Adjective Clauses
Spring 2015
Holly Cin

Adjective Clauses
(also known as Relative Clauses)
Adjective clauses are dependent clauses. They depend
on the nouns which they modify. That noun is called the
antecedent.
 Adjective clauses function just like adjectives. They
give extra information about nouns.
 The yellow car is parked in front of my house.
Yellow is an adjective.
 The car which is parked in front of my house is yellow.
 Which is parked in front of my house is an adjective clause.

Placement of adjective clauses
 Adjective clauses should be placed as close as possible to the
antecedent, which is the noun that is being modified. Sometimes
its not possible to place the clause directly next to the antecedent;
that’s why we say as close as possible.
Example:
Let me tell you about my friend from Toronto who lives in Japan whom
I’ve known since childhood.
In this sentence, there are 2 adjective clauses which follow the
prepositional phrase “from Toronto.” “Who lives in Japan” is placed
next to “my friend,” and “whom I’ve known since childhood” is
placed as close as possible to that.
When there are several clauses and/or prepositional phrases in a
sentence, you have to choose the most logical order for the
information. If the clause is too far away from the antecedent, the
meaning will be unclear.

Adjective Clauses
(also known as Relative Clauses)
The relative clause is introduced by a relative pronoun and followed
by a subject and verb. The relative pronouns are substitutes for
the original noun or pronoun.
Noun Subject
pronoun
Object pronoun Relative pronoun
President Obama He Him Who/That
Whom
Holly She Her Who/That
Whom
Question It It Which/That
Michael’s father His His Whose
The company’s Its Its Whose
New York City It It Where/Which/That
The day It It When/Which/That

Relative Clause Formula
Relative Clause =
Relative Pronoun + Subject + Verb
RC = Rel. pronoun + S + V

There are two types of adjective clauses:
Subject clauses and object clauses
Subject clause:
Example 1:
1. The woman is coming to dinner tonight.
2. She lives next door.
In sentence 1, we modify the woman.
In sentence 2, the woman—she—is the subject.
Therefore, this is a subject relative clause.
The woman who lives next door is coming to dinner
tonight.

There are two types of adjective clauses:
Subject clauses and object clauses
Subject Clause:
Example 2:
1. The book is my grammar book.
2. It is on the table.
In sentence 1, we modify the book.
In sentence 2, the book—it—is the subject.
Therefore, this is a subject relative clause.
The book which is on the table is my grammar book.

There are two types of adjective clauses:
Subject clauses and object clauses
Subject Clause:
Example 3:
1. The student is a good writer.
2. His essay won the contest.
In sentence 1, we modify the student.
In sentence 2, his essay—is the subject.
Therefore, this is a subject relative clause.
The student whose essay won the contest is a good
writer.

In a subject relative clause, the relative pronoun is the subject.
Remember the formula: RC=Rel. pronoun + S + V
The woman [who lives next door] is coming to dinner tonight.
The book [which is on the table] is my grammar book.
The student [whose essay won the contest] is a good writer.
Where is the subject? The rel. pronoun and the subject are one
and the same.
*Because the relative pronoun IS the subject in a subject
clause, it can NEVER BE REMOVED!

There are two types of adjective clauses:
Subject clauses and object clauses
Object clause:
Example 1:
1. The man was Mr. Jones.
2. I saw him last night at the theater.
In sentence 1, we modify the man.
In sentence 2, the man (him) is the object.
Therefore, this is an object relative clause.
The man who/whom/that/0 I saw last night at the theater
was Mr. Jones.

There are two types of adjective clauses:
Subject clauses and object clauses
Object clause:
Example 2:
1. I didn’t like the movie.
2. We saw it last night.
In sentence 1, we modify the movie.
In sentence 2, the movie (it) is the object. This makes the
clause an object relative clause.
I didn’t like the movie which/that/0 we saw last night.

There are two types of adjective clauses:
Subject clauses and object clauses
Object clause:
Example 3:
1. That student is a terrific writer.
2. You met her parents yesterday.
In sentence 1, we modify that student.
In sentence 2, her parents is the object. This makes the
clause an object relative clause.
That student whose parents you met yesterday is a terrific
writer.

Remember the formula: RC=Rel. pronoun + S + V
The man [who/whom/that/0 I saw last night at the theater]
was Mr. Jones.
I didn’t like the movie [which/that/0 we saw last night].
That student [whose parents you met yesterday] is a
terrific writer.
The relative pronoun in an object clause can be removed.

Adjective Clause Pronouns
as the Object of the Preposition
In formal English, the preposition comes at the beginning
of the adjective clause. In informal speaking and
writing, the preposition comes after the subject and
verb.
Example 1:
Mary is the lady about whom we were speaking.
Mary is the lady who(m) we were speaking about.
Mary is the lady that we were speaking about.
Mary is the lady we were speaking about.

Adjective Clause Pronouns
as the Object of the Preposition
In formal English, the preposition comes at the beginning
of the adjective clause. In informal speaking and
writing, the preposition comes after the subject and
verb.
Example 2:
Engineering is the major in which I am interested.
Engineering is the major which I’m interested in.
Engineering is the major that I’m interested in.
Engineering is the major I’m interested in.

Adjective Clause Pronouns
as the Object of the Preposition
In formal English, the preposition comes at the beginning of the
adjective clause. In informal speaking and writing, the
preposition comes after the subject and verb.
Example 3:
The man for whom I was working left the company.
The man who/whom I was working for left the company.
The man that I was working for left the company.
The man I was working for left the company.

Modifying PLACE
The relative pronouns for place are where, that, and
which.
If where is used, a preposition is not included in the
adjective clause. If where is not used, the preposition
must remain in the clause.
Example:
The city where I was raised has changed quite a bit.
The city that I was raised in has changed quite a bit.
The city which I was raised in has changed quite a bit.
The city in which I was raised has changed quite a bit.
The city I was raised in has changed quite a bit.

Modifying TIME
The relative pronouns for time are when, that, and which.
If when or that is used, a preposition is not included in the
adjective clause. If which is used, the preposition must
remain in the clause.
Example:
I’ll never forget the day when I graduated from high
school.
I’ll never forget the day that I graduated from high school.
I’ll never forget the day on which I graduated from high
school.