A Subordinate Clause A Subordinate Clause YOUYOU Should Get to Know!Should Get to Know!

Adjective Adjective ClausesClauses

Adjective ClausesAdjective Clauses

Just as a single-word adjective Just as a single-word adjective modifies a noun or pronoun, clauses modifies a noun or pronoun, clauses can modify nouns or pronouns. A can modify nouns or pronouns. A clause that modifies a noun or clause that modifies a noun or pronoun is called an pronoun is called an adjectiveadjective clauseclause..

Adjective clauses are Adjective clauses are

DEPENDENT CLAUSESDEPENDENT CLAUSES

Both one-word adjectives and adjective Both one-word adjectives and adjective clauses can be seen as basic sentences clauses can be seen as basic sentences that have been worked into a main clause.that have been worked into a main clause.

1. I looked into the audience. The 1. I looked into the audience. The audience was shocked.audience was shocked.

I looked into the I looked into the shocked shocked audienceaudience..

2. I looked into the shocked audience. The 2. I looked into the shocked audience. The audience was filled with shocked, audience was filled with shocked, confused artists and producers.confused artists and producers.

I looked into the audience I looked into the audience which was which was filled with shocked and confused filled with shocked and confused artists and producers.artists and producers.

. .

In Item 2, the sentence In Item 2, the sentence I looked into I looked into the the shocked audience shocked audience cannot cannot become a one-word adjective; become a one-word adjective; therefore, the sentence becomes therefore, the sentence becomes an an adjectiveadjective or or relative clauserelative clause opened by the word opened by the word whichwhich..

I looked into the audience I looked into the audience which which was filled with shocked and was filled with shocked and confused artists and producers.confused artists and producers.

Adjective ClausesAdjective Clauses

Nearly all of the adjectives Nearly all of the adjectives clauses you read, write, or speak use clauses you read, write, or speak use whowho, , whosewhose, , whomwhom, , whichwhich or or thatthat to tie the adjective clause to the to tie the adjective clause to the noun it modifies. noun it modifies.

These words are not conjunctions. These words are not conjunctions. They are pronouns that have a They are pronouns that have a connective or connective or relatingrelating function; thus function; thus they are called they are called relative pronounsrelative pronouns..

It is helpful to think of an adjective It is helpful to think of an adjective clause as a simple sentence that is used clause as a simple sentence that is used within another sentence. The relative within another sentence. The relative pronoun, by substituting for a noun, pronoun, by substituting for a noun, refers (“relates”) the clause directly to refers (“relates”) the clause directly to the word being modified.the word being modified.

For Example:For Example: I looked into the sky I looked into the sky whichwhich was filled was filled

with towering cumulus clouds.with towering cumulus clouds.

In this case, In this case, whichwhich takes the place of takes the place of saying “the sky” once again or using “it”. saying “the sky” once again or using “it”.

Because the relative pronoun Because the relative pronoun (which) is the word signaling the (which) is the word signaling the subordination, it begins the subordination, it begins the adjective clause.adjective clause.

(The only exception is when people use (The only exception is when people use formal grammar and we’ll get to that in formal grammar and we’ll get to that in a minute.)a minute.)

Consider the following sentences.Consider the following sentences.

Two Simple Sentences:Two Simple Sentences:

A. This is a well-built truck. A. This is a well-built truck. The truckThe truck will will save you money.save you money.

One Complex Sentence:One Complex Sentence:

B. This is a well-built truck B. This is a well-built truck that will save you that will save you moneymoney..

[The clause modifies [The clause modifies trucktruck. . ThatThat is the is the subject in the adjective clause.]subject in the adjective clause.]

** Notice that the normal position of an ** Notice that the normal position of an adjective clause is immediately adjective clause is immediately following the noun or the pronoun it following the noun or the pronoun it modifies.modifies.

A. This is the truck. The truck got me home.A. This is the truck. The truck got me home.

B. This is the truck B. This is the truck that got me home.that got me home.

A. Alice has a new boyfriend. A. Alice has a new boyfriend. The new The new boyfriendboyfriend [or [or He]He] sings in a rock group. sings in a rock group.

B. Alice has a new boyfriend B. Alice has a new boyfriend whowho sings in a sings in a rock group.rock group.[[WhoWho is the subject in the clause that is the subject in the clause that modifies modifies boyfriendboyfriend.].]

A. Here is the book. I borrowed A. Here is the book. I borrowed the bookthe book [or [or itit] ] yesterday.yesterday.

B. Here is the book B. Here is the book thatthat I borrowed yesterday. I borrowed yesterday.[[ThatThat is the direct object in the adjective is the direct object in the adjective clause.]clause.]

A. The audience watched Kanye talk A. The audience watched Kanye talk again. The audience had known again. The audience had known Kanye Kanye [or him] for years.[or him] for years.

B. The audience watched Kanye , B. The audience watched Kanye , whomwhom the audience had known for the audience had known for years.years.

