Maria English Society
Essential English Grammar
Teaching Notes - Unit 10
Table of Contents
Adjective clauses
- Leaving out the relative pronoun
- Adjective clause: where, when, why
- Adjective clause: whose, who, whom
- Adjective clause: which, that
- Identify a missing objective relative pronoun
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 1
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
Unit 10
Adjective clauses
Leaving out the relative pronoun
You will meet a lot of adjective clauses (adjective clauses) without a relative pronoun.
For
example, instead of
O
S V
O
S
V
Tell us about the people that you saw and the food that you ate.
you will hear or read:
S
V
S V
Tell us about the people you saw and the food you ate.
However, we can do this if and only if the relative pronoun is an object pronoun.
Exercise
Read the diary and circle the six relative pronouns. If a relative pronoun can be eliminated, draw a
line through it.
Dear Diary,
Today was a very exciting day for me. It was my first day in high school, and I was
extremely excited. I signed up for the Spanish class which I had wanted for a long
time. Surprise! I get into the class! The teacher, who is from Malaga, Spain, is very
nice. I also got into a chemistry class. The lab, which is filled with all sorts of
scientific equipment, is a bit scary, but I think it will be interesting. Lunch time was
great because I got to see all the friends that I hadn’t seen all summer long. Overall,
I think this will be a wonderful year. There are so many interesting extracurricular
activities that I want to participate in, as well. Again, I think this is a year that will
keep me busy and happy!
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 2
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
Exercise
A.
Make each of these pairs of simple sentences into one complex sentence by using a
relative pronoun.
Example:
Fred Brown has a dog. It is called Jock.
Answer:
Fred Brown has a dog that is called Jock.
1.
This is the girl. She is going to sing a song.
2.
Do you like the bicycle? My uncle gave it to me.
3.
I have lost the pen. I bought it yesterday.
4.
Richard lives in a house. It has a big garden.
5.
I have finished the exercise. The teacher told us to do it.
6.
These are the apples. They grew on my tree.
7.
I saw the man. He won the prize.
8.
They heard about the battle from a soldier. He had been wounded.
9.
We had a friend. He was a famous writer.
10.
The girl is going to sing a song. She is called Grace.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 3
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
Exercise
Do the following five questions as the three examples show:
1. Underline the adjective clause in each sentence.
2. Show which noun the adjective clause qualifies.
3. show the functions of the relative pronoun.
a.
The moment which is lost is lost forever.
(‘Which’ representing the noun ‘moment’, subject of verb ‘is lost’)
b. He could answer the question which I asked him.
(‘Which’ representing the noun ‘question’, object of t.v. ‘asked’)
c.
He gave me everything that I asked for
(‘That’ representing the noun ‘everything’, object of the preposition ‘for’)
1. He that climbs too high is sure to fall.
2. I received the message which you sent me.
3. All the blessings that we enjoy come from god.
4. The boy behaved in good manners that his father was proud of.
5. The house that I live in belongs to my father.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 4
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
Whatever, whoever, wherever, and whichever
Just as what means the thing(s) that, so:
Whatever = anything that
We shall eat whatever is left over from lunch.
= We shall eat anything that is left over from lunch.
Whoever = anybody that
Give it to whoever asks for it.
= Give it to anybody that asks for it.
Wherever =in, at any place that
Put it wherever you like.
= Put it in any place that you like.
Whichever = any one of several that
Choose whichever of the colours suits you.
= Choose any one of the colours that suits you.
Exercise
Replace those parts of the following sentences in italics by one of the words, whatever, whoever, etc.:
1.
Put down that book in any place that you can find room for it.
2.
Anyone that is sufficiently advanced can come to my class.
3.
You see these books? You may choose any one of them that interests you.
4.
Her dogs always follow her to any place that she goes.
5.
Give it to anyone that wants it.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 5
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
Exercise
The uses of relative pronouns – who, which, that, whoever
1. The manager wants to know
(A) whom (B)
whose
wrote the inquiry letter to the supplier.
(C) who
(D) which
2. To report lost or stolen traveler’s checks, contact the institution
issued the
checks.
