2. Adjective Clause

An Adjective Clause describes or tells us more about a noun. EXAMPLE: I have a friend who is a funny clown. In the example, "who is a funny clown" is an adjective clause. An adjective clause is a dependent clause and is never a complete sentence. An adjective clause is formed with the use of the following words: who, that, whom, EXAMPLES: a) This morning he fought with a little guy who was his best friend. b) The man who walks with a slight limp was an international footballer. c) I must say he is the most boring person who/that ever lives. d) The money that you gave me lasted only a week./The money you gave me lasted only a week. e) She is the only cousin whom I enjoy talking to. f) The man whom you met yesterday is our new next-door neighbour. In the examples, the adjective clauses are in bold. In (a), the adjective clause who was his best friend follows and modifies a noun. It gives more information about the noun. In (b), an adjective clause can come in the middle of a sentence. It immediately follows the noun it modifies. In (c), in many cases who or that can be used to start an adjective clause. In (d), only that can be used; that is used for animals or things; who is used for people. In (e), whom is an object pronoun, and comes at the beginning of an adjective clause. Here, it refers to cousin. In (f), the adjective clause beginning with whom can occur in the middle of a sentence. In (d), (e) and (f), the object pronouns that and whom can be omitted from the adjective clause as follow: The money you gave me lasted only a week. She is the only cousin I enjoy talking to. The man you met yesterday is our new next-door neighbour. Using which and that in adjective clause a) The fire broke out in the warehouse. It swept through the factories. b) The fire which broke out in the warehouse swept through the factories. c) The fire that broke out in the warehouse swept through the factories. In (a), we change It to which or that to make an adjective clause. It, which and that refer to the fire, which is not a person so who cannot be used. Which refers to things; that refers to people or things. In (b) and (c), which and that are used as the subject of an adjective clause (which/that broke out in the warehouse), so they cannot be omitted. EXAMPLE: The fire broke out in the warehouse swept through the factories. (INCORRECT) However, which and that can be omitted if they are used as an object pronoun in an adjective clause, as follow: The fire which I saw swept through the factories. The fire that I saw swept through the factories. EXAMPLE: The fire I saw swept through the factories. (CORRECT) Using whose in adjective clause EXAMPLE:   The man made a police report. His wife went missing three months ago. The man whose wife went missing three months ago made a police report. Whose shows possession. His wife is changed to whose wife to create an adjective clause. The adjective clause here is whose wife went missing three months ago.     My friend is a fireman. His house has burned down. My friend is a fireman whose house has burned down. The adjective clause is in bold. His house is changed to whose house to make an adjective clause.                                                                         Using where and when in adjective clause   The place where he flies his kites is very quiet. Where begins the adjective clause which is in bold. It is used to modify a noun of place.     I'll never forget the day when she kissed me. When is used in an adjective clause to modify a noun of time. Restrictive Adjective Clause and nonrestrictive Adjective Clause A restrictive Adjective Clause is necessary to the meaning of the sentence in which it appears. It cannot be omitted from a sentence, for without this clause, the basic meaning of the sentence changes. It is not set off by commas. A nonrestrictive clause can be omitted from a sentence in which it appears without affecting the basic meaning of the sentence. It merely gives more information about the noun it modifies. It is separated form the main clause by commas.