Two Useful Adjective Clause Devices

Lesson 30

A special type of adjective clause is useful when you wish to state a act about only a part or a number of a larger group.

Gloria has three sisters, one of whom is a nurse.

The adjective clause state a fact about (all, one) of the sisters

A special type of adjective clause is useful when you wish to state a act about only a part or a number of a larger group.

Gloria has three sisters, one of whom is a nurse.

The adjective clause state a fact about (all, one) of the sisters

Along the coast are many small islands, some of which are uninhabited.

The clause states a fact about (some, all) of the islands.

Along the coast are many small islands, some of which are uninhabited.

The clause states a fact about (some, all) of the islands.

These adjective clauses begin with such words as one of whom, several of whom, two of which, most of which.

The room has three windows, one of which is always locked.

The word in the clause that specifies the number to which the statement applies is

the (first, last) word.

These adjective clauses begin with such words as one of whom, several of whom, two of which, most of which.

The room has three windows, one of which is always locked.

The word in the clause that specifies the number to which the statement applies is

the (first, last) word.

The number of the group that these clauses single out may vary from none of whom, to all of whom.

Fill in the missing words to show that none of the coins are rare. (None may take

either a singular or plural verb.)

I have many old coins, ______ are rare.

The number of the group that these clauses single out may vary from none of whom, to all of whom.

Fill in the missing words to show that none of the coins are rare. (None may take

either a singular or plural verb.)

I have many old coins, none of which are rare.

Fill in the missing words to show that all the coins are rare:

I have many old coins, _________ are rare.

Fill in the missing words to show that all the coins are rare:

I have many old coins, all of which are rare.

Fill in the missing words to show that a few of the coins are rare:

I have many old coins, ________ are rare.

Fill in the missing words to show that a few of the coins are rare:

I have many old coins, a few of which are rare.

In using this type of clause, be careful to use whom, and not which, to refer to people.

The Adamos have three sons, two of (which, whom) are now attending college.

In using this type of clause, be careful to use whom, and not which, to refer to people.

The Adamos have three sons, two of (which, whom) are now attending college.

Customs official, may of (whom, which) speak English, examine your luggage.

Customs official, may of (whom, which) speak English, examine your luggage.

In this and the following frames, subordinate the italicized statement by changing it to an adjective clause built on the “one of which” or “some of whom” pattern:

We have three clocks, and none of them keeps good time.

We have three clocks, ________ keeps good time.

In this and the following frames, subordinate the italicized statement by changing it to an adjective clause built on the “one of which” or “some of whom” pattern:

We have three clocks, and none of them keeps good time.

We have three clocks, none of which keeps good time.

Rita baby-sits with two children, and one of them is very mischievous.

Rita baby-sits with two children, ________ is very mischievous.

Rita baby-sits with two children, and one of them is very mischievous.

Rita baby-sits with two children, one of whom is very mischievous.

The air is full of bacteria, but most of them are harmless.

The air is full of bacteria, _________ are harmless.

The air is full of bacteria, but most of them are harmless.

The air is full of bacteria, most of which are harmless.

The college has eight hundred students, and many of them come from

foreign countries.

The college has eight hundred students, ________ come from foreign

countries.

The college has eight hundred students, and many of them come from

foreign countries.

The college has eight hundred students, many of whom come from

foreign countries.

The school has twelve rooms, and three of them are not used.

The school has twelve rooms, _________ are not used.

The school has twelve rooms, and three of them are not used.

The school has twelve rooms, three of which are not used.

Ralph brought his parents, and I had met neither of them before.

Ralph brought his parents, _________ I had met before.

Ralph brought his parents, and I had met neither of them before.

Ralph brought his parents, neither of whom I had met before.

In a similar type of adjective clause, a noun precedes the words of which; for example, the price of which, the result of which, the purpose of which.

There are many words the meanings of which have changed.

What noun precedes of which?

In a similar type of adjective clause, a noun precedes the words of which; for example, the price of which, the result of which, the purpose of which.

There are many words the meanings of which have changed.

What noun precedes of which?meanings

Mr. Kerr bought several stocks the value of which is very doubtful.

What noun precedes of which?

Mr. Kerr bought several stocks the value of which is very doubtful.

What noun precedes of which?value

Ordinarily, the relative pronoun whose provides a smoother sentence than of which and requires fewer words.

a. I read a novel the ending of which is disappointing.

b. I read a novel whose ending is disappointing.

Sentence b is ______ words shorter than sentence a.

(How many?)

Ordinarily, the relative pronoun whose provides a smoother sentence than of which and requires fewer words.

a. I read a novel the ending of which is disappointing.

b. I read a novel whose ending is disappointing.

Sentence b is two words shorter than sentence a.

(How many?)

The relative pronoun whose, unlike who and whom, can be used for things as well as persons.

a. I ordered a French soup the name of which I can’t pronounce.

b. I ordered a French soup whose name I can’t pronounce.

Are both sentences correct? (Yes, No)

The relative pronoun whose, unlike who and whom, can be used for things as well as persons.

a. I ordered a French soup the name of which I can’t pronounce.

b. I ordered a French soup whose name I can’t pronounce.

Are both sentences correct? (Yes, No)

Even though whose may be used for things, there are times when you might prefer the of which construction. Change the whose to the of which construction.

She makes chili whose preparation takes an entire day.

She makes chili ___________ takes an entire day.

Even though whose may be used for things, there are times when you might prefer the of which construction. Change the whose to the of which construction.

She makes chili whose preparation takes an entire day.

She makes chili the preparation of which takes an entire day.

Change the whose to the of which construction:

The minister told a story whose point most people missed.

The minister told a story _________ most people missed.

Change the whose to the of which construction:

The minister told a story whose point most people missed.

The minister told a story the point of which most people missed.

Change the whose of the of which construction:

The doctor recommended a cough medicine whose name I can’t recall.

The doctor recommended a cough medicine __________ I can’t recall.

Change the whose of the of which construction:

The doctor recommended a cough medicine whose name I can’t recall.

The doctor recommended a cough medicine the name of which I can’t

recall.

Write the following answers on your own sheet of paper.

In this and the following frames, subordinate each italicized statement to an of which construction, preceded by a noun (“the cause of which,” “the price of which”):

Our school had an assembly, and the purpose was to improve sportsmanship.

1.Our school had an assembly ________was to improve sportsmanship.

My tropical fish contracted a disease, and the cause of it is not known.

2. My tropical fish contracted a disease ________ is not known.

Our television set has a knob, and I have never discovered its purpose.

3. Our television set has a knob ________ I have never discovered.

The county constructed a road, and the need for it was very great.

4. The county constructed a road ________ was very great.

We studied a poem by Alice walker, and its meaning was very difficult.

5. We studied a poem by Alice Walker _________ was very difficult.

We camped at the foot of Silver Mountain, and its top is snow-capped.

6. We camped at the foot of Silver Mountain ___________ is snow-capped.

You are done!!!