Adjective Clause

Briefing

At a certain point in your writing in English, you should be able to identify every sentence you write as simple, compound, or complex.  Two additional structures, adjective clauses and appositives, will give you a much greater sentence variety within which to accomplish your writing objectives.  This page contains a small amount of information about adjective clauses. First, we will define what adjective clauses are and how they work.

What Definition for An Adjective Clause?

An adjective clause is a dependent clause that modifies a noun.  It is possible to combine the following two sentences to form one sentence containing an adjective clause:   

An adjective clause usually begins with a relative pronoun (which, that, who, whom, whose), a relative adverb (where, when, why), or a zero relative.

Remember

A clause is a group of related words with a subject and verb.

Kinds of Adjective Clause

1.       Non-defining clauses

Non-defining clauses give extra information about the noun, but they are not essential, example:

The desk in the corner, which is covered in books, is mine.

Explanation: 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.

2.       Defining clauses

Defining clauses give essential information about the noun,example:

The package that arrived this morning is on the desk.

Explanation: We need this information (Underlined Senteces)
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.

Adjective Clause (Relative Clause)

1.       Adjective Clause Using Subject Pronouns: Who, Which, That

Adjective Clause / Relative Clause with Subject Pronouns: "Who", "Which", "That"

Without adjective clause / relative   clause	Using adjective clause / relative clause
I will introduce you to a friend. He runs a successful business	I will introduce you to a friend who runs a successful business
The book is about religion. It has raised controversy	The book which has raised controversy is about religion The book that has raised controversy is about religion

2.       Adjective Clause Using Object Pronouns: Who(m), Which, That
Adjective Clause / Relative Clause with Object Pronouns: "Who(m)", "Which", "That"

Without Adjective Clause/Relative Clause	Using Adjective Clause/Relative Clause
I will introduce you to a friend. You have never met him before.	·         I will introduce you to a friend (who(m)) you have never met before. ·         I will introduce you to a friend (that) you have never met before.
The book is about religion. I bought it in Gramedia bookstore last week.	·         The book (which) I bought in Gramedia bookstore last week is about religion. ·         The book (that) I bought in Gramedia bookstore last week is about religion.

3.       Adjective Clause Using Whose
Adjective Clause / Relative Clause with "Whose"

Without Adjective Clause/Relative Clause	Using Adjective Clause/Relative Clause
I will introduce you to a friend. His interest is learning English	I will introduce you to a friend whose interest is learning English
The old lady has a painting. Its value is inestimable.	The old lady has a painting whose value is inestimable.

4.       Adjective Clause Using Where
Adjective Clause / Relative Clause with "Where"

Without adjective clause / relative clause	Using adjective clause / relative clause
I will take you to the restaurant. I usually have lunch there (at the restaurant).	·         I will take you to the restaurant where I usually have lunch. ·         I will take you to the restaurant at which I usually have lunch. ·         I will take you to the restaurant (which) I usually have lunch at.
The old lady has sold the house. She has lived there (in the house) for more than twenty years.	·         The old lady has sold the house where she has lived for more than twenty years. ·         The old lady has sold the house in which she has lived for more than twenty years. ·         The old lady has sold the house (which) she has lived in for more than twenty years.

5.       Adjective Clause Using When
Adjective Clause / Relative Clause with "When"

Without adjective clause / relative clause	Using adjective clause / relative clause
We will never forget the day. My wife gave birth to my first son then (on that day).	·         We will never forget the day when my wife gave birth to my first son. ·         We will never forget the day on which my wife gave birth to my first son. ·         We will never forget the day (that) my wife gave birth to my first son.
August is the month. The weather gets very windy then (in August).	·         August is the month when the weather gets very windy. ·         August is the month in which the weather gets very windy. ·         August is the month (that) the weather gets very windy.

In conclusion:

Adjective Clauses use that; who; whom; and which to begin the clause:

·         Who used for humans in subject position

·         Whom used for humans in object position

·         Which used for things and animal in subject or object position

·         That used for humans, animal, and things, in subject or object position

·         When used for preposition (in, on, and at)

·         Where uses for place(s)

·         Whose is used to indicate ownership