Adjective Clauses: The Secret to Creating Complex and Interesting Sentences

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Adjective clauses, also known as relative clauses, are a vital part of English grammar that add detail and specificity to sentences. They are formed using relative pronouns or adverbs, and can be used to describe nouns or pronouns in a main clause. In this article, we will cover the basics of adjective clauses, including how to identify and form them correctly, common mistakes to avoid, and advanced topics such as non-defining clauses and reduced adjective clauses. By the end of this article, you will have a thorough understanding of adjective clauses and how to use them to enhance your writing.

Adjective Clauses

What are adjective clauses?

An adjective clause, also known as a relative clause, is a type of subordinate clause that modifies a noun or pronoun in a sentence by providing additional information about it. Adjective clauses are introduced by a relative pronoun or a relative adverb, and are connected to the main clause in a sentence. They function as adjectives, and therefore add detail and specificity to sentences by answering questions such as “which one?” or “what kind?”.

For example:

• The man who was wearing a red hat is my uncle.

In this sentence, the adjective clause “who was wearing a red hat” modifies the noun “man” and tells us more about the specific person being referred to.

• The city where I grew up is beautiful. In this sentence, the adjective clause “where I grew up” modifies the noun “city” and tells us more about the specific city being referred to.

Purpose of adjective clauses

The purpose of adjective clauses is to provide additional information about a noun or pronoun in a sentence. They are used to give more detail and specificity to a sentence and to help clarify the meaning. Adjective clauses can also be used to connect ideas within a sentence and make writing more cohesive. They can be used to answer questions about the noun or pronoun such as “which one?”, “what kind?”, “whose?”, “when?”, “where?” or “why?”.

For example:

• The woman who was speaking at the conference was an expert in her field.

In this sentence, the adjective clause “who was speaking at the conference” provides additional information about the noun “woman” and tells us more about the specific person being referred to.

• The book that I am reading is a bestseller.

In this sentence, the adjective clause “that I am reading” provides additional information about the noun “book” and tells us more about the specific book being referred to.

Additionally, adjective clauses can also be used to create more complex and interesting sentences, by adding depth, nuance and making sentences more informative.

In summary, the purpose of adjective clauses is to provide more detail, specificity and clarity to sentences, to answer questions about a noun or pronoun and to make writing more cohesive and interesting.

Overview of the structure of adjective clauses

The structure of adjective clauses in English grammar can vary depending on the type of clause, but generally, they are formed using a relative pronoun or relative adverb that acts as the subject or object of the clause, and a verb. The relative pronoun or adverb is used to introduce the clause, and the clause modifies a noun or pronoun in the main clause.

Here are some examples of the structure of adjective clauses:

1. Relative Pronoun as Subject:
   • Subject + Verb + Object + that/who/whom + Subject + Verb example: The person (who/that) I saw at the store is my friend.
2. Relative Pronoun as Object:
   • Subject + Verb + Object + whom/that + Subject + Verb example: The woman (whom/that) I met yesterday is an artist.
3. Relative Adverb:
   • Subject + Verb + Place/Time/Manner + Where/When/Why + Subject + Verb example: The concert (where/when) I went to last night was amazing.

As you can see, adjective clauses come in many different forms, but the basic structure consists of the relative pronoun or adverb, a subject and a verb. It is essential to understand the right usage of relative pronouns, adverb and comma usage to form a proper adjective clause.

It is important to note that the verb form in the adjective clause is dependent on the verb form of the main clause, such as past or present, singular or plural. Additionally, the position of adjective clauses can be varied, they can appear at the beginning, middle or end of a main clause.

Identifying Adjective Clauses

How to recognize adjective clauses

One way to recognize adjective clauses is to look for a relative pronoun or adverb at the beginning of the clause. Common relative pronouns include: “who”, “whom”, “whose”, “that”, and “which”. Common relative adverbs include: “where”, “when”, and “why”. If a clause begins with one of these words, it is likely an adjective clause.

Another way to recognize adjective clauses is to look for a comma that separates the clause from the main clause. Adjective clauses are often set off by commas, which indicate that the clause is not essential to the meaning of the sentence and can be removed without changing the basic meaning of the sentence.

