Adjective Clauses Adjective Clause Is a subordinatedependent clause

Adjective Clauses

Adjective Clause • Is a subordinate/dependent clause • Functions as an adjective • If you delete the adjective clause from a sentence, you will still have a full (though less informative) sentence.

Adjective Clause • The adjective clause is used to modify a noun or a pronoun. • It will begin with a relative pronoun (who, whose, whom, which, and that) or a subordinate conjunction (when, where, and since).

• The introductory word will always rename the word that it follows and modifies except when used with a preposition which will come between the introductory word and the word it renames.

There are essentially two types of adjective clauses—restrictive and unrestrictive clauses.

restrictive (or essential) adjective clause • offers essential information that is necessary to complete the sentence's thought. • An example of this is, ''The trophy that was presented to you is enormous. '‘ • Here, the adjective clause that was presented to you restricts the information to just that trophy.

unrestrictive (or nonessential) clause • simply offers more information about the noun it describes. • In the sentence, ''The trophy, which was made in Canada, was presented to you, '' the adjective clause which was made in Canada is nonessential to the sentence. • It just offers more information about the trophy.

Examples: • The student whose hand was up gave the wrong answer. • Whose hand was up is the adjective clause with whose, the relative pronoun, renaming and modifying student.

Examples • Jane is a person in whom I can place my confidence. • In whom I can place my confidence is the adjective clause with whom, the relative pronoun, with the preposition in between it and person, the word that whom renames and modifies.

Underline the adjective clause in the following sentences and highlight which word it modifies. • 1. The man whom you saw was not the famous actor. • 2. I remember the day when I took my first airplane ride. • 3. I have a neighbor whose parents live in Australia. • 4. The hint that I learned about cleaning the walk saved me much work.

Answers • 1. whom you saw modifies man • 2. when I took my first airplane ride modifies day • 3. whose parents live in Australia modifies neighbor • 4. that I learned about cleaning the walk modifies hint

Underline the adjective clause in the following sentences and highlight which word it modifies. • 1. The singer that you see on stage is my sister. • 2. The owner is a woman by whom many things have been accomplished. • 3. The teacher who gives the girls piano lessons lives next door. • 4. The man whose leg was broken was taken to the hospital.

Answers • 1. that you see on stage modifies singer • 2. by whom many things have been accomplished modifies woman • 3. who gives the girls piano lessons modifies teacher • 4. whose leg was broken modifies man