(A) whose (B)
that
(C) it
(D) where
3. Several bus lines have delayed until Friday the fare increases
(A) which (B)
this
(C) they
(D) those
had planned for today.
4. Salespeople
travel more than three hundred miles per week are entitled
to drive a company car.
(A) who (B) whoever
(C) whom
(D) whose
5. Those trainees ____ have successfully completed the six-week course will be assigned to
various positions throughout the company.
(A) who (B) what
(C) their
(D) they
6. The conference was held at the city’s exhibition hall, where opened just last month.
A
B
C
D
7. An additional clause may be added to your insurance policy where will cover damages
A
B
C
incurred during moving.
D
8. Visitors what would like to be added to the Centre’s mailing list should give their
A
B
C
D
names and addresses to the receptionist.
9. Everyone who apply for any type of loan should realize that deliberately falsifying
A
B
C
income information can have serious consequences.
D
10. Who removed the video equipment from the seminar room should return it
A
B
C
immediately.
D
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 6
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
Adjective Clause
Relative adverbs: where, when, why
(1) Mary bought a safe.
She kept her jewels there.
(‘There’ is an adverb of place.)
Mary bought a safe [where she kept her jewels].
‘Where’ does two jobs:
1. linking the adjective clause ‘where she kept her jewels’ to the noun ‘safe’.
2. representing the adverb of place ‘there’ to modify the verb ‘kept’.
So, ‘where’ in the sentence is a relative adverb. ‘Relative adverb’ means ‘subordinate conjunction +
adverb’.
(2) The officer knows the time.
Your train arrives then.
(‘Then’ is an adverb of time.)
The officer knows the time [when your train arrives].
‘When’ does two jobs:
1. linking the adjective clause ‘when your train arrives’ to the noun ‘time’.
2. representing the adverb of time ‘then’ to modify the verb ‘arrives’.
So, ‘when’ is a 2nd relative adverb to form an adjective clause.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 7
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
(3) The principal wants to know the cause. The teacher punishes the boy reasonably.
(‘Reasonably’ is an adverb of reason.)
The principal wants to know the cause [why the teacher punishes the boy].
‘Why’ does two jobs:
1. linking the adjective clause ‘why the teacher punishes the boy’ to the noun ‘cause’.
2. representing the adverb of reason ‘reasonably’ to modify the verb ‘punishes’.
So, ‘why’ is the third relative adverb to form an adjective clause.
More examples to show the use of relative adverbs:
The house [where the accident occurred] is near by.
The time [when the new bridge is completed] is not known.
The reason [why he failed] is obvious to everyone.
Exercise
Combine the following sentences with one of the four relative adverbs – where, when, and why.
1.
The time is not yet fixed. The boat leaves then.
2.
This is the school. I was taught there.
3.
Can you tell me the reason? You are not keeping your health.
4.
Youth is the time. The seed of character are sown then.
5.
Hard working is the cause. The boy gets a good result for that.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 8
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
Adjective clauses:
whose, who and whom
A special relative pronoun WHOSE (representing a possessive pronoun or a noun in possessive
case)
Example
People remember Presley. Presley’s songs are very popular.
People remember Presley [whose songs are very popular].
WHOSE does two jobs:
1. to be subordinate conjunction, joining the adjective clause ‘whose songs are very
popular’ to the main clause.
2. to represent ‘Presley’s’ in possessive case to qualify the noun ‘song’.
Exercise
Try to combine the following sentences with WHOSE.
1. Joe bought a new car. Its colour is red.
2. The boat sails along the river. Its banks are muddy.
3. These dogs have a leader. Their master is a female.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 9
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
The use of WHO (subject of a verb) and WHOM (object of a transitive verb or preposition)
‘Who’ is the subject of a verb
He is a good friend. A good friend speaks well of us behind our backs.
S
V
He is a good friend [who speaks well of us behind our backs].
‘Whom’ is the object of a verb
The people die young. The gods love the people.
O
S
V
The people [whom the gods love ] die young.
‘Whom’ is the object of a preposition
The boss came into the room. The staff paid attention to the boss.
O
S
V
O
The boss [ ( to whom ) the staff paid attention] came into the room.
prep.
