A Subordinate Clause YOU Should Get to Know! Adjective Clauses A Subordinate Clause YOU Should Get to Know!

Adjective Clauses Just as a single-word adjective modifies a noun or pronoun, clauses can modify nouns or pronouns. A clause that modifies a noun or pronoun is called an adjective clause. Adjective clauses are DEPENDENT CLAUSES

Both one-word adjectives and adjective clauses can be seen as basic sentences that have been worked into a main clause. 1. I looked into the audience. The audience was shocked. I looked into the shocked audience. 2. I looked into the shocked audience. The audience was filled with shocked, confused artists and producers. I looked into the audience which was filled with shocked and confused artists and producers.

. In Item 2, the sentence I looked into the shocked audience cannot become a one-word adjective; therefore, the sentence becomes an adjective or relative clause opened by the word which. I looked into the audience which was filled with shocked and confused artists and producers.

Adjective Clauses Nearly all of the adjectives clauses you read, write, or speak use who, whose, whom, which or that to tie the adjective clause to the noun it modifies. These words are not conjunctions. They are pronouns that have a connective or relating function; thus they are called relative pronouns.

It is helpful to think of an adjective clause as a simple sentence that is used within another sentence. The relative pronoun, by substituting for a noun, refers (“relates”) the clause directly to the word being modified. For Example: I looked into the sky which was filled with towering cumulus clouds. In this case, which takes the place of saying “the sky” once again or using “it”.

Because the relative pronoun (which) is the word signaling the subordination, it begins the adjective clause. (The only exception is when people use formal grammar and we’ll get to that in a minute.)

Consider the following sentences. Two Simple Sentences: A. This is a well-built truck. The truck will save you money. One Complex Sentence: B. This is a well-built truck that will save you money. [The clause modifies truck. That is the subject in the adjective clause.]

** Notice that the normal position of an adjective clause is immediately following the noun or the pronoun it modifies. A. This is the truck. The truck got me home. B. This is the truck that got me home.

A. Alice has a new boyfriend A. Alice has a new boyfriend. The new boyfriend [or He] sings in a rock group. B. Alice has a new boyfriend who sings in a rock group. [Who is the subject in the clause that modifies boyfriend.] A. Here is the book. I borrowed the book [or it] yesterday. B. Here is the book that I borrowed yesterday. [That is the direct object in the adjective clause.]

A. The audience watched Kanye talk again A. The audience watched Kanye talk again. The audience had known Kanye [or him] for years. B. The audience watched Kanye , whom the audience had known for years. [Whom is the direct object in the adjective clause.]

*This is an example of the exception!* A. May I introduce Jimmy Hart? I went to college with him. B. May I introduce Jimmy Hart, with whom I went to college? [The clause modifies Jimmy Hart.] *This is an example of the exception!* See how “with” comes before “whom”? That is because in formal grammar, a sentence may not end with a preposition. Consequently, we had to move the preposition. Evil Preposition

A. She is a young painter. I admire the young painter’s [or her] work. B. She is a young painter whose work I admire.

We also use the adverbs when and where as relative adverbs. We use them when the time or place in the sentence need to be described or modified.

A. Beth and I recalled the time A. Beth and I recalled the time. We considered ourselves rebels at that time. B. Beth and I recalled the time when we considered ourselves rebels. A. This is the spot. The explorers came ashore at this spot [or here]. B. This is the spot where the explorers came ashore.

Note: In certain adjective clauses, the relative word is unexpressed; the meaning is instantly clear without it: the food (that) we eat the house (that) he lived in the man (whom) you saw the time (when) you fell down …and so on.

When Do I Use Commas?! Restrictive Adjective Clauses When clause provides essential information The man whose money was found was happy. Non–Restrictive Adjective Clauses - When clause provides non-essential information - The man, who is a Scientologist, was hungry.

Restrictive or Not? People who cannot swim should not jump in the ocean. Dogs that have rabies are not good pets. The building which was built in 1876 was on fire. The 1800’s when piracy was at its peak were a dangerous time.

Summary of Adjective Clauses Function: to modify a noun or a pronoun Position: follows the noun or pronoun that it modifies Subordinating Words: a. relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that) b. relative adverbs (when, where)

Special Issues Summary, pt. 2 a. Sometimes when using formal grammar, instead of beginning with the relative word (who I went to the game with), adjective clauses begin with a preposition and then a relative (i.e. with whom I went to the game). Special Issues

Special Issues (continued) b. Sometimes the relative word is omitted/implied (ex.) The house (that) he lived in was haunted. when the sentence’s meaning is perfectly clear without it.

Any Questions?

Journal Combine these sentences into a single sentence containing an adjective clause. George Orwell is a novelist. He wrote the acclaimed dystopian novel 1984. We always go on vacation to Ocean City with our friends Leslie and Jack. They have five rowdy kids. Beck’s album Morning Phase is really good. It won the Grammy for Album of the Year last night.

1. 2. 3.