Adjective ClausesWeek 6, Mon 9/28/15

Todd Windisch, Fall 2015

Today’s Agenda

• Discuss “The Lottery”• Plot

• Themes

• Supporting your argument with the text

• Adverb clause quiz

• Introduce adjective clauses

Complex Sentences

• One independent clause and one dependent clause joined by a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun

1. When he handed in his homework, he forgot to give the teacher the last page.

2. The teacher who I liked the most returned the homework.

3. The students are studying because they have a test tomorrow.

4. Juan and Maria went to the movies, which was a good idea.

5. Juan and Maria went to the movies after they finished studying.

Complex Sentences with Adjective Clauses

• An adjective (relative) clause gives more information about nouns

• An adjective clause is a dependent clause, so a sentence with one is a complex sentence

1.The woman who called my mom sells cosmetics.

2.The book that Jonathan read is on the shelf.

3.The house which Abraham Lincoln was born in is still standing.

4.The town where I grew up is in the United States.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

• Also known as a relative clause

• They are dependent clauses that give more information about nouns• They usually follow nouns!

• Where are the adjective clauses in these sentences?• I have a friend who lives in Paris.• The food that I like the most is pasta!• My friend only reads books which were written for teenagers.

• How do you know these are adjective clauses?

RELATIVE PRONOUNS

• Most of the time, an adjective clause begins with a relative pronoun• Who, whom, which, that, whose, when, where

• In some cases, the relative pronoun can be omitted (deleted/hidden)

WHERE ARE THEY?

• An adjective clause can occur after a main clause, inside a main clause, inside a dependent clause (pretty much anywhere nouns occur)• My sister who’s older than me works the night shift.

• My sister who’s older than my sister who’s younger works the night shift.

THAT/WHICH/WHO

• To refer to people use who and that as the subjects of verbs in adjective clauses• The Ings are the people who/that bought the house.

• Sam is the man who/that lives next door to me.

• Both of these are acceptable, but that is more informal

THAT/WHICH/WHO

• To refer to things, use which and that as the subjects of verbs in adjective clauses• This is the car which/that is the nicest.

• Math is the subject which/that is the easiest for me.

• Both of these are acceptable, but that is more informal

THAT/WHICH/WHO

• The verb in the adjective clause agrees with the noun or pronoun that the clause modifies• There are many people who have taken this personality test.

• This test is the one that is the best known.

• Shirley likes people who…

• Shirley likes a person who…

• BE CAREFUL! Do not use double subjects!• Extroverts are people who they like to be with others.

• Grapes that they have dried in the sun are called raisins.

OBJECTS OF VERBS

• The relative pronoun can also be the object of the verb!• Jean was the person that I mentioned.

• Who did I mention?

• I mentioned Jean.

• Jean was the person that met me at the movies yesterday.• Who met me?

• Jean met me.

• With things we still use that and which.• The test that/which I took was difficult.

• I took the test.

OBJECTS OF VERBS

• To refer to people, use whom, who, and that as the objects of verbs• I met her friend Jean whom I had met several times before.

• I met her friend Jean who I had met several times before.

• I met her friend Jean that I had met several times before.

• Whom is more formal

• Whom is traditionally the only way to refer to people as the objects of verbs in adjective clauses but English is changing

• This is the only way you use whom

WHOSE

• Use whose to introduce an adjective clause that indicates possession

• We use whose to replace his/her/its/their + noun

• Whose works for people AND things• Ken is the man. We met his wife.

• Ken is the man whose wife we met.

• I have a neighbor. His dog is really annoying.• I have a neighbor whose dog is really annoying.

• Whose follows the person who has possession.

PLACES

• You can use where to introduce an adjective clause that modifies a noun of place

• IMPORTANT! Where replaces the word there• If there is not or cannot be used you cannot use where & you will be probably

use which or that

• This is the restaurant. We ate there.• This is the restaurant where we ate.

• This is the restaurant. It is near KFC.• This is the restaurant where it is near KFC.

• This is the restaurant that is near KFC.