Exercise
Try to use WHO or WHOM to form an adjective clause.
1. The man learns nothing. He questions nothing.
2. No man can be a good ruler. A good ruler has first been ruled.
3. This is the man. I saw him in church yesterday.
4. The child is finally found. The parents have looked for him.
5. Here comes John. The teacher wants to speak to him.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 10
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
Exercise
Fill the blanks with the relative pronouns ‘who’ and ‘whom’, the relative adjective ‘whose’.
1. He [ __________ marries] might be sorry; he [who does not] will be sorry.
2. Those [ __________ the gods love] die young.
3. He [ __________ marries for love without money] has good nights and sorry days.
4. Wealth is not his __________ has it, but his__________ enjoys it.
5. A triangle [ __________ three sides are equal] is called an equilateral triangle.
6. He [ __________ hesitates] is lost.
7. He [ __________ laughs last] laughs best.
8. The sun, [ __________ rays give life to the earth,] was regarded by the ancients as a god.
9. This is the boy [ __________ works hard.]
10. This is the boy [ __________ exercise is done well.]
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 11
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
Adjective clauses:
which and that
WHICH is
(a) for animal, and (b) for thing :
S
(a) A mole is an animal.
S
V
A mole lives underground.
V
A mole [which lives underground] is an animal.
.
S
A mole is an animal.
V
The animal lives underground.
S
V
A mole is an animal [which lives underground].
(The underlined are adjective clauses, qualifying the preceding nouns.)
S V
(b) This jungle track is not a road.
S
The track is not for cars.
V
This jungle track [which is not for cars] is not a road.
S V
This jungle track is not a road.
The road is full of holes.
S
V
This jungle track is not a road [which is full of hole]s.
(The underlined are adjective clauses, qualifying the preceding nouns.)
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 12
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
THAT is
(a) for people, (b) for animal, and (c) for thing :
S
(a) This doctor is a psychiatrist.
S
V.
The doctor treats mind-disorder.
V
This doctor [that treats mind-disorder] is a psychiatrist.
.
S
This doctor is a psychiatrist.
V
A psychiatrist treats mind-disorder.
S
V
This doctor is a psychiatrist [that treats mind-disorder].
S
(b) The cat is catching a mouse.
S
V
The cat belongs to my aunt.
V
The cat [that belongs to my aunt] is catching a mouse.
S
The cat is catching a mouse.
V
The mouse runs into a hole.
S V
The cat is catching a mouse [that runs into a hole].
S V
(c) This book is a new publication.
S
The book has many pictures.
V
This book [that has many pictures] is a new publication.
.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 13
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
S
This book is a new publication.
V
The new publication sells well.
S V
This book is a new publication [that sells well].
(All the underlined relative clauses are adjective clauses, qualifying the preceding
nouns.)
(All the relative pronouns THAT and WHICH are used as subjects of the
adjective clauses.)
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 14
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
WHICH and THAT as OBJECTS of transitive verbs.
.
t.v.
obj.
.
The prayers were few and short. We said the prayers.
O
S
V
The prayers [which we said] were few and short.
t.v. obj.
I am monarch of all. I survey all. (Pronoun)
O
S
V
I am monarch of all [that I survey].
t.v.
obj.
Men must reap the things. They sow the things.
O
S
V
Men must reap the things [which they sow].
t.v.
A contented mind is the greatest blessing.
obj.
A man can enjoy the blessing in this world.
O
S
V
A contented mind is the greatest blessing [that a man can enjoy in this world].
(All the relative pronouns are object of the transitive verbs in the adjective clauses.)
‘Whom’ is for ‘people’ only:
t.v. obj.
He is my old friend. I trust him.
O
S
V
He [whom I trust] is my old friend.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 15
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
WHICH and THAT as OBJECTS of prepositions.
perp.
I show them the path.
obj.
We came by the path.
I show them the path which we came by.
or
I show them the path by which we came.
perp.
Love is a game.
obj.
Both players always cheat in the game.
Love is a game which both players always cheat in.
or
Love is a game in which both players always cheat.
perp.
I have found the pencil.
obj.
You want to write with the pencil.
I have found the pencil which you want to write with.
or
I have found the pencil with which you want to write.
