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Topic: Adjective Clauses

Adjective clause? Santa Claus? Aren’t they the same?

Well.  Um.  No, they aren’t the same.  Let’s begin with Santa Claus.  He’s the chubby old man that lives at the North Pole.  Now, let’s talk about adjective clauses. 

Adjective clauses are adjectives.  However, they look like sentences because they have verbs and nouns.  Take a look at the following sentences with adjectives.  

All of the words in red are adjectives.  They are describing the nouns (the words in blue).

Here are some more examples:  

Notice that these adjectives have verbs (recommended, taught, and ride).  In fact, these adjectives look like small sentences!  In some languages, this grammar is correct.   In English, however, the above 3 sentences are INCORRECT!  The problem is that when the adjective has a verb (and looks like a small sentence), it canNOT be before the noun.  When the adjective has a verb (like the above examples), they are placed AFTER the noun.  In addition, these types of adjectives are called adjective clauses. 

As we said above, adjective clauses are adjectives, but they look like sentences because they have verbs and nouns. Because they look like sentences, put the adjective clause after the noun.  Like these:

THERE IS STILL A PROBLEM.  When you use adjective clauses, you often need a word that connects the noun with the adjective clause.  The word acts like glue and keeps the noun and the adjective clause together.  This word is called the relative pronoun.  For our purposes, let’s call it the RP (relative pronoun).

So, here are the rules:

Using these rules, we get:  

Who, which, and that are just three RPs.  There are more  RPs (whom, whose), but they will be discussed in a later lesson. 

Sometimes, you don’t need the RP.  A good rule to remember:  If the word after the RP is a verb, you must have the RP there.  If the word after the RP is not a verb, you probably don’t need it. 

Example:  

      I just bought the book that you recommended. 

The word after the RP is you.  You is not a verb.  Therefore, the following sentence is also correct.

      I just bought the book you recommended. 

When the noun is a proper name (and begins with a capital letter), do NOT use that.   

Some adjective clauses are necessary in the sentence; some adjective clauses are not necessary, but they are used just to give extra information.   When the adjective clause is NOT necessary, use commas.  When the adjective clause IS necessary, don’t use commas.   

Example:

      Wine that is made in southern Italy is  very expensive.

Here, the adjective clause (that is made in southern Italy)  is necessary because if you take it out, the meaning of the sentence completely changes.  Take a look:

      Wine is  very expensive.

You can see that the first sentence is specifically saying that wine from southern Italy is expensive.  However, when you take out the adjective clause, the meaning becomes ALL wine is expensive.  The meaning of these two sentences is very different.  The difference is completely dependent on the adjective clause.  Therefore, the adjective clause is NECESSARY.  As a result, do not use commas.

In addition, when the adjective clause is not necessary at all (it just adds extra information), that is usually not used.  

Lastly, do not include the noun or use a pronoun that refers to the noun you are describing.  

Example:

     The concert was loud.  I went to it.

The noun being described is concert.  It refers to concert.  Therefore, it is not used in the adjective clause (I went to). 

Quiz Time

Directions: Put the two sentences together to create one sentence by making an adjective clause.  Note: There may be more than one answer.   

1. I love movies.  Movies are exciting.  

2. Do you have a dog?  The dog is large with white fur.

3. She is the lady.  The lady helped me find the magazine I was looking for.

4. Mount Everest is very dangerous to climb.  Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.

5. Cars are very efficient.  The cars run on electricity.

6. Dr. Jones writes books.  Dr. Jones is a retired university professor.

7. This is the ring.  My mother gave me the ring for my wedding.

8. New York's Long Island has a booming real estate market.  Long Island is shaped like a fish.

9.  The manager is from Brazil.  She is in my office.

10. The music is rock and roll.  I listen to the music.

Adjective clauses are adjectives.  However, they look like sentences because they have verbs and nouns.  Adjective clauses are placed AFTER the noun they are describing.

Example:

           The music that I listen to is rock and roll.

When you use adjective clauses, you often need a word that connects the noun with the adjective clause.  The word acts like glue and keeps the noun and the adjective clause together.  This word is called the relative pronoun.  

When the noun is a person, use that or who.  

When the noun is a thing, use that or which.

Example:

           Cars which run on electricity are very efficient.

Sometimes, you don’t need the RP.  A good rule to remember:  If the word after the RP is a verb, you must have the RP there.  If the word after the RP is not a verb, you probably don’t need it. 

Example:  

      I just bought the book that you recommended. 

The word after the RP is you.  You is not a verb.  Therefore, the following sentence is also correct.

      I just bought the book you recommended.   

Example:  

      Mount Everest, which is the highest mountain in the world, is very dangerous to climb.

Example:  

      New York's Long Island, which is shaped like a fish, has a booming real estate market.

Example:

       The speech was too long.  My friend gave it.

       The speech which my friend gave was too long.      (no it.)