“She took mental note of all those who did not complain of the heat, the wind, the unequal rainfall; and then tried to separate those like herself who actually enjoyed being scratchy with blown sand and headachy from glare, from those like Cassie and Beth who were merely cheerfully adaptable.” (McKinley, 2000)
An Adjective clause is a dependent clause that functions as an adjective – defines a subject or an object – in a sentence. It answers questions: What kind? How many? or Which one? An adjective clause contains (1) a subject (explicit or implied) and (2) a verb. It is introduced with (1) a relative pronoun – who, which, that – or (2) a relative adverb – when, where, why.
In a sentence, an adjective clause can modify a subject or an object. A relative pronoun that introduces an adjective clause can be a subject of a dependent clause and its integral part, or it can be an object of an independent clause and not a part of an adjective clause.
Clauses Modifying Subjects
1. The student who comes on time makes a good first impression. The relative pronoun who is the subject of a dependent adjective clause.
2. The new teacher whom they hired is very experienced. The relative pronoun whom is not part of the adjective clause. It functions as the direct object in the sentence.
Clauses Modifying Objects
1. Students like teachers who explain material clearly. The relative pronoun who is the subject of a dependent adjective clause.
2. Students like teachers who they know better. The relative pronoun who is not part of the adjective clause. It functions as the direct object in the sentence.
Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Adjective Clauses
“He was a hero to his valet, who bullied him, and a terror to most of his relations, whom he bullied in turn.” (Wilde, 1993)
“It is not he who is revealed by the painter; it is rather the painter who reveals himself on the coloured canvas.” (Wilde, 1993)
There are two types of adjective clauses: restrictive and nonrestrictive.
In a Restrictive adjective clause the information is important to express the idea of the main clause; thus, a writer is restricted from removing an adjective clause from a sentence. No commas are used around an adjective clause in this case.
e.g. The synagogue that is on Rhode Island is the oldest synagogue in the USA.- If an adjective clause is removed, the sentence makes no sense – The synagogue is the oldest synagogue in the USA…???
In a Nonrestrictive adjective clause the information is only additional complimenting the idea of the main clause. The writer is not restricted from removing an adjective clause from a sentence. An adjective clause is set off by commas, which work like scissors cutting out a clause.
e.g. The Touro synagogue, which is on Rhode Island, is the oldest synagogue in the USA.- If an adjective clause is removed, the sentence still makes a perfect sense – The Touro synagogue is the oldest synagogue in the USA!
e.g. I remember the appearance of his coat, which he patched himself upstairs in his room, and which, before the end, was nothing but patches. (Stevenson, 1993)
Reduced Adjective Clauses
An adjective clause can be reduced, but it will still make a complex sentence.
e.g. The new teacher (whom) they hired is very experienced. – The new teacher they hired is very experienced.
In some cases, an adjective clause is reduced to a phrase to create fluency.
e.g. People (who have) better resumes are hired first. – People with better resumes are hired first.
Quick Facts
Adjective clauses are also called Relative clauses because they relate to the noun/pronoun they precede.
Who, which, and that function as subjects of adjective clauses. Who and that relate to people; which and that relate to places or things.
Whom, which, and that function as the object in the adjective clause.
Whose is the possessive relative pronoun that functions as the object in the adjective clause.
When, where, and why function as relative adverbs. They can never be the subject of the adjective clause. To make sure these pronouns introduce adjective and not adverb clauses, try to replace them by “a preposition + which”.
Where = to, at, from, in + which e.g. A flea market is a place where (to which) vendors come to sell or trade their goods.
When= during, at, in, on + which e.g. Summer is the time when (during which) kids go on a long break.
Why= for + which e.g. The reason why (for which) most people move to large cities is to find jobs.