* ‘Whom’ is for ‘people’ only:
perp. obj.
This is the child.
You spoke to him yesterday.
This is the child whom you spoke to yesterday.
or
This is the child to whom you spoke yesterday.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 16
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
Now notice ‘THAT’ as a relative pronoun, object of a preposition:
THE PREPOSITION CAN’T BE PUT BEFORE ‘ THAT’.
perp. obj.
He has not brought the key.
I asked for the key.
He has not brought the key that I asked for.
NOT
He has not brought the key for that I asked.
(The preposition ‘for’ cannot be put before the relative pronoun ‘THAT’.)
perp. obj.
You give me the cat.
I’ll take care of it.
You give me the cat that I’ll take care of.
NOT
You give me the cat of that I’ll take care.
(No preposition can be put before the relative pronoun ‘THAT’.)
perp. obj.
John is the doctor.
We talk about him.
John is the doctor that we talk about.
NOT
John is the doctor about that we talk.
(No preposition should be moved before the relative pronoun ‘THAT’.)
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 17
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
All objective relative pronouns can be omitted
1. OBJECT OF TRANSITIVE VERBS
The prayers which we said were few and short.
=
The prayers we said were few and short.
I am monarch of all that I survey.
=
I am monarch of all I survey.
Men must reap the things which they sow.
=
Men must reap the things they sow.
A contented mind is the greatest blessing that a man can enjoy in this world.
=
A contented mind is the greatest blessing a man can enjoy in this world.
He whom I trust is my old friend.
=
He I trust is my old friend.
2. OBJECT OF PERPOSITIONS
I show them the path which we came by.
=
I show them the path we came by.
Love is a game which both players always cheat in.
=
Love is a game both players always cheat in.
I have found the pencil which you want to write with.
=
I have found the pencil you want to write with.
This is the child whom you spoke to yesterday.
=
This is the child you spoke to yesterday.
He has brought the key that I asked for.
=
He has brought the key I asked for.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 18
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
You give me the cat that I’ll take care of.
=
You give me the cat I’ll take care of.
If a preposition comes before the objective relative pronoun, you have to return the preposition to
its ending position before we omit the objective relative pronoun:
I show them the path by which we came.
=
I show them the path which we came by.
=
I show them the path we came by
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 19
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
Identify a missing objective relative pronoun
1.
When two nouns come together and the preposition doesn’t have an object, we supply
‘ which’ or ‘that’ between the two nouns. Then the adjective clause appears:
.
.
I show them the path [which we came by].
n.
2.
pron.
prep.
When two nouns come together and the transitive verb doesn’t have an object, we supply
‘ which’ or ‘that’ between the two nouns. Then the adjective clause appears:
The prayers [which we said were few and short].
n.
pron.
tv
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 20
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
‘Where’ and ‘in which’
WHERE as a relative adverb and WHICH as a relative pronoun:
Joe returned to the old house. He was born there.
(‘There’ is an adverb of place. ‘where’ can be used to link he two sentences.)
Joe returned to the old house [where he was born.]
Joe returned to the old house. He was born in the old house.
(‘House’ is object of the preposition ‘in’. ‘which’ can be used to link he two sentences.)
Joe returned to the old house [which he was born in.]
or
Joe returned to the old house [in which he was born.]
You do not write:
Joe returned to the old house [in where he was born.] (Incorrect)
Because ‘where is a relative adverb, which can not be treated as a noun, object of the preposition
‘in’.
But, if you regard the phrase ‘in he old house’ as an adverb phrase of place, you can use the relative
adverb ‘where’:
Joe returned to the old house. He was born in the old house. (in the old house = there)
Joe returned to the old house [WHERE he was born.]
Exercise
Try to form an adjective clause by using the relative pronoun ‘which’, and then using a relative
adverb ‘where’.
This is an old church. John and Mary get married in the church.
(1)
(2)
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 21
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
Exercise
Supply a suitable relative pronouns to the following sentences: (‘That’ – for people, animal, thing.
‘Which’ – for animal, thing. ‘Whom’ – for people only.)
Example: Where is the book / I gave you?
