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less elegant and wordier. Therefore, the presence of the relative pronoun who encodes the properties of [1b] so that it naturally attaches to [1a] to form [1]. The
next part discusses the theoretical description of the relative pronoun.
b. Relative Pronoun
The relative pronoun is the most noticeable feature of an adjective clause because of its functions. The relative pronoun marks or introduces the adjective
clause as well as functions as a subject or an object in a sentence Philips, 2003: 119 and Swan, 2005: 477. The relative pronouns such as who, which, whom and
that introduce the adjective clauses. However, the use of the relative pronouns largely depends on the noun or pronoun which is modified. The followings are the
explanation of each relative pronoun.
1 Who
The relative pronoun who introduces an adjective clause when it modifies or gives further explanation about people. The relative pronoun who replaces the
use of he, she, or they Azar, 1999: 268 and Murphy, 1985: 182. Sentence [2] illustrates the role of the relative pronoun who in a sentence.
[2] I thanked the woman who helped me. The presence of the relative pronoun who in the clause who helped me
introduces that the phrase is an adjective clause. According to Azar 1999: 268, the sentence [2] consists of an independent clause [2a] and dependent clause [2b].
Therefore, sentence [2a] and [2b] constitute [2]. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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[2a] I thanked the woman. [2b] The woman helped me.
The phrase the woman in [2b] corresponds to the noun phrase the woman in [2a] therefore the relative pronoun who is used when those two sentences are
combined in which one of those sentences functions as the modifier.
2 Which
Conversely, the relative pronoun which introduces an adjective clause when it modifies or gives further explanation about things Murphy, 1985: 182.
Sentence [3] illustrates the use of which in an adjective clause. [3] Where is the cheese which was in the fridge?
Following the same arguments, dependent clause [3a] and independent clause [3b] constitutes sentence [3].
[3a] Where is the cheese? [3b] It was in the fridge.
The pronoun it in [3b] corresponds to the noun phrase the cheese in [3a]. Therefore, the relative pronoun which takes the position of the pronoun to form
the sentence [3].
3 Whom
Similar to the former relative pronoun, the relative pronoun whom introduces an adjective clause when it modifies about people. However, as Azar
1999: 268 puts forward, whom is generally used only in formal English. In PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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speaking, who is usually used instead of whom. However, in the perspective of grammar, the relative pronoun whom is used when it functions as an object of the
verb. Sentence [4] illustrates the use of whom in an adjective clause. [4]
The man
whom I met was Lecter. Based on the arguments that an adjective clause connects to an independent
clause, sentence [4a] and [4b] comprise [4]. [4a] The man was Lecter
[4b] I met him. Comparing [4a], [4b] and [4], the presence of the relative pronoun whom is clear
then. The object pronoun him which functions as an object corresponds to the pronoun Lecter therefore the relative pronoun whom occupies the object position
to make up sentence [4].
4 That
Another relative pronoun which introduces either people or things is that. According to Murphy 1985: 182-184 and Azar, 1999: 268, the relative pronoun
that occupies same properties as which and who. Instead of using who and which, that can be used in an adjective clause. Following the arguments therefore,
sentence [5] and [6] below have the same meaning as sentence [2] and [3]. [5] I thanked the woman that helped me.
[6] Where is the cheese that was in the fridge. A final point which should be clear is that those relative pronouns also
occurs in a noun clause. The relative pronoun who, which and that can function as PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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a connector in a noun clause Philips, 2003: 117. However, the nature of the noun clause naturally distinguishes from an adjective clause. As the name suggest, a
noun clause is a clause which is treated like a noun. Therefore, it can occupy the position of subject, object and object preposition whereas an adjective clause
cannot. It should be another point which needs to be taken in to account in considering an adjective clause in a sentence.
c. Embedding
