Two Useful Adjective Clause Devices

Lesson 30Joseph C. Blumenthal

A special type of adjective clause is useful when you wish to state a fact about only a part or a number of a larger group.

Gloria has three sisters, one of whom is a nurse.

The adjective clause states a fact about (all, one) of the sisters.

A special type of adjective clause is useful when you wish to state a fact about only a part or a number of a larger group.

Gloria has three sisters, one of whom is a nurse.

The adjective clause states a fact about (all, one) of the sisters.

Along the coast are many small islands, some of which are uninhabited.

The clause states a fact about (some, all) of the islands.

Along the coast are many small islands, some of which are uninhabited.

The clause states a fact about (some, all) of the islands.

These adjective clauses begin with such words as one of whom, several or whom, two of which, most of which.

The room has three windows, one of which is always locked.

The word in the clause that specifies the number to which the statement applies is the (first, last) word.

These adjective clauses begin with such words as one of whom, several or whom, two of which, most of which.

The room has three windows, one of which is always locked.

The word in the clause that specifies the number to which the statement applies is the (first, last) word.

The number of the group that these clauses single out may vary from none of whom to all of whom.

Fill in the missing words to show that none of the coins are rare. (None may take either a singular or plural verb.)

I have many old coins, are rare.

The number of the group that these clauses single out may vary from none of whom to all of whom.

Fill in the missing words to show that none of the coins are rare. (None may take either a singular or plural verb.)

I have many old coins, none of which are rare.

Fill in the missing words to show that all the coins are rare:

I have many old coins, _________ are rare.

Fill in the missing words to show that all the coins are rare:

I have many old coins, all of which are rare.

Fill in the missing words to show that a few coins are rare:

I have many old coins, ________ _ __ are rare.

Fill in the missing words to show that a few coins are rare:

I have many old coins, a few of which are rare.

In using this type of clause, be careful to use whom, and not which, to refer to people.

The Adamos have three sons, two of (which, whom) are now attending college.

In using this type of clause, be careful to use whom, and not which, to refer to people.

The Adamos have three sons, two of (which, whom) are now attending college.

Customs officials, many or (whom, which) speak English, examine your luggage.

Customs officials, many or (whom, which) speak English, examine your luggage.

In this and the following frames, subordinate the italicized statement by changing it to an adjective clause built on the “one of which” or “some of whom” pattern:

We have three clocks, and none of them keeps good time.

We have three clocks, keeps good time.

In this and the following frames, subordinate the italicized statement by changing it to an adjective clause built on the “one of which” or “some of whom” pattern:

We have three clocks, and none of them keeps good time.

We have three clocks, none of which keeps good time.

Rita baby-sits with two children, and one of them is very mischievous.

Rita baby-sits with two children, is very mischievous.

Rita baby-sits with two children, and one of them is very mischievous.

Rita baby-sits with two children, one of whom is very mischievous.

The air is full of bacteria, but most of them are harmless.

The air is full of bacteria, are harmless.

The air is full of bacteria, but most of them are harmless.

The air is full of bacteria, most of which are harmless.

The college has eight hundred students, and many of them come from foreign countries.

The college has eight hundred students, _____ _______ come from foreign countries.

The college has eight hundred students, and many of them come from foreign countries.

The college has eight hundred students, many of whom come from foreign countries.

The school has twelve rooms, and three of them are not used.

The school has twelve rooms, ____________ are not used.

The school has twelve rooms, and three of them are not used.

The school has twelve rooms, three of which are not used.

Ralph brought his parents, and I had met neither of them before.

Ralph brought his parents, I had met before.

Ralph brought his parents, and I had met neither of them before.

Ralph brought his parents, neither or whom I had met before.

In a similar type of adjective clause, a noun precedes the words of which; for example, the price of which, the result of which, the purpose of which.

There are many words the meanings of which have changed.

