Adjective clause

Insert the adjective clause in each of the sentences below. Do not use commas if the adjective clause
serves to identify the antecedent or to limit the quantity of the antecedent.

1. Adjective clause—who has too great expectations from his son.

a. Dr. White ______________________________________ may be disappointed.
b. A man _________________________________________ may be disappointed.
2. Adjective clause—where he keeps his money now.
a. The bank ________________________________________ is a very old and reliable one.
b. The National Savings Bank ______________________________________ is a very old and
reliable one.
3. Adjective clause—which revolves around the sun
a. The earth ____________________________________ is called a planet
b. A heavenly body ________________________________________ is called a planet.
4. Adjective clause—which were painted by the great masters of the Rennaissance
a. Some of the pictures ___________________________________ sold for a high price at the
auction (omit some of)
b. All the pictures ________________________________________ sold for a high price at the
auction (omit all)
5. Adjective clause—who liked the insurance plan
a. All the teachers ______________________________________________ signed up for it.
b. Some of the teachers __________________________________________ signed up for it.

Change the second sentence in each group of sentences into an adjective clause and insert in the space
in the first sentence. Be careful of punctuation of the adjective clauses. Observe formal usage.

Example: The police finally arrested the thieves who had participated in the great train robbery.

The thieves had participated in the great train robbery.

1. The musicians __________________________________________arrived very late because of

the storm.
The company had hired them for the office party.
2. The rains ___________________________________________ came too late to save the crops.
The farmers were expecting them.
3. Abstract art ___________________________________ is concerned with esthetic form rather
than with graphic representation.
Many people do not understand abstract art.
4. The man _____________________________________was reluctant to report the theft to the
police.
His money had been stolen.
 5. The Browns were greatly impressed by the brilliance of Mr. Jones, the young author
__________________________________________________________________.
They had just been introduced to him.

Change the second sentence in each group of sentences into an adjective clause and insert it into the
first sentence. Use both the formal and the informal forms of the adjective clause.

1. The company ____________________________ employs many people.

She works for the company.
The company for which she works employs many people. (formal)
The company (which) she works for employs many people. (informal)
2. Prof. Emery ___________________ has written a very controversial book.
Everyone is talking about him these days.
3. The house ___________________ is very old.
The Taylors live in the house.
4. The fire _____________________is now under control.
The Fire Department has been fighting against it for several hours.
5. He has gotten himself into a dangerous situation _____________________________.
He has no control over this situation.
6. The enemies _________________________________are poverty and injustice.
Every country fights against these enemies.

In each group of sentences, change the second sentence into an adjective clause and insert it in the
blank in the first sentence. Use commas for the adjective clause.

1. The toys, most of which had been damaged in transit, were returned to the manufacturer.
Most of them had been damaged in transit.
2. The members of the band ______________________ came from all parts of the city.
The majority of them were amateurs.
3. She hurried home to feed her cats. ______________________
One of them had just had kittens.
4. The president appointed a special committee ___________________________________
The chairman of the committee was to report to him periodically.
5. Their apartment ________________________was one of the most expensive in the building.
The windows of their apartment faced the river.
6. This old book _______________________________ has had a great influence on me.
The author of the book is unknown.
Exercise:

1. This is one of the best books that (or which) have ever been written. (Antecedent is the plural
books)*
2. This is the only one of our books that (or which) has been written by an African author.
(Antecedent is the singular the only one)
3. Some members are afraid to go ahead with the fund-raising dance.
Mr. Brown is one of those members ___________________________
4. Mr. Brown is afraid to go ahead with the fund raising dance.
He is the only one of the members _________________________________
5. Some novels are truly monumental.
War and Peace is one of the few novels _________________________________________
6. War and Peace is truly monumental.
War and Peace is the only one of the novels in my library _____________________________
7. Some students have failed the final exam.
He is one of the students ___________________________________
8. He has failed the final exam.
He is the only one of the students _________________________________

*In informal usage, a singular verb is frequently used in place of the plural verb in the adjective
clause after a phrase beginning with one of the—This is one of the best books that has ever
been written.
 KEY

Adjective clause

Insert the adjective clause in each of the sentences below. Do not use commas if the adjective clause
serves to identify the antecedent or to limit the quantity of the antecedent.

1. Adjective clause—who has too great expectations from his son.

a. Dr. White, who has too great expectations from his son, may be disappointed.
b. A man who has too great expectations from his son may be disappointed.
2. Adjective clause—where he keeps his money now.
a. The bank where he keeps his money now is a very old and reliable one.
b. The National Savings Bank, where he keeps his money now, is a very old and reliable
one.
3. Adjective clause—which revolves around the sun
a. The earth, which revolves around the sun, is called a planet
b. A heavenly body which revolves around the sun is called a planet.
4. Adjective clause—which were painted by the great masters of the Rennaissance
a. The pictures which were painted by the great masters of the Rennaissance sold for a
high price at the auction
b. The pictures, which were painted by the great masters of the Rennaissance, sold for a
high price at the auction
5. Adjective clause—who liked the insurance plan
a. The teachers, who liked the insurance plan signed up for it.
b. The teachers who liked the insurance plan signed up for it.

Change the second sentence in each group of sentences into an adjective clause and insert in the space
in the first sentence. Be careful of punctuation of the adjective clauses. Observe formal usage.

