ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

KUS1204_ENGLISH 2
By RMS
ABOUT ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

• What is an adjective clause?

• An adjective clause is a dependent clause used as an adjective;

• What is the function of an adjective clause?

• It functions to modify a noun or a pronoun.

• How to form adjective clauses?

• The adjective clauses are usually introduced by the relative pronouns who, whom, whose, which, and that. These
pronouns function in noun positions in the clauses they introduced.
• Adjective clauses may also be introduced by the subordinate conjunctions when, where, and why.

• Where is the position of an adjective clause?

• Since the adjective clause may be used in the same way in which an adjective is used, it positions after a noun that it
modifies/describes.
ADJECTIVE CLAUSES INTRODUCED BY RELATIVE
PRONOUNS

Examples:
• Krakato, which is a volcano on an Indonesian island, exploded.
• People who lived 3,520 kilometres away heard the noise.
• The thousands whom the tidal wave killed lived on the island of Java.
ADJECTIVE CLAUSES INTRODUCED BY THE SUBORDINATE
CONJUNCTIONS WHEN, WHERE, AND WHY.

Examples:
• People still speak of the day when the explosion occurred.
• The ocean covered the place where the volcano had been.
• Only scientists can explain the reason why disaster
happened.
RELATIVE PRONOUNS AS OBJECTS OF
PREPOSITIONS

• When a relative pronoun is the object of a prepositions,

the entire prepositional phrase may be used as the
subordinator.
• People will speak of the day when the explosion occurred.
• People will speak of the day on which the explosions occurred.
• My mother wondered with how many friends I worked.
• My mother wondered how many friends I worked with.
OMISSION OF SUBORDINATING WORD

• The subordinator is only omitted if the subordinator is NOT the subject of the
clause.
• That is the place that looks dangerous. (subject)
• The man who wrote about the hidden treasure passed away last night. (subject)
• The blast that occurred in 1883 was very destructive. (subject)

• Compare
• The blast (that) you read about occurred in 1883.
• The ocean covered the place (where) the volcano had been.
• Give us the reason (why) this disaster happened.
EXERCISES
1. INSTRUCTION: IDENTIFY THE ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
AND VERB OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES.
1. Sounds that terrified the people had increased.
2. Questions which arose were answered.
3. Many people who lived on the island of Java were killed.
4. Rumbling came from places where no one could investigate.
5. The island, on which nobody lived, became very hot.
6. Nothing that happened could have been foretold.
7. The 36,000 persons who died in the explosion are forgotten.
8. Then noise which was terrified is also forgotten.
 2. INSTRUCTION: COMBINE THE FOLLOWING PAIRS OF SENTENCES TO MAKE
COMPLEX SENTENCES WITH ADJECTIVE CLAUSES

1. I returned the record. 7. I returned the record.

I bought it yesterday.
2. The little girl is my cousin’s daughter.
She is wearing red hair ribbons .
3. The flowers are beautiful.
You brought them to me.
4. Susan finds time for painting.
I bought it yesterday.
8. The dog is friendly.
He barked as we walked past.
9. The dormitory is comfortable.
I live there for four years.
10. Those grapes are sweet.

She is a very busy person. We bought them.

5. Do you recognise the man? 11. I don’t remember the man’s name.

You met him at the party. It is difficult to pronounce.

6. Did you see those people?

12. I know a stranger.
He lives on a boat.
I ate lunch with them yesterday.
REFERENCES

1. Wishon, George E & Burks, Julia M. (1980). Let’s write English: revised edition. Litton
education publishing International.
2. Liss, Rhonda & Davis, Jason. (2012). Effective Academic Writing:The short essay 2, second
edition. Oxford University press.
3. Liss, Rhonda & Davis, Jason. (2012). Effective Academic Writing:The researched essay 2,
second edition. Oxford University press.
THANK YOU