What noun precedes which? ________

In a similar type of adjective clause, a noun precedes the words of which; for example, the price of which, the result of which, the purpose of which.

There are many words the meanings of which have changed.

What noun precedes which? meanings

Mr. Kerr bought several stocks the value of which is very doubtful.

What noun precedes of which? ____

Mr. Kerr bought several stocks the value of which is very doubtful.

What noun precedes of which? value

Ordinarily, the relative pronoun whose provides a smoother sentence than of which and requires fewer words.

a. I read a novel the ending of which is disappointing.b. I read a novel whose ending is disappointing.

Sentence b is words shorter than sentence a.(How many?)

Ordinarily, the relative pronoun whose provides a smoother sentence than of which and requires fewer words.

a. I read a novel the ending of which is disappointing.b. I read a novel whose ending is disappointing.

Sentence b is two words shorter than sentence a.(How many?)

The relative pronoun whose, unlike who and whom, can be used for things as well as for persons.

a. I ordered a French soup the name of which I can’t pronounce.

b. I ordered a French soup whose name I can’t pronounce.

Are both sentences correct? (Yes, No)

The relative pronoun whose, unlike who and whom, can be used for things as well as for persons.

a. I ordered a French soup the name of which I can’t pronounce.

b. I ordered a French soup whose name I can’t pronounce.

Are both sentences correct? (Yes, No)

Even though whose may be used for things, there are times when you might prefer the of which construction. Change the whose to the of which constructions:

She makes chili whose preparation takes an entire day.

She makes chili takes an entire day.

Even though whose may be used for things, there are times when you might prefer the of which construction. Change the whose to the of which constructions:

She makes chili whose preparation takes an entire day.

She makes chili the preparation of which takes an entire day.

Change the whose to the of which construction:

The minister told a story whose point most people missed.

The minister told a story _______________ most people missed.

Change the whose to the of which construction:

The minister told a story whose point most people missed.

The minister told a story the point of which most people missed.

Change the whose to the of which construction:

The doctor recommended a cough medicine whose name I can’t recall.

The doctor recommended a cough medicine I can’t recall.

Change the whose to the of which construction:

The doctor recommended a cough medicine whose name I can’t recall.

The doctor recommended a cough medicine the name of which I can’t recall.

In this and the following frames, subordinate each italicized statement to an of which construction, preceded by a noun (“the cause of which,” “the price of which”):

Our school had an assembly, and the purpose was to improve sportsmanship.

Our school had an assembly _________________ was to improve sportsmanship.

In this and the following frames, subordinate each italicized statement to an of which construction, preceded by a noun (“the cause of which,” “the price of which”):

Our school had an assembly, and the purpose was to improve sportsmanship.

Our school had an assembly the purpose of which was to improve sportsmanship.

My tropical fish contracted a disease, and the cause of it is not known.

My tropical fish contracted a disease _______ _______ is not known.

My tropical fish contracted a disease, and the cause of it is not known.

My tropical fish contracted a disease the cause of which is not known.

Our television set has a knob, and I have never discovered its purpose.

Our television set has a knob _______________ _____ I have never discovered.

Our television set has a knob, and I have never discovered its purpose.

Our television set has a knob the purpose of which I have never discovered.

The county constructed a road, and the need for it was very great.

The county constructed a road ___________ _____ was very great.

The county constructed a road, and the need for it was very great.

The county constructed a road the need for which was very great.

We studied a poem by Alice Walker, and its meaning was very difficult.

We studied a poem by Alice Walker ___ _ ______________ was very difficult.

We studied a poem by Alice Walker, and its meaning was very difficult.

We studied a poem by Alice Walker the meaning of which was very difficult.

We camped at the foot of Silver Mountain, and its top is snow-capped.

We camped at the foot of Silver Mountain ___ __________ is snow-capped.

We camped at the foot of Silver Mountain, and its top is snow-capped.

We camped at the foot of Silver Mountain the top of which is snow-capped.