Adjective ClausesAdjective Clauses

Adjective clauses – What?Adjective clauses – What?

A clause that modifies a A clause that modifies a noun or pronounnoun or pronoun

Begins with these Begins with these pronouns:pronouns:Who (he, she)Who (he, she)Whom (him, her)Whom (him, her)Whose (possessive)Whose (possessive)Which (objects)Which (objects)that (objects)that (objects)

Adjective clauses – What?Adjective clauses – What?

Examples:Examples:

She likes the boy She likes the boy who just walked inwho just walked in..

The boy The boy whom she kissedwhom she kissed is not her is not her boyfriend.boyfriend.

The boy The boy whose bike was stolenwhose bike was stolen walked walked home. home.

The book The book that I am readingthat I am reading is too is too long.long.

That shirt, That shirt, which I will never wear which I will never wear againagain, makes me look fat., makes me look fat.

Adjective clauses – Why?Adjective clauses – Why?

To give your writing flavor, To give your writing flavor, variety, and a smooth flowvariety, and a smooth flow

To eliminate repetitive languageTo eliminate repetitive language

To use words economically and To use words economically and “write tight”“write tight”

Good: Mark Twain is the most celebrated humorist Good: Mark Twain is the most celebrated humorist in American History. He wrote in American History. He wrote Life on the Life on the MississippiMississippi. .

Better: Mark Twain, who is the most celebrated Better: Mark Twain, who is the most celebrated humorist in American History, wrote humorist in American History, wrote Life on the Life on the MississippiMississippi. .

Adjective clauses – Where?Adjective clauses – Where?

Adjective clauses Adjective clauses should follow the noun should follow the noun they are modifying.they are modifying.

NOTNOT We gave all the food to the We gave all the food to the cat cat that was left overthat was left over..

BUT We gave all the food that was left over to the cat.

Adjective clauses – How?Adjective clauses – How?

How an adjective clause is How an adjective clause is punctuated depends on punctuated depends on whether they arewhether they are

essentialessential (restrictive) (restrictive)

or or nonessentialnonessential (nonrestrictive)(nonrestrictive)

Adjective clauses – How?Adjective clauses – How?

Essential adjective clausesEssential adjective clauses are are necessary for the modified noun necessary for the modified noun to be identified.to be identified.

As in:As in:The boy who lives down the street The boy who lives down the street got arrested.got arrested.

The dress that I wore today is my The dress that I wore today is my favorite.favorite.

The lady whose phone went off was The lady whose phone went off was obnoxious.obnoxious.

Adjective clauses – How?Adjective clauses – How?

See how the noun is no See how the noun is no longer identified?longer identified?

The boy got arrested.The boy got arrested.

The dress is my favorite.The dress is my favorite.

The lady was obnoxious.The lady was obnoxious.

Adjective clauses – How?Adjective clauses – How?

Essential adjective clauses Essential adjective clauses are are notnot set off from the set off from the rest of the sentence by rest of the sentence by commas.commas.

*Note: “that” is always used *Note: “that” is always used for essential clauses, and for essential clauses, and therefore never needs therefore never needs commas.commas.

Adjective clauses – How?Adjective clauses – How?

Nonessential adjective clausesNonessential adjective clauses are are not necessary for the modified not necessary for the modified noun to be identified.noun to be identified.

As in:As in:The Princess Bride, which is my The Princess Bride, which is my favorite movie , is on TBS.favorite movie , is on TBS.

My brother, who lives in Brazil, My brother, who lives in Brazil, came to visit.came to visit.

Connor, whose car was stolen last Connor, whose car was stolen last week, has been walking to school.week, has been walking to school.

Adjective clauses – How?Adjective clauses – How?

The noun is still The noun is still identified:identified:

The Princess Bride is on The Princess Bride is on TBS.TBS.

My brother came to visit.My brother came to visit.

Connor has been walking to Connor has been walking to school.school.

Adjective clauses – How?Adjective clauses – How?

Nonessential adjective Nonessential adjective clauses are clauses are alwaysalways set off set off from the rest of the from the rest of the sentence by commas.sentence by commas.

*Note: “which” is always *Note: “which” is always used for nonessential used for nonessential clauses and therefore clauses and therefore always needs commas.always needs commas.

Adjective clauses – Who? or Whom?Adjective clauses – Who? or Whom?

““who” is used when the who” is used when the noun being modified acts as noun being modified acts as the subjectthe subject

““whom” is used when the whom” is used when the noun being modified acts as noun being modified acts as the objectthe object

Adjective clauses – Who? or Whom?Adjective clauses – Who? or Whom?

““who” is used when the who” is used when the noun being modified acts as noun being modified acts as the subjectthe subject

My mom, who loves me, is My mom, who loves me, is visiting from Miami.visiting from Miami.

Who is loving? My mom = whoWho is loving? My mom = who

Adjective clauses – Who? or Whom?Adjective clauses – Who? or Whom?

““whom” is used when the whom” is used when the noun being modified acts as noun being modified acts as the objectthe object

My mom, whom I love, is My mom, whom I love, is visiting from Miami.visiting from Miami.

Who is being loved? My mom = whomWho is being loved? My mom = whom

Adjective clauses – Your TurnAdjective clauses – Your Turn

Combine sentences to Combine sentences to create a complex sentence create a complex sentence by using an adjective by using an adjective clause.clause.

You will include adjective You will include adjective clauses in your upcoming clauses in your upcoming writing assignment!writing assignment!