Answer:
(‘Give’ needs 2 objects.)
Where is the book that I gave you.
1. The task you have to do is easy.
2. It was an old house she lived in.
3. I have found the book I have lost.
4. Napoleon, the French people honour, died at St. Helena.
5. Children use a joystick to control the movements they see on the screen.
6. Some words Americans now use come from the languages of their immigrants.
7. He spent his money carelessly on things he really didn’t need.
8. Soon he went through every cent he had won.
9. The crow dropped the cheese, the fox immediately caught with its mouth.
10. The boy you see there made the top score in the last match.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 22
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
Exercise
Fill in the blanks with ‘who’, ‘whom’, ‘that’, ‘which’ and ‘whose’.
1. He _____ knows little, often repeats it.
2. Those _____ live in glass houses should not throw stones
3. _____ we love best, to whom we can say least.
4. He _____ marries for wealth, sells his liberty.
5. He _____ the gods love dies young.
6. Time _____ is lost, is lost forever.
7. Husbands are in heaven _____ wives scold not.
8. God helps those _____ help themselves.
9. The answer _____ you gave is not right.
10. We met sailors _____ ship was wrecked.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 23
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
Exercise
Read the paragraph and insert the correct relative pronoun in the blanks. Sometimes there is more
than one possible answer
International travel has changed dramatically in the past 50 years. In the
mid-twentieth century, people _______ wanted to travel to exotic destinations often
went by ship. Such famous vessels as the Queen Mary were commonly used by
travelers _______ ventured abroad. However, since the invention and modernization
of the jet plane, ______ has continued to grow in popularity, transatlantic ocean
liners have become less popular. One reason is the speed of the journey. Ocean liners,
_____ often take more than one week to get from the United States to Europe, are
not practical for businesspeople. For example, a person, ______ a company sent to
Europe for a convention cannot spare such a long time traveling. This person’s
objective, _______ is standard procedure for most businesses, is to go to the
convention, do business, then come home. Some people, however, are tired of the
“faster is better” mentality _____ modern airlines are advertising. They are now
looking for alternative, more exotic modes of travel. For these people, ______ are
anticipating the “journey” as much as visiting the destination, high-priced ocean liner
trips are just the ticket!
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 24
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
Exercise
Rewrite each of the following sentences making a preposition adjective clause from the clause in
parentheses.
Examples:
The story (I alluded to the story) is in this article.
The story that I alluded to is in this article.
1. The article (the professor commented on the article) was published last week.
2. The information (you are looking for the information) can be found on the Web.
3. The report (this data will be incorporated into the report) is due in March.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 25
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
Exercise
Combine each of the following sets of clauses into one sentence, making an adjective clause using
‘where’ or ‘when’ from the clause in parentheses.
Examples:
Seattle is a city. (People drink a lot of coffee there)
Seattle is a city where people drink a lot of coffee.
1. The town was quite small. (I was born in the town.)
2. There was a time. (People always knew their neighbors.)
3. I want to find a time and date. (We can meet at that time and date.)
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 26
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
Exercise
Combine each of the following sets of clauses into one sentence, making an adjective clause using
‘whose’ from the clause in parentheses.
Examples:
Ann is an author. (Her books sell very well in Europe.)
Ann is an author whose books sell very well in Europe.
1
Ted id a journalist. (We respect his work.)
2
Lee attends a school (The school’s founder was a famous person.)
3
Dr. Lee met with students. (He had rejected their proposals.)
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 27
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)
Exercise
Combine each of the following sets of clauses into one sentence, making an adjective clause using
‘of which’ or ‘of whom’ from the clause in parentheses.
Examples:
Governments often invest in new weapons. (the cost of new weapons is enormous.)
Governments often invest in new weapons, the cost of which is enormous.
1
Emily Dickinson produced a large body of poetry. (Much of her poetry remained unpublished
during her lifetime.)
2
Now her poems are appreciated by thousand of people. (Many of the people memorize them
in school.)
3
A complete compilation of Dickinson’s poems was published in 1955. (The editor of the
compilation was Thomas Johnson.)
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Essential English Grammar
Lesson 10 Page 28
Maria English Society
(Version 1.0 –2007)