This handout is also available online at the George Mason University Writing Center web site: http://writingcenter.gmu.edu
Adjective Clauses
What is an Adjective Clause?
An adjective clause is a dependent clause that contains a subject and a verb. It describes,
identifies, or gives further information about a noun.
Adjective Clauses are introduced by the following words: who, whom, whose, which, that,
where, or when.
Clause Marker
Who
Whom
Whose
Which
That
Where
When
Use
People
(subject)
People
(object)
People/Things
(possessive)
Things
(subject/object)
People/Things
(subject/object)
Place
(adverb)
Time
(adverb)
Example
The tribes who lived in the Great Plains used smoke signals.
The woman whom we met was called Lightning Cloud.
I know the man whose bicycle was stolen.
That is a story which interests me. (subject)
The drumbeats which we heard sent a message. (object)
The Apache is a tribe that lives in Arizona. (subject)
The smoke that you see is from the hills. (object)
That is the valley where the tribe lived.
This is the day when we get the signal.
Prepositions that Come before Adjective Clauses
Sometimes the verb in an adjective clause must have a preposition used with it (a multiword
verb). In this case, the last word of the sentence may be a preposition. In spoken English, this is
fine. However, in formal written English, the preposition is usually moved to the beginning of
the clause.
!
!
Formal: He was the man to whom I was referring.
Informal: He was the man whom I was referring to.
!
!
Formal: There are a number of ways by which a message can be sent.
Informal: There are a number of ways which a message can be sent by.
Omission of the Relative Pronoun
Sometimes the relative pronoun may be omitted from an adjective clause. The relative pronouns
which, that, who, and whom can be omitted when they are the object of the adjective clause.
!
!
The man whom I met was a Native American. (object)
The man I met was a Native American.
!
!
The drumbeat that I heard was a signal. (object)
The drumbeat I heard was a signal.
Updated 2002
This handout is also available online at the George Mason University Writing Center web site: http://writingcenter.gmu.edu
When the relative pronoun is the subject of the relative clause, it cannot be omitted.
!
The man who played the drums was from West Africa. (subject)
Reduced Adjective Clauses
Adjective clauses can be reduced to phrases. An adjective phrase does not contain either a
subject or a verb, and it modifies a noun. Also, only adjective clauses that have a subject pronoun
– who, which, or that – can be reduced. There are two ways to reduce an adjective clause:
1. The subject pronoun and the be form of the verb are omitted.
!
!
Clause: The man who is playing is my friend.
Phrase: The man playing is my friend.
!
!
Clause: The signals, which are given, are simple.
Phrase: The signals given are simple.
2. When there is no form of be in the adjective clause, you may omit the subject pronoun and
change the verb to the “–ing” form.
!
!
Clause: Anyone who wants to get the news can listen to the message.
Phrase: Anyone wanting to get the news can listen to the message.
!
Clause: His alphabet, which consists of 85 sounds, was an important invention for his
people.
! Phrase: His alphabet, consisting of 85 sounds, was an important invention for his people.
Updated 2002