The Adjective ClauseThe Adjective Clause

which one?which one? -or- -or- what kind?what kind?

AdjectivesAdjectives Modify: Modify:

NOUNSNOUNS and and PRONOUNSPRONOUNS

• An adjective phrase modifies a NOUN or PRONOUN

and

• An adjective clause also modifies a NOUN or PRONOUN

Where can you Where can you findfind adjectivesadjectives??

• You can find adjectives before the noun or pronoun that they modify: – It comes before the noun and after the article.

• The blue dog is a sight to behold.

• A large slice of watermelon is delicious in the summer.

The pattern:

AdjectivesAdjectives can come can come afterafter linking verbs:linking verbs:

(This is called a (This is called a PREDICATE ADJECTIVEPREDICATE ADJECTIVE))

• She is nice.

• A large slice of watermelon is delicious in the summer.

A possible pattern:

l.v.l.v.

AnAn AdjectiveAdjective PhrasePhrase always always followsfollows the NOUN or PRONOUN the NOUN or PRONOUN

it modifies:it modifies:

• The woman in the large hat is famous.

• The man with the moustache is my father.

• The one in the blue shirt just laughed.

A possible pattern:

…OP

Likewise…Likewise…

AnAn Adjective ClauseAdjective Clause usually usually followsfollows the word the word (noun)(noun) or words or words

(noun + modifiers)(noun + modifiers) it modifies: it modifies:

Definition: • An adjective clause is a subordinate

(dependent) clause that modifies a NOUN or a PRONOUN.

• Adjective clauses tell which one? or what kind?

REMEMBERREMEMBER!!!!

Clauses Clauses MUSTMUST contain both contain both

a a SUBJECTSUBJECT and a and a VERBVERB..

subjectverb

Adjective Clauses:Adjective Clauses:

• Ms. Bandrowski showed us a PowerPoint that she made last night.

• The Natchez is a paddleboat that Mark Twain often wrote about.

• That one, which is my favorite, was bought in Bangkok.

• Pablo Picasso was the artist who painted A Girl with a Ponytail.

An An Adjective ClauseAdjective Clause is usually is usually introduced by aintroduced by a relativerelative pronounpronoun..

Some common relative pronouns:

that which who whom whose

NOTE:NOTE:• The relative pronoun that can be used to refer

both to people and to things.

thatthat = or

• The relative pronoun which is used to refer to things only.

whichwhich =

……also note:also note:

• Sometimes a relative pronoun is preceded by a preposition that is part of the adjective clause.

For example:

• Have you read the book on which the movie is based?

• The actor to whom I am referring is Johnny Depp.

In addition to In addition to relatingrelating a subordinate a subordinate clause to the rest of the sentence, a clause to the rest of the sentence, a

relative pronounrelative pronoun often has a often has a grammatical functiongrammatical function inin the the

subordinate clause.subordinate clause.

• Usually it is either the SUBJECT of the clause…

or

• …the OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION.

Examples:Examples:

• Is this game the one that is on sale?

(That is also the subject of the subordinate clause.)

• The jeweler to whom I took the broken bracelet repaired it quickly.

(Whom also functions as the object of the preposition to.)

Relative AdverbsRelative Adverbs::

• To modify a place or a time, an adjective clause may be introduced by when or where. When used to introduce adjective clauses, these words are called relative adverbs.

• This is the spot where we caught most of the fish.

• Ms. Mason looks forward to Saturday afternoons, when she works in her garden.

last detail…last detail…

In some cases, the relative pronoun or relative adverb can be omitted.

• We haven’t seen the mask [that] she brought back from Venice.

• Do you remember the time [when or that] the dog caught the skunk?

• A boy [whom or that] I know is a nationally ranked tennis player.

Writing advice…Writing advice…

• Adjective clauses can bring clarity and good description to your writing. Be careful, though, not to use too many adjective clauses. Overusing adjective clauses can make your writing wordy. You might want to replace some of them with adjectives or brief phrases.

Examples:Examples:

WORDY:

• They live in the apartment building that is made of brick and that is located next to the fire station.

BETTER:

• They live in the brick apartment building next to the fire station.