Additionally, adjective clauses provide additional information about the noun or pronoun in the main clause, so if you find a clause that describes the noun or pronoun that is already mentioned in the main clause, it is likely an adjective clause.

For example:

• The woman, who was speaking at the conference, was an expert in her field.
• The concert, where I went to last night, was amazing.
• The person, whom I saw at the store, is my friend.

In all these examples, you can see the relative pronoun “who”, “where” and “whom” introducing the adjective clause and commas separating the adjective clause from the main clause. Also, you can see that they are providing additional information about the nouns “woman”, “concert” and “person” respectively which are already mentioned in the main clause.

Here are some examples of adjective clauses used in sentences:

1. The book, which was written by a famous author, was very popular. (The adjective clause “which was written by a famous author” modifies the noun “book” and provides additional information about it)
2. The man who was wearing a red hat is my uncle. (The adjective clause “who was wearing a red hat” modifies the noun “man” and provides additional information about the specific person being referred to)
3. The city where I grew up is beautiful. (The adjective clause “where I grew up” modifies the noun “city” and provides additional information about the specific city being referred to)
4. The movie that I watched last night was really good. (The adjective clause “that I watched last night” modifies the noun “movie” and provides additional information about the specific movie being referred to)
5. The concert at which I sang was sold out. (The adjective clause “at which I sang” modifies the noun “concert” and provides additional information about the specific concert being referred to)
6. The person whose phone was ringing is my friend. (The adjective clause “whose phone was ringing” modifies the noun “person” and provides additional information about the specific person being referred to)

As you can see, these examples of adjective clauses provide specific information about the nouns and pronouns in the main clauses and help to make the sentences more informative and interesting.

Forming Adjective Clauses

Use of relative pronouns

• “Who” is used to refer to the subject of a clause
• “Whom” is used to refer to the object of a clause
• “Whose” is used to indicate possession
• “That” and “which” can be used to refer to the subject or object of a clause, depending on the context. “That” is more commonly used in restrictive clauses, which are essential to the meaning of the sentence, while “which” is more commonly used in non-restrictive clauses, which provide additional information but are not essential to the meaning of the sentence.

Examples:

• The woman who was speaking at the conference is an expert in her field.
• The woman whom I met yesterday is an artist.
• The car whose engine I fixed is running well.
• The book that I am reading is a bestseller.
• The book, which was written by a famous author, is very popular.

Use of relative adverbs

• “Where” is used to refer to place
• “When” is used to refer to time
• “Why” is used to refer to reason

Examples:

• The city where I grew up is beautiful.
• The concert when I sang was sold out.
• The reason why I came late was a traffic jam.

Connecting adjective clauses to main clauses

Adjective clauses are connected to the main clause by a comma and must follow the main clause.

Examples:

• The woman, who was speaking at the conference, is an expert in her field.
• The concert, when I sang, was sold out.

Examples of correctly formed adjective clauses

• The person whom I met yesterday is my friend
• The book whose cover I like is in the library
• The movie that I watched last night was really good
• The city where I grew up is very beautiful
• The person who was at the party is my best friend
• The reason why I came late was a traffic jam

In all these examples, you can see that the relative pronoun or adverb is used correctly and the adjective clause is connected to the main clause with a comma. Also, The verb form in the adjective clause is dependent on the verb form of the main clause, such as past or present, singular or plural.

Common Mistakes in Using Adjective Clauses

Misuse of relative pronouns

One common mistake in using adjective clauses is using the wrong relative pronoun. For example, using “who” instead of “whom” or “whose” or using “that” instead of “which”. It is important to understand the correct usage of relative pronouns in adjective clauses.

Examples:

• Incorrect: The woman who I met yesterday is an artist.
• Correct: The woman whom I met yesterday is an artist.

Omitting relative pronouns or adverbs

Another mistake is omitting the relative pronoun or adverb altogether. This can make the sentence unclear and harder to understand.

Examples:

• Incorrect: The woman I met yesterday is an artist.
• Correct: The woman whom I met yesterday is an artist.

Comma splices

A comma splice occurs when a comma is used to separate two independent clauses instead of a semicolon or conjunction.

Examples:

• Incorrect: The woman was an expert in her field, she was speaking at the conference.
• Correct: The woman was an expert in her field; she was speaking at the conference or The woman, who was an expert in her field, was speaking at the conference.

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