An Introduction

 Adjective clauses are dependent clauses. They have a subject and a verb and they modify nouns.  The man who is sitting next to me is my father.  The book which you gave me is interesting.  Please hand me the book that is on the table.

 They begin with a relative pronoun such as:  Who - people  Which - things  That – people & things  Whom – people (object)  When - time  Where - place  Whose - possession

 The teacher is kind and helpful.  She teaches math 5A. ◦ The teacher who is kind and helpful teaches math 5A. ◦ The teacher who teaches math 5A is kind and helpful. ◦ The teacher is kind and helpful who teaches math 5A.

 The teacher was Prof. Curtis.  I saw the teacher at Target. ◦ The teacher who(m) I saw at Target was Prof. Curtis. ◦ The teacher that I saw at Target was Prof. Curtis. ◦ The teacher I saw at Target was Prof. Curtis.

 The movie was good.  We went to the movie last night. ◦ The movie to which we went last night was good. ◦ The movie which we went to last night was good. ◦ The movie that we went to last night was good. ◦ The movie we went to last night was good.

 This is the book.  I told you about the book. ◦ This is the book about which I told you. ◦ This is the book which I told you about. ◦ This is the book that I told you about. ◦ This is the book I told you about.

 I know the woman.  The woman’s car was stolen. ◦ I know the woman whose car was stolen.

 The house is very old.  Prof. Curtis live there in that house. ◦ The house in which Prof. Curtis lives is very old. ◦ The house which Prof. Curtis lives in is very old. ◦ The house that Prof. Curtis lives in is very old. ◦ The house Prof. Curtis lives in is very old. ◦ The house where Prof. Curtis lives is very old.

 I’ll never forget the day.  I graduated from PCC on that day. ◦ I’ll never forget the day on which I graduated from PCC. ◦ I’ll never forget the day that I graduated from PCC. ◦ I’ll never forget the day I graduated from PCC. ◦ I’ll never forget the day when I graduated from PCC.

 Use a comma if the noun is a specific noun. This means that the reader knows who or what you are referring to and the clause adds extra information.  Prof. Curtis, who teaches our ESL class, is very tall.  PCC, which is located in Pasadena, is an excellent community college.

 DO NOT use a comma if the noun is a general noun. This means that the reader does not know who or what you are referring to and the clause give necessary information.  The man who is wearing the blue shirt is very handsome.  The students who are taking 33A with Prof. Curtis are studying adjective clauses.

1. The paintings that are marked with the red dot have already been sold. 2. The paintings which marked with the red dot have already been sold.

1. Dr. Jones is the professor who I told you about. 2. Dr. Jones is the professor I told you about. 3. Dr. Jones is the professor that I told you about. 4. Dr. Jones is the professor about whom I told you.

1. The restaurant Bob recommended were too expensive. 2. The restaurant was too expensive Bob recommended it. 3. The restaurant Bob recommended was too expensive.

1. Who 2. Which 3. That 4. None of the above Mr. Green is the man about _____ I was talking.

1. that 2. nothing 3. which 4. All of the above Tell us about the movie ____ you saw last night.

The people about _____ the reporter wrote were Chinese immigrants. 1. Who 2. Whom 3. Which 4. That 5. Nothing

The hat ____ Tom is wearing is unusual. 1. Who 2. Which 3. That 4. Nothing 5. 1 & & & & 3 & 4

The bat is the only mammal ____ can fly. 1. Who 2. Which 3. That 4. Nothing 5. 1 & & & & 4

The problem of hunger, ____ can be found around the world, needs to be solved. 1. Who 2. Which 3. That 4. Nothing 5. All of the above

1. Whose 2. Who 3. That 4. Which

1. Who 2. Whom 3. To whom 4. To who

1. Which 2. Where 3. Whom 4. That

1. He 2. Who 3. For which 4. That

1. To Whom 2. Who 3. To who 4. Who to

1. Nothing 2. Which 3. That 4. Who

1. Both of which 2. Both which 3. Of which 4. Both of whom

1. Which 2. Of which 3. Whose 4. That

1. Which 2. Where 3. When 4. Whose

1. Who 2. That 3. Which 4. Nothing