2.10 ADJECTIVE CLAUSES AND PHRASES 210 Recognizing Adjective Clauses and Phrases Q Focus Read the following sentences: Air pollution is a hazard to human, plant, and animal health as well as to physical structures. ‘When hiking, you should carry map of the area where you plan to be. ‘A mountain range, ftom which many swift rivers flow, forms the backbone of the Malay Peninsula, A form of cleetrc engine called a linear induction motor drives the maglev train ‘What is similar about the underlined parts of the sentences? Al of the underlined parts work as adjectives. The first sentence has several single-word adjectives Both the second and third sentences contain an adjective clause. An adjective clause is a subordinate clause that fumctions in the same way that a single-word adjective does. An adjective clause describes, defines, modifies, or gives information about a noun, ‘The fourth sentence has an adjective phrase, which is an adjective clause that has been reduced. The adjective phrase called a linear induction motor modifies the noun engine, Alll of the above examples are similar to the types of sentences you will see on the TOEFL. Dewra’s Key 10 THe TOEFL® Test ant AANLONALS2.10 ADJECTIVE CLAUSES AND PHRASES 212 DO YOU KNOW...? One or two items on the TOEFL will test your ability to recognize adjective clauses and adjective phrases. You must be able to recognize correct and incorrect usage of all of the parts of adjective clause and phrases. Adjective clauses come after the nouns they modify. Adjective clauses are sometimes called relative clauses because they begin with words called relative pronouns. ee Like all clauses, an adjective clause must have a subject and a verb. Sometimes the subject is the relative pronoun. Within an adjective clause, the relative pronoun can serve these functions: Subject of an Adjective Clause: Frederick Douglass was a former slave who became a Ieadcr in the anti-slavery movement, Direct Object: Abraham Lincoln is the president whom historians believe was the greatest ‘The cat is the animal that many Americans choose as their pet. Note: When whom, that, or which functions as the disect object of the adjective clause, you can commit it, with no change in meaning: Abraham Lincoln is the president historians believe was the greatest. ‘The cat is the animal many Americans choose as their pet Object of a Preposition: Bermuda is an area of islands and coral rocks to which thousands of tourists are altracted every year, Note: The preposition before the relative pronoun is part of the adjective clause. Use a preposition if it is needed with the verb or if you want fo communicate a specific ‘meaning, Look at the above sentence written in a different way: ‘Thousands of tourists are attracted to an area of islands and coral rocks, Bermuda. ‘The verb are attracted needs the preposition 10, so the preposition must come before which in the adjective clause: (an area) to which thousands of tourists are attracted every year. Note: Who, that, where, when, and why never follow a preposition at the beginning of an adjective clause, Detra's Key 10 THe TOEFL® Teer2.10 ADJECTIVE CLAUSES AND PHRASES When an adjective clause is needed to identify @ noun, itis called a necessary or restrictive adjective clause, No commas are used around necessary adjective clauses. Of all living things, the chimpanzee has a genetic make-up that is most similar to ours. ‘When an adjective clause gives extra information and is not necessary to identify the noun, commas are placed around the adjective clause. Commas ae a clue that can help you recognize some adjective clauses, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who was born in Johnstown, New York, was an early American feminist. Note: When commas are used around an adjective clause, sat cannot begin the clause. Adjective clauses appear frequently in written and spoken English. A sentence might contain several adjective clauses, An adjective clause can contain other adjective clauses. In the following sentence, underline the adjective clauses. Circle the nouns they modify: Ee itrs tay ‘There are social situations where people who give information are higher in status [ than those who need information. (Answers: The adjective clause where people who give information are higher in status than those who need information modifies the noun situations. The adjective clause who give information modifies the noun people. The adjective clause who need information modifies the pronoun those.) Some adjective clauses can be reduced to adjective phrases, with no change in meaning. An adjective clause can be reduced to an adjective phrase only when the clause has who, which, or that as its subject. Adjective Clause: ‘The general who had led the Union Amay to victory was Ulysses S. Grant. Adjective Phrase: ‘The general leading the Union Army to victory was Ulysses S. Grant. Adjective Clause: A proton is one of two kinds of particles that make up the nucleus of an atom. Adjective Phrase: A proton is one of two kinds of particles making up the nucleus of an atom. To reduce an adjective clause to an adjective phrase: o« omit the subject of the clause (the relative pronoun) Ss omit the auxiliary verbs, if there are any. + change the verb to its ~ing form Detta’s Key 10 tHe TOEFL® Test 2132.10 ADJECTIVE CLAUSES AND PHRASES 8. 