Adjective Clause

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:

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:

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.
(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.)


Defining clauses: give essential information about the noun:
The package that arrived this morning is on the desk.
(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.)

Topic: Adjective Clauses

Adjective clauses are adjectives. However, they look like sentences because they have verbs and nouns. Take a look at the following sentences with adjectives.
I love my new watch.
George gave me a leather wallet.
Elvis Presley was a famous singer.
She just bought a blue car.

All of the words in red are adjectives. They are describing the nouns (the words in blue).
Here are some more examples:
I just bought the you recommended book.
Frank is the taught me how to cook chef.
Snowmobiles are you can ride on the snow cars.

Notice that these adjectives have verbs (recommended, taught, and ride). In fact, these adjectives look like small sentences! In some languages, this grammar is correct. In English, however, the above 3 sentences are INCORRECT! The problem is that when the adjective has a verb (and looks like a small sentence), it canNOT be before the noun. When the adjective has a verb (like the above examples), they are placed AFTER the noun. In addition, these types of adjectives are called adjective clauses.
As we said above, adjective clauses are adjectives, but they look like sentences because they have verbs and nouns. Because they look like sentences, put the adjective clause after the noun. Like these:
I just bought the book you recommended.
Frank is the chef taught me how to cook.
Snowmobiles are cars you can ride on the snow.

THERE IS STILL A PROBLEM. When you use adjective clauses, you often need a word that connects the noun with the adjective clause. The word acts like glue and keeps the noun and the adjective clause together. This word is called the relative pronoun. For our purposes, let’s call it the RP (relative pronoun).
So, here are the rules:
If the NOUN is a then the RP is
person >> who or that
thing >> which or that

Using these rules, we get:
I just bought the book which you recommended.
-OR-
I just bought the book that you recommended.
Frank is the chef who taught me how to cook.
-OR-
Frank is the chef that taught me how to cook.
Snowmobiles are cars which you can ride on the snow.
-OR-
Snowmobiles are cars that you can ride on the snow.

Who, which, and that are just three RPs. There are more RPs (whom, whose), but they will be discussed in a later lesson.
Sometimes, you don’t need the RP. A good rule to remember: If the word after the RP is a verb, you must have the RP there. If the word after the RP is not a verb, you probably don’t need it.
Example:
I just bought the book that you recommended.
The word after the RP is you. You is not a verb. Therefore, the following sentence is also correct.
I just bought the book you recommended.
When the noun is a proper name (and begins with a capital letter), do NOT use that.
CORRECT Winston Churchill, who was the prime minister of England, is considered one of the greatest leaders of the 20th Century.
INCORRECT Winston Churchill, that was the prime minister of England, is considered one of the greatest leaders of the 20th Century.

Some adjective clauses are necessary in the sentence; some adjective clauses are not necessary, but they are used just to give extra information. When the adjective clause is NOT necessary, use commas. When the adjective clause IS necessary, don’t use commas.
Example:
Wine that is made in southern Italy is very expensive.
Here, the adjective clause (that is made in southern Italy) is necessary because if you take it out, the meaning of the sentence completely changes. Take a look:
Wine is very expensive.
You can see that the first sentence is specifically saying that wine from southern Italy is expensive. However, when you take out the adjective clause, the meaning becomes ALL wine is expensive. The meaning of these two sentences is very different. The difference is completely dependent on the adjective clause. Therefore, the adjective clause is NECESSARY. As a result, do not use commas.
In addition, when the adjective clause is not necessary at all (it just adds extra information), that is usually not used.
CORRECT The president of the company, who is a Harvard graduate, plans on retiring at the end of the month.
INCORRECT The president of the company, that is a Harvard graduate, plans on retiring at the end of the month.

Lastly, do not include the noun or use a pronoun that refers to the noun you are describing.
Example:
The concert was loud. I went to it.
CORRECT The concert that I went to was loud.
INCORRECT The concert that I went to it was loud.
The noun being described is concert. It refers to concert. Therefore, it is not used in the adjective clause (I went to).
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.

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.


Rules to Remember!

1 Adjective clauses are adjectives. However, they look like sentences because they have verbs and nouns. Adjective clauses are placed AFTER the noun they are describing.
Example:
The music that I listen to is rock and roll.
2 When you use adjective clauses, you often need a word that connects the noun with the adjective clause. The word acts like glue and keeps the noun and the adjective clause together. This word is called the relative pronoun.
When the noun is a person, use that or who.
When the noun is a thing, use that or which.
Example:
Cars which run on electricity are very efficient.
3 Sometimes, you don’t need the RP. A good rule to remember: If the word after the RP is a verb, you must have the RP there. If the word after the RP is not a verb, you probably don’t need it.
Example:
I just bought the book that you recommended.
The word after the RP is you. You is not a verb. Therefore, the following sentence is also correct.
I just bought the book you recommended.
4 When the noun is a proper name (and begins with a capital letter), do NOT use that.
Example:
Mount Everest, which is the highest mountain in the world, is very dangerous to climb.
5 Some adjective clauses are necessary in the sentence; some adjective clauses are not necessary, but they are used just to give extra information. When the adjective clause is NOT necessary, use commas. When the adjective clause IS necessary, don’t use commas.
6 In addition, when the adjective clause is not necessary at all (it just adds extra information), that is usually not used.
Example:
New York's Long Island, which is shaped like a fish, has a booming real estate market.
7 Do not include the noun or use a pronoun that refers to the noun you are describing.
Example:
The speech was too long. My friend gave it.
The speech which my friend gave was too long. (no it.)