Example: The police finally arrested the thieves who had participated in the great train robbery.

The thieves had participated in the great train robbery.

1. The musicians whom the company had hired for the office party arrived very late because of the
storm.
The company had hired them for the office party.
2. The rains, (which) the farmers were expecting, came too late to save the crops.
The farmers were expecting them.
3. Abstract art, which many people do not understand, is concerned with esthetic form rather
than with graphic representation.
Many people do not understand abstract art.
4. The man ,whose money had been stolen, was reluctant to report the theft to the police.
 His money had been stolen.
5. The Browns were greatly impressed by the brilliance of Mr. Jones, the young author whom they
had just been introduced to.
They had just been introduced to him.

Change the second sentence in each group of sentences into an adjective clause and insert it into the first sentence. Use both
the formal and the informal forms of the adjective clause.

1. The company ____________________________ employs many people.

She works for the company.
The company for which she works employs many people. (formal)
The company (which) she works for employs many people. (informal)
2. Prof. Emery, about whom everyone is talking these days, has written a very controversial book.
(formal)
Prof. Emery, whom everyone is talking about these days, has written a very controversial book.
(informal)
Everyone is talking about him these days.
3. The house in which the Taylors live is very old. (formal)
The house where the Taylors live in is very old. (informal)
The Taylors live in the house.
4. The fire, against which the Fire Department has been fighting for several hours, is now under
control.(formal)
The fire, which the Fire Department has been fighting against for several hours, is now under
control. (informal)
The Fire Department has been fighting against it for several hours.
5. He has gotten himself into a dangerous situation over which he has no control (formal)
6. He has gotten himself into a dangerous situation where/which he has no control. (informal)
He has no control over this situation.
7. The enemies against which every country fights are poverty and injustice. (formal)
The enemieswhich every country fights againstare poverty and injustice. (informal)
Every country fights against these enemies.

In each group of sentences, change the second sentence into an adjective clause and insert it in the blank in the first sentence.
Use commas for the adjective clause.

1. The toys, most of which had been damaged in transit, were returned to the manufacturer.
Most of them had been damaged in transit.
2. The members of the band, the majority of whom were amateurs, came from all parts of the city.
The majority of them were amateurs.
3. She hurried home to feed her cats, one of which had just had kittens.
One of them had just had kittens.
4. The president appointed a special committee, the chairman of whom was to report to him
periodically.
The chairman of the committee was to report to him periodically.
 5. Their apartment, the windows of which faced the river, was one of the most expensive in the
building. OR Their apartment, whose window faced the river, was one of the most expensive in
the building.
The windows of their apartment faced the river.
6. This old book, the author of which is unknown, has had a great influence on me. OR This old
book, whose author is unknown, has had a great influence on me.
The author of the book is unknown.

Exercise:

1. This is one of the best books that (or which) have ever been written. (Antecedent is the plural
books)*
2. This is the only one of our books that (or which) has been written by an African author.
(Antecedent is the singular the only one)
3. Some members are afraid to go ahead with the fund-raising dance.
Mr. Brown is one of those members who are afraid to go ahead with the fund-raising dance.
4. Mr. Brown is afraid to go ahead with the fund raising dance.
He is the only one of the members who is afraid to go ahead with the fund raising dance.
5. Some novels are truly monumental.
War and Peace is one of the few novels which are truly monumental.
6. War and Peace is truly monumental.
War and Peace is the only one of the novels in my library which is truly monumental.
7. Some students have failed the final exam.
He is one of the students who have failed the final exam.
8. He has failed the final exam.
He is the only one of the students who has failed the final exam.

Review of Adjective Clauses

Person as Antecedent

1. Albert Einstein, who was not only a great scientist but a great human being, will always be
revered in history.
2. A man whom everyone admires meets all his responsibilities.
3. The student, whose composition was read in class, was highly praised by his teacher.
4. Mr. Peters, whom the judge is talking to at the moment, is a very prominent lawyer.
5. The man whom the judge is talking to is a very prominent lawyer.
6. The office workers, all of whom had gone on strike for higher pay, were dismissed by the
company.
7. The workers, some of whom had gone on strike for higher pay, were dismissed by the company.
8. Suddenly, a man whom she knew was wanted by the police, appeared at the back door.
9. The soldiers on the European front, many of whom had been on active duty for four years, were
overjoyed when they received the news of the armistice.
Thing as Antecedent

10. Tennis, which can be played by two or four players, offers a pleasant means of recreation for
young people.
11. His last letter, in which he enclosed the check, was lost.
12. The books which he had written for finally arrived.
13. The television program which some educators are producing is very popular with young
children.
14. Some people do not like modern art, which they believe is only a random splashing of paint on
canvas.
15. He made some notes on a piece of paper on which he then quickly put in his pocket.

Place as antecedent

16. The town where the university is located has been very much in the news these days.
17. The city where Henry James preferred to live is rich in historical associations.
18. London, where Henry James preferred to live, is rich in historical associations.
19. The garage where the executives of the company park their cars is very expensive.
20. There was a wonderful view from the hilltop where the hikers had stopped to have lunch.

Time as Antecedent

21. The president will see you on Saturday when he will have more time to spend with you.
22. Most students look forward to the Christmas holidays, when they can relax after months of hard
work.
23. They generally take a short vacation in January when there is very little business in their store.