Adjective Clause

Adjective Clause

   An adjective clause is a dependent clause that modifies a noun. It describes, identifier, or gives further information about noun (An adjective cluse is also called a relative clause). The adjective clause pronoun is placed as close as possible to the noun it modifies.

   An pronoun is often omitted from an adjective clause, subject pronoun, however may not be omitted.

   Example :

   1. Using Subject Pronoun :

       I thanked the woman. She helped me

       I thanked the woman who helped me

      (main clause) (adj clause : modifies the noun : women)

   2.Using Object Pronoun :

      The man was Mr. Jones. I saw him

      The man who(m) I saw was Mr. Jones

      (adj clause) : modifier the noun : Mr. Jones (him)

      The man I saw was Mr. Jones

      Using Whose :

      I know the man. His bicycle was stolen

      I know the man whose bicycle was stolen

      (adj clause): modifies the man (his)

      Mr John has a painting. Its value is inestimable

      Mr John has a painting whose value is inestimable

   3.Using Where :

      Where is used in an adjective clause to modify a place. If where is used, a preposition is not included in the       adjective clause. If where is not used, the preposition must be included.

      Example :

      The building is very old. He lives there (in that building)

      The building where he lives is very old

      The building in which he lives is very old

      The building, which he lives in, is very old

      The building that he lives is very old

      The building that he lives is very old

      The building he lives is very old

   4.Using When :

      Where used in an adjective clause to modify a noun of time (year, day, time, century, etc) A preposition is         used preceding which. Otherwise, the preposition is omitted.

      Example :

      I will never forget the day. I met you on that day

      I will never forget the day when I met you

      I will never forget the day that I met you

      I will never forget the day on which I met you

      I will never forget the day I met you

      - Adjective clauses can modify indefinite pronoun (someone, everybody). Object pronoun (whom, which)           are usually omitted in the adjective clause

        There is someone (whom) I want you to meet

        Everything he said was nonsense

       Anybody who wants to come is welcome

      - Adjective clauses can modify the one(s) and those

       She is the only one I knew at the party

       Scholarships are available for those who need financial assistance

     - Adjective clauses rarely modify personal pronouns

        It is I who am responsible

        He who laughs last laughs best

   5. Using which to modify a whole sentence :

       She was late. That surprised me

       She was late, which surprised me

       The elevator is out of order. This is too bad

       The elevator is out of order, which is too bad

- Reduction of Adjective Clauses to Adjective Phrases

  Only adjective clauses that have a subject pronoun: -who, which, or that – are reduced to modifying adjective   phrases.

  Example :

  Clause : The boy who is playing the piano is Ben

  Phrase : The boy playing the piano is Ben

  But

  Clause : The boy (whom) I saw was Ben

  Phrase : none