PLACES PRACTICE

• Are the following sentences correct or incorrect?• I am from Fountain Valley where is close to the beach.

• INCORRECT

• Bordeaux is the city where I lived for 4 months.• CORRECT

• I went to a restaurant last night which offered a lot of options.• CORRECT

• This is the classroom where I have class in.• INCORRECT

• I like going to Big Bear where I have a cabin.• CORRECT

TIME

• You can use when or that to begin an adjective clause that modifies a noun of time• I can’t think of a time when/that I wasn’t happy.

• The year when/that I got my first car was the best year ever!

Adjective (Relative) Clauses

• Let’s practice combining sentences• Make sure you find the common noun between the two sentences; this is

where the adjective clause is

• Use the correct relative pronoun (that, which, who, whom, where, when, whose)

Extra Practice

• The scientist is well-known for her research. We met her yesterday.

• She lectured on a topic. I know very little about it.

• The students missed the assignment. They were absent from class.

• Yesterday I ran into an old friend. I hadn't seen him for years.

• I explained my absence to the teacher. I had missed his class.

• The young women are all from Japan. We met them at the meeting last night.

IDENTIFYING/NON-IDENTIFYING

• There are two types of adjective clauses: identifying and non-identifying• Sometimes, they are called defining and non-defining

• Identifying adjective clauses contain information that is essential to the meaning of the sentence to understand it correctly

• Identifying adjective clauses require no punctuation (no commas)• I like apples that are red.

• Does this sentence mean I like ALL apples?

IDENTIFYING/NON-IDENTIFYING

• Non-identifying adjective clauses add extra information to sentences• This information does not distinguish one thing from another

• Non-identifying adjective clauses are always surrounded by commas• I like apples, which are red.

• This sentence means I like apples… It implies I like ALL apples. I am just adding extra information.

DIFFERENT MEANINGS

• Sometimes, it’s possible to use either an identifying or non-identifying clause in a sentence, but the meaning changes• My sister who likes carrots wanted a carrot cake for her birthday.

• My sister, who likes carrots, wanted a carrot cake for her birthday.• Which sentence means I have one sister? Which sentence means I have more than one?

• My wife whose name is Tammy went on a trip for work.

• My wife, whose name is Tammy, went on a trip for work.

• I punched the guy at the bar who was being disrespectful to my girlfriend.

• I punched the guy at the bar, who was being disrespectful to my girlfriend.

EXTRA RULES FOR NON-IDENTIFYING

• 1. THAT• We never use that in a non-identifying adjective clause

• This is one major way to tell the difference between identifying and non-identifying clauses (especially in speech)• How else can you tell the difference in speech? Think of punctuation.

• Titanic, which is almost 20 years old, is Leonardo DiCaprio’s best movie.

• Titanic, that is almost 20 years old, is Leonardo DiCaprio’s best movie.

EXTRA RULES FOR NON-IDENITFYING

• 2. You can informally use a non-identifying clause to refer to an entire idea/sentence (not just a noun)• Helen is hardworking, which impresses me.

• I can’t whistle, which is the worst thing about me.

IDENTIFYING OR NON-IDENTIFYING?

1. I have got a book which is really interesting to read.• Identifying

2. I met a girl who sells flowers.• Identifying

3. Maya who sells flowers in the street is a pretty girl.• Non-identifying

4. This is Jane who works with my sister.• Non-identifying

IDENTIFYING OR NON-IDENTIFYING?

1. California which has the nation’s largest economy is on the west coast.• Non-identifying

2. The movie which I was talking about will come to the local movie theater

this week.• Identifying

3. The neighborhood where I grew up is very safe and quiet.• Identifying

4. The amusement park where people of all ages come to relax will close next year.• Non-identifying

HOMEWORK

• When I assign homework from English Grammar, there is a specific way I would like you to do your homework:• Complete the homework on a separate sheet of paper (not in your book)

• Correct your own homework using the answer key in the back of the book

• Try to understand why you got the answer wrong; if you cannot find out why, make a note and ask me during class

• Tonight’s homework:• Chapter 13: Ex 7, 8, 14, 17