________________________

4. The book is mine. (with the torn cover)

_____________________________________________________________________________________

5. The man is following us. (in the dark suit)

_____________________________________________________________________________________

6. The big house belongs to a millionaire. (at the end of this road)

_____________________________________________________________________________________

7. The teapot can’t be used any longer. (with the broken handle)

_____________________________________________________________________________________

8. The gentleman is a doctor. (with the black tie)

_____________________________________________________________________________________

9. The lady is her mother. (beside her)

_____________________________________________________________________________________

10. The painting is very beautiful. (on the wall)

_____________________________________________________________________________________

(B) Join each pair of sentences using ‘which’, ‘that’, ‘who’, ‘whom’, ‘whose’,
‘when’, ‘where’

or ‘why’. Leave out the words in italic.

1. The little girl is crying. Her doll was broken.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

2. We know the reason. He went home early today.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

3. That is the cat. It stole the fish and ate it.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

4. Show me the place. The accident occurred there.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

5. This is the most delicious cake. I have eaten.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

6. Majid told us the reason. We should not disturb his father.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

7. Please tell us the time. The concert will start then.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

8. She has a brother. He is studying overseas.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

9. Where is the book? I left it on the table.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

10. My sister is working for Dr Abdullah. You met her at the party.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

(C) Join each pair of sentences without using any relative pronouns. Leave out any
unnecessary

words.

1. The boy is in hospital. The dog bit him.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

2. The boat capsized in a storm. He was sailing it.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

3. Rashid took the spade. My father kept in his tool-shed.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

4. Do you know the name of the street? We passed by it yesterday.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

5. Mr John decided to buy the car. His whole family liked it.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

6. The little boy is crying. You scolded him just now.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
7. His brother is the one. They are searching for him.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

8. The man is my father. You talked to him.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

9. The nurses are very polite. They are from the General Hospital.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

10. The wild boar is very fierce. The hunters trapped it in the jungle.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

(D) For each question, choose the best answer from the options A to D.

1. This is the book

_____________________________________________________________________

(A) that I bought yesterday. (C) who I bought yesterday.

(B) when I bought yesterday. (D) why I bought yesterday.

2. The man _____________________________________ has been caught by the police.

(A) which robbed you (C) that robbed you

(B) whose robbed you (D) who robbed you

3. Encik Halim, _________________________________________, has invited us to dinner.

(A) that you met at my house (C) which you met at my house

(B) whom you met at my house (D) where you met at my house

4. Can you remember the day

____________________________________________________________?

(A) where you first came here (C) when you first came here

(B) that you first came here (D) which you first came here
5. That was the boy
_____________________________________________________________________

(A) which I was telling you about (C) why I was telling you about

(B) when I was telling you about (D) I was telling you about

6. Did she tell you the reason

____________________________________________________________

(A) that she did not come yesterday (C) when she did not come yesterday

(B) which she did not come yesterday (D) why she did not come yesterday

7. I showed them the place

______________________________________________________________

(A) where my grandparents lived (C) when my grandparents lived

(B) which my grandparents lived (D) that my grandparents lived

8. That is the girl

______________________________________________________________________

(A) which mother is sick (C) whose mother is sick

(B) that mother is sick (D) who mother is sick

9. He is the kindest man

________________________________________________________________

(A) that I have ever met (C) whose I have ever met

(B) which I have ever met (D) I have ever met

10. Those are the books

__________________________________________________________________

(A) who he sent me (C) whom he sent me

(B) that he sent me (D) whose he sent me