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.
Using Relative Pronouns
In each sentence, choose the correct relative pronoun to introduce the adjective clause.

1 The cougar is a member of the cat family ______ grows to around 8 feet in length.

who

which

whom

that

2 The cougar lives in deserts, forests, plains and mountains, but according to scientists ________ have studied the animal, it is becoming endangered in some areas.

who

which

whom

whose

3 The cougar has powerful legs, ________ it uses to climb and to jump into trees.

who

which

whom

whose

4 Cougars sometimes prey on sheep and goats, so they may be killed by the farmers ________ animals they attack.

who

which

whom

whose

5 However, cougars very rarely attack humans, of ________ they are usually afraid.

who

whom

which

that

Non-defining relative clauses
Click on the buttons until you find the correct answer




1 There is a hotel doctor on call,

who will provide emergency medical treatment.

where you can sweat out the dirt from the City.

where you can get your hair done.

where you can keep fit.

who will help you with your paperwork.

2 There is a team of highly qualified secretaries available,

where you can unwind over a few drinks.

where you can sweat out the dirt from the City.

where you can get your hair done.

where you can keep fit.

who will help you with your paperwork.

3 There is 24 hour room service,

where you can get seats for all the hit shows.

who provides a manicure service in your room.

which will take you to and from the airport

which provides an excellent selection of snacks and drinks.

where you can send and receive faxes.

4 There is a typical English pub,

where you can get seats for all the hit shows.

who provides a manicure service in your room.

which will take you to and from the airport

which provides an excellent selection of snacks and drinks.

where you can enjoy a pint of bitter.

5 There is a gymnasium in the basement,

where you can unwind over a few drinks.

where you can sweat out the dirt from the City.

where you can get your hair done.

where you can keep fit.

where you can buy goods at duty free prices.

6 There is a qualified chiropodist available,

where you can get seats for all the hit shows.

who provides a manicure service in your room.

where you can relax over a gourmet meal.

which will clean your clothes overnight.

where you can send and receive faxes.

7 We have a ticket reservation service,

where you can get seats for all the hit shows.

who will look after your small children whilst you go shopping.

where you can relax over a gourmet meal.

which will clean your clothes overnight.

where you can send and receive faxes.

8 There is a top class hairdressing salon on the ground floor,

where you can unwind over a few drinks.

where you can sweat out the dirt from the City.

where you can get your hair done.

which stays open until 4.00 a.m.

where you can buy goods at duty free prices.

9 There is a typical English fish and chip restaurant,

where you can have cod and chips.

who provides a manicure service in your room.

which will take you to and from the airport

which provides an excellent selection of snacks and drinks.

where you can enjoy a pint of bitter.

10 If you have a problem, contact the senior receptionist,

where you can have cod and chips.

who will deal with it as a top priority.

which will take you to and from the airport

which provides an excellent selection of snacks and drinks.

where you can enjoy a pint of bitter.

11 There is a fax machine at the front desk,

where you can unwind over a few drinks.

who will look after your small children whilst you go shopping.

where you can relax over a gourmet meal.

which will clean your clothes overnight.

where you can send and receive faxes.

12 There is a dry-cleaning service available,

where you can unwind over a few drinks.

who will look after your small children whilst you go shopping.

where you can relax over a gourmet meal.

which will clean your clothes overnight.

who will help you with your paperwork.

13 Be sure to speak to our tourist guide,

where you can have cod and chips.

who will deal with it as a top priority.

who will tell you about interesting places to visit.

which provides an excellent selection of snacks and drinks.

where you can enjoy a pint of bitter.

14 There is a sauna in the hotel,

where you can unwind over a few drinks.

where you can sweat out the dirt from the City.

who will tell you about interesting places to visit.

which stays open until 4.00 a.m.

where you can buy goods at duty free prices.

15 There is a night club in the hotel,

where you can unwind over a few drinks.

who will deal with it as a top priority.

who will tell you about interesting places to visit.

which stays open until 4.00 a.m.

where you can buy goods at duty free prices.

16 There is a five-star restaurant,

where you can unwind over a few drinks.

who will look after your small children whilst you go shopping.

where you can relax over a gourmet meal.

where you can keep fit.

who will help you with your paperwork.

17 There is a trained nursery nurse available,

where you can unwind over a few drinks.

who will look after your small children whilst you go shopping.

where you can get your hair done.

where you can keep fit.

who will help you with your paperwork.

18 There is a shuttle bus service,

where you can get seats for all the hit shows.

who provides a manicure service in your room.

which will take you to and from the airport.

which will clean your clothes overnight.

where you can send and receive faxes.

19 For a late drink, come to our night-club,

where you can have cod and chips.

who will deal with it as a top priority.

who will tell you about interesting places to visit.

which stays open until 4.00 a.m.

where you can enjoy a pint of bitter.

20 For that perfect gift, come to our gift shop,

where you can have cod and chips.

who will deal with it as a top priority.

who will tell you about interesting places to visit.

which stays open until 4.00 a.m.

where you can buy goods at duty free prices.