214 Note: Use the -ing form (present participle) when the adjective phrase is in the active voice. Use the ~ed form (past participle) when the adjective phrase is in the passive voice (See 2.6). ‘These rules apply to verbs in any tense. Active Voice: The technology that impnets us mast is what we use in our homes. ‘The technology impacting. us most is what we use in our homes. Passive Voice: | Yellowstone, which was authorized by Congress in 1872, is the oldest national park in the United States. Yellowstone, authorized by Congress in 1872, is the oldest national park in the United States. Note: If the adjective clause needs commas, the adjective phrase also needs commas: (Crater Lake, which was farmed by a-voleano, is a superb setting for day hikes. Crater Lake, formed by a volcano, is a superb setting for day hikes. Some adjective clauses can be reduced to appositive phrases. An appositive is a noun phrase that is placed near another noun to define or explain it (See 2.2). Appositives do not have verbs. Adjective Clause: One application of the laser is holography, which is the production of three— dimensional images. Appositive Phrase: ‘One application of the laser is holography, the production of three-dimensionsl images. A TOEFL item may test you by having: ‘+ no adjective clause where one is needed « an incomplete adjective clause “\ an incorrect relative pronoun °\« no preposition where one is needed before a relative pronoun an incorrect participle in an adjective phrase ATOEFL item may test your ability to recognize when an adjective clause is needed. Look at this example: ‘The fat-soluble vitamins are stored in body fat and may therefore accumulate in quantities can be toxic that ean be toxic they can be toxie can they be toxie All of the answer choices contain a verb. Therefore, you know that the missing part of the sen- tence must be an adjective clause that will modify the noun quantities. Detra’s Key 1o te TOEFL® Teor10. u 2.10 ADJECTIVE CLAUSES AND PHRASES Oniy the second choice, shat ean be toxic, has the comect form and necessary parts of an adjective clause: subject (relative pronoun) + verb. The other three choices are incorrect because they cither lack a relative pronoun or have incorrect word order: A test item may try to trick you by having an incorrect relative pronoun. Look at this example: Bonefits of a credit account, what may change from time to time, typically include certain kinds of insurance coverage. Which underlined word or phrase must be changed for the sentence to be correct? If you chose what, you Were correct because what makes a noun clause (See 2.9), not an adjective clause. Correction: which. Some of the answer choices may test you by not having a preposition where one is needed before the relative pronoun, Look at this example: For today’s astronomers, constellations are simply areas of the sky interesting objects await observation FINONALS in that which in which are Interesting objects await observation in areas of the sky. A preposition is needed before the rela- tive pronoun to communicate this location. The third answer choice, in which, best completes the sentence, which should read: For today’s astronomers, constellations are simply areas of the sky in which interesting objects await observation. Why are the other three answer choices incorrect? A TOEFL item may test your ability to recognize the correct participle in an adjective phrase Look at this example: Bobsleds, several teeth. ~ by two- or four-man crews, have a metal brake with driven are driven they are driven sriving ‘The commas ate a clue that the missing part of the sentence is the beginning of an adjective clause or phrase to modify bobsleds. Because the answer choices contain a participle but not a relative pronoun, you know the correct answer is an adjective phrase, ‘You can sce that by tro or four-man crews indicates passive voice (See 2.6). The first answer choice, driven, best completes the sentence because itis the past participle, which passive voice requires. Why are the other three answer choices incorrect? Detta’s Key 10 THe TOEFL® Test 2162.10 ADJECTIVE CLAUSES AND PHRASES Look at another example: A great amount of unemployment is the simple tumover of people either for the first time or reentering it center the labor force centered the labor force are entering the labor force entering the labor force In this sentence, people needs an active voice verb because people are doing the action; they are centering or reentering the labor force. Therefore, you must use the present participle, The fourth choice, entering the labor force, best completes the sentence. How would you rewrite the above adjective phrase as an adjective clause? Ve PRACTICE Exercise 2.10.4 Choose the one underlined word or phrase that must be changed for the sentence to be correct. 