Adjective clause
Transform ordinary to extraordinary with our adjective clause power!
Adjective clause definition
An adjective clause is a type of dependent clause that modifies a noun or pronoun in a sentence. It functions as an adjective, providing additional information about the noun or pronoun that it modifies.
Adjective clauses usually begin with a relative pronoun (such as who, whom, whose, which or that) or a relative adverb (such as when, where or why).
Example:
The woman who is wearing a blue dress is my sister.
Noun: woman
Adjective clause: who is wearing a blue dress, modifies the noun “woman”.
Host your dreams with Bluehost - the reliable web hosting solution!
Bluehost offers reliable and flexible web hosting solutions for individuals and businesses. Get a free domain name, unlimited bandwidth and storage, SSL certificates, and 24/7 customer support. Scale your hosting plan as your website grows to meet your changing needs. With over 2 million domains hosted, Bluehost is a trusted name in the industry.
How to identify an adjective clause in a sentence?
To identify an adjective clause in a sentence, look for a group of words that begin with a relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, which, or that) or a relative adverb (when, where, or why) that modifies a noun or pronoun in a sentence.
The woman who is wearing a red hat is my sister.
Adjective clause – who is wearing a red hat.
Noun – woman
Relative pronoun – who (introduces the clause)
verb – ‘is wearing’ describes the action of the woman.
It is important to note that an adjective clause is a type of dependent clause, meaning it cannot stand alone as a sentence and must be attached to an independent clause.
Types of adjective clauses
- Restrictive adjective clauses.
- Non-restrictive adjective clauses.
- Restrictive adjective clauses –
Example: The dog that barked at me is my neighbor’s pet.
In this sentence, the adjective clause “that barked at me” restricts the noun “dog” to a specific dog, distinguishing it from other dogs. The clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence because it identifies the specific dog being referred to.
Also known as defining or essential clauses, restrictive adjective clauses provide essential information about the noun or pronoun they modify. They restrict or narrow down the meaning of the noun or pronoun. Restrictive clauses are not set off by commas, and they are necessary for the sentence to make sense.
- Non-Restrictive Adjective Clauses: Also known as non-defining or non-essential clauses, non-restrictive adjective clauses provide additional, non-essential information about the noun or pronoun they modify. They do not restrict or narrow down the meaning of the noun or pronoun. Non-restrictive clauses are set off by commas, and they can be removed from the sentence without affecting its basic meaning.
Example: My neighbor’s dog, which barks all night long, is driving me crazy.
In this sentence, the adjective clause “which barks all night long” provides additional information about the dog, but it does not restrict the meaning of “My neighbor’s dog.” The clause is non-essential and can be removed without affecting the basic meaning of the sentence.
Understanding the difference between restrictive and non-restrictive clauses is important for clear and effective writing.
Uses of adjective clauses
Adjective clauses have several uses in writing and speech. Here are a few:
-
Modify nouns and pronouns: The primary use of adjective clauses is to modify nouns and pronouns, providing additional information about them. For example, in the sentence “The book that I borrowed from the library is very interesting,” the adjective clause “that I borrowed from the library” modifies the noun “book” by specifying which book is being referred to.
-
Add descriptive details: Adjective clauses can add descriptive details to a sentence, making it more interesting and informative. For instance, in the sentence “The woman who is wearing a red hat is my sister,” the adjective clause “who is wearing a red hat” adds a descriptive detail about the woman.
-
Create complex sentences: Adjective clauses can be used to create complex sentences, which can make writing more sophisticated and interesting. By adding additional information to a noun or pronoun, adjective clauses can create more complex sentences that convey more nuanced meanings.
-
Avoid repetition: Adjective clauses can be used to avoid repetition in writing by providing additional information about a noun or pronoun without having to repeat it. For example, instead of saying “The car is red. The car has leather seats,” you could say “The car that has leather seats is red.”
-
Overall, adjective clauses are a useful tool for writers and speakers to provide additional information and create more complex and interesting sentences.
Adjective clause worksheet 1
The book that I borrowed from the library is very interesting. Answer: Adjective clause – that I borrowed from the library; modifies – the book
The man whom we met yesterday is my friend’s father. Answer: Adjective clause – whom we met yesterday; modifies – the man
The car, which is parked outside, belongs to my neighbor. Answer: Adjective clause – which is parked outside; modifies – the car
The cake that my mom baked for me was delicious. Answer: Adjective clause – that my mom baked for me; modifies – the cake
The restaurant where we had dinner last night was expensive. Answer: Adjective clause – where we had dinner last night; modifies – the restaurant
Adjective clause worksheet 2
The man who is talking to your mother is my uncle. Adjective clause: who is talking to your mother Modifies: man
The book that I bought yesterday is on the shelf. Adjective clause: that I bought yesterday Modifies: book
The woman whose dog chased my cat is my neighbor. Adjective clause: whose dog chased my cat Modifies: woman
The movie that we saw last night was really scary. Adjective clause: that we saw last night Modifies: movie
The car, which is parked outside, belongs to my friend. Adjective clause: which is parked outside Modifies: car
The food that I ate at the new restaurant was delicious. Adjective clause: that I ate at the new restaurant Modifies: food
The children who are playing in the park are having a great time. Adjective clause: who are playing in the park Modifies: children
The laptop, which I bought last year, is still working well. Adjective clause: which I bought last year Modifies: laptop
Adjective clause worksheet 3
The cake that my grandmother made for my birthday was delicious. Adjective clause: that my grandmother made for my birthday Modifies: cake
The woman who I met at the party is a doctor. Adjective clause: who I met at the party Modifies: woman
The house whose roof is red is for sale. Adjective clause: whose roof is red Modifies: house
The dog, which is wagging its tail, seems friendly. Adjective clause: which is wagging its tail Modifies: dog
The teacher who teaches math is my favorite. Adjective clause: who teaches math Modifies: teacher
The song that we heard on the radio is stuck in my head. Adjective clause: that we heard on the radio Modifies: song
The restaurant, where we had dinner last night, was really busy. Adjective clause: where we had dinner last night Modifies: restaurant
The student whose grades improved is working hard. Adjective clause: whose grades improved Modifies: student