[[WhomWhom is the direct object in the is the direct object in the adjective clause.]adjective clause.]

A. May I introduce Jimmy Hart? I A. May I introduce Jimmy Hart? I went to college with him.went to college with him.

B. May I introduce Jimmy Hart, with B. May I introduce Jimmy Hart, with whomwhom I went to college? I went to college?[The clause modifies Jimmy[The clause modifies Jimmy Hart Hart.].]

*This is an example of the exception!**This is an example of the exception!*See how “with” comes before “whom”? See how “with” comes before “whom”? That is That is because in formal grammar, a sentence may not because in formal grammar, a sentence may not end with a prepositionend with a preposition. Consequently, we had . Consequently, we had

to move the preposition.to move the preposition.

Evil Preposition

A. She is a young painter. I admire A. She is a young painter. I admire the young painter’s [or the young painter’s [or herher] work.] work.

B. She is a young painter B. She is a young painter whosewhose work I admire.work I admire.

We also use the adverbs We also use the adverbs whenwhen and and wherewhere as relative as relative adverbs. adverbs.

We use them when the time We use them when the time or place in the sentence or place in the sentence need to be described or need to be described or modified.modified.

A. Beth and I recalled the time. We A. Beth and I recalled the time. We considered ourselves rebels considered ourselves rebels at that at that timetime..

B. Beth and I recalled the time B. Beth and I recalled the time whenwhen we considered ourselves rebels.we considered ourselves rebels.

A. This is the spot. The explorers A. This is the spot. The explorers came ashore came ashore at this spotat this spot [or [or herehere].].

B. This is the spot B. This is the spot wherewhere the the explorers came ashore.explorers came ashore.

Note:Note: In certain adjective clauses, In certain adjective clauses, the relative word is unexpressed; the relative word is unexpressed; the meaning is instantly clear the meaning is instantly clear without it: without it:

the food (the food (that) we eatthat) we eat

the house (the house (that) he lived inthat) he lived in

the man (the man (whom) you sawwhom) you saw

the time (the time (when) you fell downwhen) you fell down

……and so on. and so on.

When Do I Use When Do I Use Commas?!Commas?!

Restrictive Adjective ClausesRestrictive Adjective Clauses- When clause provides When clause provides essentialessential information information

- The man The man whose money was foundwhose money was found was was happy.happy.

Non–Restrictive Adjective ClausesNon–Restrictive Adjective Clauses

- - When clause provides When clause provides non-essentialnon-essential information information

- The man, - The man, who is a Scientologistwho is a Scientologist, was , was hungry.hungry.

Restrictive or Not?Restrictive or Not?

• People who cannot swim should not People who cannot swim should not jump in the ocean.jump in the ocean.

• Dogs that have rabies are not good Dogs that have rabies are not good pets.pets.

• The building which was built in 1876 The building which was built in 1876 was on fire.was on fire.

• The 1800’s when piracy was at its The 1800’s when piracy was at its peak were a dangerous time.peak were a dangerous time.

Summary of Summary of Adjective ClausesAdjective Clauses

1.1. FunctionFunction:: to modify a noun or a to modify a noun or a pronounpronoun

2.2. PositionPosition:: follows the noun or follows the noun or pronoun that it modifiespronoun that it modifies

3.3. Subordinating WordsSubordinating Words::

a. relative pronouns (a. relative pronouns (whowho, , whomwhom, , whose,whose, whichwhich, , thatthat))

b. relative adverbs (b. relative adverbs (whenwhen, , wherewhere))

Special IssuesSpecial IssuesSummary, pt. 2Summary, pt. 2

a. Sometimes when using formal a. Sometimes when using formal grammar, instead of beginning grammar, instead of beginning with the relative word (with the relative word (who who I went I went to the game to the game withwith), adjective ), adjective clauses begin with a preposition clauses begin with a preposition and then a relative (i.e. and then a relative (i.e. withwith whom whom I went to the gameI went to the game).).

Special Issues Special Issues (continued)(continued)

b. Sometimes the relative word b. Sometimes the relative word is omitted/impliedis omitted/implied

(ex.) The house (ex.) The house ((that)that) he lived in was he lived in was haunted.haunted.

when the sentence’s meaning is when the sentence’s meaning is perfectly clear without it.perfectly clear without it.

Any Questions?Any Questions?

JournalJournalCombine these sentences into a single Combine these sentences into a single

sentence containing an adjective sentence containing an adjective clause.clause.

1.1. George Orwell is a novelist. He wrote George Orwell is a novelist. He wrote the acclaimed dystopian novel the acclaimed dystopian novel 19841984..

2.2. We always go on vacation to Ocean We always go on vacation to Ocean City with our friends Leslie and Jack. City with our friends Leslie and Jack. They have five rowdy kids.They have five rowdy kids.

3.3. Beck’s album Beck’s album Morning Phase Morning Phase is really is really good. It won the Grammy for Album good. It won the Grammy for Album of the Year last night.of the Year last night.

1. 1.

2.2.

3.3.