Adjective Clauses
who, that, which, whom
Presented by
Melissa Michelson
Write longer, more fluent sentences -->
Use adjective clauses!
Main Clause:
The man was walking his dog.
Sentences to describe nouns:
Longer, more fluent sentence:
These short sentences can be combined with the main clause to
form one long sentence. They become adjective clauses.
What’s an adjective clause (aka: relative
clause)?
Adjective: 1 word to describe a noun
Clause: group of words with subject and verb
Adjective clause:
• group of words that starts with a relative clause pronoun (that,
which, who, whom…)
• whole clause describes a singular or plural noun in a main
(independent) clause
• adj clause has its own subject and verb
• adj clause comes right after the noun it modifies
2 types of adjective clauses
restrictive
(essential) explains
exactly which noun
ex A: I want to live in
the house that is
near the beach.
ex B: The house that is near
the beach sells for $1
million.
non-restrictive
(not essential) =
extra information
about noun
ex C: I can’t afford to buy the
beach house, which sold
for $1 million.
ex D: The beach house,
which is too far from
work, isn’t practical.
Practice
• I want to live in a house
that is near the beach.
• The house that is near the
beach sells for $1 million.
• I can’t afford to buy the
beach house, which sold
for $1mil.
• The beach house, which is
too far from work, isn’t
practical.
• a.
What’s the
relative pronoun?
• b.
Where is the
adjective clause in the
example sentences?
• c.
What’s the
difference in meaning
between restrictive/nonrestrictive?
• d.
What’s the
difference in
punctuation?
• E. Which pronouns
are for restrictive/nonrestrictive clauses?
Subject relative clause
people: who, that (informal)
things/animals: that (restrictive), which (nonrestrictive)
a) I thanked the woman. She 1. Decide which is main
clause/adj clause.
helps me all the time.
2. Decide which noun to modify
b) He gave us an exam. It
in main clause.
lasted one hour.
c) I borrowed books to do
3. Look for ref word to that
research for class. They are noun and cross it off =subject
more than 200 pages long. in adj. clause!
4. Add correct rel pronoun after main clause
noun.
5. Connect sentences; decide commas.
Object relative clause
people: whom (formal), who, that (informal)
things/animals: that (restrictive), which (non-restrictive)
a) The students are from China. 1. Decide which is main
clause/adj clause.
I know them.
2. Decide which noun to modify
b) The movie was good. We
in main clause.
saw it.
c) I borrowed a book. I still
3. Look for ref word to that
have the book.
noun and cross it off =object
in adj. clause - KEEP subject.
4. Add correct rel pronoun after main clause
noun. (Object rel. pronouns can be omitted.)
5. Connect sentences; decide commas.