Adjective Clause

The Adjective Clause

Adjective clause or a relative clause is a dependent clause that functions as adjective and noun or pronoun describes the main clause of a complex sentence (the sentence which consists of independent clause and one or more of the dependent clause).

Position of the adjective clause always follow the noun or pronoun that come. In the sentence, the noun or pronoun that serves as a subject or object. Adjective clause begins with a word called the relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, which, that, etc) which serves to bridge the connections with a pronoun or noun come.

·         The Formula Of Adjective Clause :

Complex Sentence:

Independent Clause + Adjective Clause

Adjective Clause:

Relative Pronoun + S + V

·         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 questionsWhat 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.

Adjective Clauses In Action

Adjective clauses do not change the basic meaning of the sentence. In some cases, when they provide more information into a sentence, they need to be set off with commas.

Here are several examples of sentences with the adjective clauses underlined:

·         Pizza,which most people love, is not very healthy.

·         The peoplewhose names are on the listwill go to camp.

·         Grandpa remembers the old dayswhen there was no television. 

·         Fruitthat is grown organicallyis expensive.

·         Studentswho are intelligentget good grades.

·         Eco-friendly carsthat run on electricitysave gas.

 

Turning Adjective Clauses into Phrases

An adjective clause with a subject pronoun - such as which, that or who - can also be shortened into a phrase.

You can shorten an adjective clause in two ways:

1.    Omit the subject pronoun and verb.

2.    Omit the subject pronoun and change the verb to the form ending in "ing."

Here are some examples of how to create an adjective phrase:

·         Adjective Clause: The books, which are lost, are not really necessary.

·         Adjective Phrase: The books lost are not really necessary.

·         Adjective Clause: The girl who is running is my best friend.

·         Adjective Phrase: The girl running is my best friend.

·         Adjective Clause: Something that smells bad may be rotten.

·         Adjective Phrase: Something smelling bad may be rotten.

Remember, the goal of an adjective clause is to add more information to a noun or a pronoun. You can add the information by including a few more words or by changing the adjective clause to a phrase.