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.
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"
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"
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"
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"
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