1. The vacuum coffee maker is a complicated device which steam is generated in a glass bowl c A B ‘comnocted to & holding container of coffee grounds and hot water. D 2, Alfhogh he sot the scientist he insets he new proces, the matter i the one wh A c verse ntacena 1s pie Choose the one word or phrase that best completes the sentence. 3. Hammurabi, ----- his capital at Babylon, 4, Composer Maurice Ravel based some of his issued a famous code of laws for the finest works on the Oriental scales ——--- he ‘management of his large empire. ‘was introduced at the Paris Exhibition of 1889. ® who had @® at which CB) had Cs) to which © whose Ce) which CBD he had GD that 216 Detra’s Key 10 THe TOEFL® Test2.10 ADJECTIVE CLAUSES AND PHRASES 5, When changing banks, credit card companies _—_-8, Cubism was an art movement, primarily may assign a cash advance limit that is less in painting, ——--- in 1907. than the fill credit line @® originated in Paris @® to a client’s account assigned C8) it originated in Paris CB) assigned to a client’s account © in Paris was originated CE) assigning to a client's account C&D that originated in Paris, Co) is assigning to a client’s account 9. Australia’s first penal colony, 6. Large, fast-moving trucks have been known at Sydney. to create wind blasts ------- a motorcyclist @® it was often called Botany Bay @ for can startle CB) often called Botany Bay CB) can that startle Ce) Botany Bay was often called CH that can startle CD often calling Botany Bay C& can startle 10, The aromatic herb tarragon has long been 7. Mount Vernon, George Washington’s mansion, cultivated for its leaves, ----- for flavoring hhas wide Iawns, fine gardens, and several vinegar, sauces, and soups. smaller buildings, ——--- with attention to Washington’s detailed notes, B® that are used CS) which are used @® restoring all CED been used all were restored @ they are used CE all restored CB) all restoration Exercise 2.10.B Choose the one word or phrase that best completes the sentence. 1. A-capo, a movable device —---- to a guitar 3, Interest is a device ——--- two functions neck, is used to raise the pitch of the strings. in the economy. @® that attaching CD that serves Ce) attached CB) that it serves CO) is attached CE) serves CO) where is attached CB) can be served 2. The Tarascans, ~ 4, Gravity dams, ---- of concrete, use their for their hummingbird-feather mosaics, are stil ‘own Weight to provide resistance to the noted for their weaving, music, and lacquerware. _pressure of water. @ they ® usually to make @&) who Cs they are usually made CS) that CG) are usually made CB) which Co usually made Detta’s Key 10 THe TOEFL® Test 217 FINNS2.10 ADJECTIVE CLAUSES AND PHRASES over France in the at Montreux Casino Hall on Lake 5, Edouard Daladier, early months of World War II, was overthrown Geneva, the Montreux International Jazz when he failed to aid Finland, Festival showcases leading jazz artists and Jazz-rock performers. AD was presided CB) presided @ Held CE) who presided CB) Holding CB that presided CE) itis held @®) Which is held 6. Nathaniel Currier and James Ives were American lithographers and publishers 8, The principles of Dada, -—---- Max Emst and highly popular hand-colored Marcel Duchamp, were eventually modified prints of nineteenth-century scenes. to become the basis of Surrealism. @® production of ® were carried to New York by C8) produced CB) carried to New York by CE) they produced CE) they were carried to New York by GE) who produced CB) carried them to New York Answers to Exercises 2.10.A through 2.10.B are on page 643. 2.10 EXTENSION 1. For each sentence in Exercises 2.10.A and 2.10.B, students identify (a) the subject and verb of the main clause and (b) the subject and verb of the adjective clause. Which sentences have adjective phrases? 2, In reading done outside class, students look for examples of adjective clauses and phrases. Bring examples to share in class. Identify the nouns that are modified by the adjective clauses and phrases. 3, Students create “TOEFL sentences” to test their classmates’ understanding of adjective clauses. Students write their own sentences with adjective clauses, or use sentences they find in print. Change the relative pronoun in each adjective clause so that itis incorrect. Write the sentences either on the board or on cards. Classmates must identify the error and make the correction, 28 Detra’s Key 10 THe TOEFL® Test