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Adjectives Clause
Main Clauses, Subordinate Clauses and Relative Pronouns
A. Terms, Definitions and Examples
Terms Definition Examples
Word Word is the smallest free form of
language which means something and can be spoken or written
Go, so, timid, man, on, stay, book, pen, stupid, cool, etc
Phrase Phrase is a group of words that does not
contain a subject and a verb his story, red car, the green car, on
Friday, her teacher, at the corner, beautiful girl, etc
Clause Clause is a group of words containing; a
subject and a verb. because he was late, as soon as he
came, after the sun rises, etc Independent
Clause Independent clause is a complete
sentence. It contains the main subject and verb of a sentence.
Sue lives in New York. I know.
I closed the door.
Dependent Clause
A dependent clause is a clause which cannot stands alone. It must be connected
to an Independent clause. where sue lives, what you did, when
they arrive, who lives there, whom I met, etc
B. Adjective Clauses
As the name suggests, the adjective clause functions like an adjective. An adjective clause is a dependent clause that modifies a noun. It describes, identifies or gives further information
about a noun. Please note this example [1] beautiful girl
The adjective beautiful in the noun phrase beautiful girl gives further information about the noun girl. Please compare with the following matrix clause.
[2] The boy who is smart is standing at the corner functions Similarly, the clause who is smart in the sentence [2] gives further information about the
noun phrase The boy. Therefore, the clause who is smart is called an adjective clause. In addition, the main clause and the adjective clause are combined by a relative pronoun. The use of the relative
pronoun is varied based on the noun which is modified.
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. The
sentence below illustrates it. [3] I thanked the woman who helped me.
The presence of the relative pronoun who in the clause who helped me introduces that it is an adjective clause. Sentence [3] consists of an independent clause [2a] and dependent clause [2b].
[3a] I thanked the woman. [3b] The woman helped me.
The phrase the woman in [3b] corresponds to the phrase the woman in [3a] therefore the relative pronoun who is used when those two sentences are combined in which one those sentences
functions as a modifier.
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2. Which
Conversely, the relative pronoun which introduces an adjective clause when it modifies or gives further explanation about things. Sentence [4] illustrates the use of which in an adjective
clause. [4] Where is the cheese which was in the fridge?
Following the same arguments, sentence [4] consists of a dependent clause [4a] and an independent clause [4b].
[4a] Where is the cheese? [4b] It was in the fridge.
The pronoun it in [4b] corresponds to the phrase the cheese in [4a]. Therefore, the relative pronoun which takes the position of the pronoun to form the sentence [3].
3. Whom
Similarly to the former relative pronoun, the relative pronoun whom introduces an adjective clause when it modifies about people. However, whom is generally used only in formal
English. In speaking who is commonly used instead of whom. However, in the perspective of grammar the relative pronoun whom is used when it is the object of the verb in an adjective clause.
Sentence [5] illustrates the use of whom in an adjective clause.
[5] The man whom I met was Lecter. Based on the arguments that an adjective clause connects to an independent clause, sentence [5a]
and [5b] comprise [5]. [5a] The man was Lecter
[5b] I met him. Comparing [5a] and [5b] the presence of the relative pronoun whom is clear then. The object
pronoun him which functions as an object corresponds to the noun Lecter. Therefore, the relative pronoun whom occupies the object position to make up sentence [5].
4. That
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