ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

1. Adjective Clause is a sentence that functions as an adjective to describe the subject or object of
the sentence. It always starts with a connector.
2. Sometimes, the connector is followed by a subject and a verb, but some other times, it’s just
followed by a verb. Why? Because there are times when the subject of the clause is also the
subject or object of the whole sentence.

Ex.: I have read the book that you told me about the other day.--> Adj. C describing the book.
C
The man who is standing there is my uncle. -->Adj. C describing the man.
“Pay attention that the subject of the Adj. Clause is also the subject of the overall sentence.
Thus, there is no subject after the connector.”

3. Connectors most commonly used by Adjective Clause are: who, whom, whose, which, that.
4. What’s the difference between who, whom and whose?
a. Who --> refers to the noun as the subject of the adjective clause.
Ex.: John has forgiven the man-who insulted him the other day.
The man is the subject of the adjective clause --> the man insulted him the other day.
b. Whom -->refers to the noun as the object of the adjective clause.
Ex.: The man-whom my father is talking with is my brother.
Whom refers to the man as the object of the adjective clause.
It’s clear from: my father is talking with the man.
Ex.: I have seen the man whom my father talked to few years ago.
c. Whose -->refers to the noun as the owner of something.
Ex.: The man whose car was stolen last night is my uncle.
Whose refers to the man as the owner of the car and his car/the man’s car was stolen last
night. The man is my uncle.
5. What’s the difference between which and that?
a. Which --> refers to the noun as things.
Ex.: The red book which was on the table last night is mine.
b. That -->refers to the noun as things or people.
Ex.: The red book that was on the table last night is mine.
The man that was standing there is my brother.
That may refer to the noun as things or people, whereas which may only refer to nouns as
things.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE: REDUCED MODE

1. Watch out for the reduced mode of adjective clause, because you would not be able to see any
connector that normally starts a clause. In this mode, TO BE is also usually removed.
2. a. The man who is standing there is my brother. --> The man standing there is my brother.
b. The red book which was on the table is mine. -->The red book on the table is mine.
c. The car that was stolen last night belongs to my uncle. -->
The car stolen last night belongs to my uncle.
d. Sequoyah, who was the inventor of an Indian alphabet, was a Cherokee Indian. -->
Sequoyah, the inventor of an Indian alphabet, was a Cherokee Indian.
3. Sentences using whom and whose as connectors can’t be reduced.
4. If there is no to be in the adjective clause, it is normal to remove the connector and change the
verb to its –ing form.
Ex.: English has an alphabet that consists of 26 letters. -->
English has an alphabet consisting of 26 letters.
Anyone who wants to come with us is welcomed. -->
Anyone wanting to come with us is welcomed.
5. Watch out with unpredictable occurrences of the reduced adjective clause. Because, it is not
always located in the middle or at the end of a sentence.
Ex.: a. Founded in 1607, Jamestown in Virginia was the first settlement in the New World.
b. Living about 2,250 years ago, Archimedes was one of the most brilliant inventors in his
time.
 CASE STUDY

1. DNA, ____, is found in the cell nucleus in the form of very long and thin molecules consisting of
two spiral strands.
a. inherits materials. c. is inheritance material
b. material is inherited d. the material of inheritance
Analysis:
This is very common in adjective clause. After the subject, we’ll usually see blanks between two
commas. The best answer to this type of question is always a noun or noun phrase. Why?
Because, it’s an adjective clause reduced mode.

2. Snakes have an organ in a pit of their heads ____ infrared rays.

a. detects c. it detects
b. a detection of d. that detects
Analysis:
When you try to complete the sentence with one of the answer choices and you notice that
there are two verbs, then, there surely is a noun clause or adjective clause in its sentence.
Therefore, you really should consider the existence of a connector. But watch out with the
adjective clause, because its reduced mode does not have connector.

a. Portland, Maine is ____ his early years.

a. where did the poet Henry Wadsworth spend -->Question mode
b. where the poet Henry Wadsworth spent --> Correct
c. where the poet Henry Wadsworth did spend --> against the regular pattern of Simple Past.
d. where was the poet Henry Wadsworth spend --> To Be can’t be with V1, basic tense rules.

b. ____ by strong, dark colors and fine attention to patterns of light

is attractive to the viewer’s eye.
a. the artworks of Madlyn-Ann are characterized
b. that the artworks of Madlyn-Ann characterize
 c. the artworks of Madlyn-Ann characterized
d. that the artworks of Madlyn-Ann are characterized

: That(C) -- the artworks of Madlyn-Ann(S) --are characterized(V) -- by strong,

dark colors and fine attention to patterns of light(O) ----> NC as Subject
is(V) -- attractive to the viewer’s eye.

That the artworks of Madlyn-Ann are characterized by strong, dark colors and fine attention to
patterns of light is attractive to the viewer’s eye.
c. Muskrats generally stay ____.
a. that their favourite plant foods grow plentifully.
b. where their favourite plant foods grow plentifully.
c. which grow their favourite plant foods plentifully.
d. which their favourite plant foods grow plentifully.

: Muskrats(S)--- generally stay(V) --- where(C) --- their favourite plant foods(S) --- grow(V)
plentifully. ---> NC as Object
d. ____ that fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise are universally reflected in facial expressions.
a. Anthropologists have discovered
b. Anthropologists discovering
c. The discovery by anthropologists
d. Discovered by anthropologist

: Anthropologists(S) --- have discovered(V) --- that(C) --- fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise(S)
---are(V) ---universally reflected in facial expressions. ----> NC as Object

e. ____ does not circle around the earth was proven by Galileo.
a. Since the rest of the universe
b. As the rest of the universe
c. The rest of the universe
d. That the rest of the universe
 : That(C) --- the rest of the universe (S)--- does not circle(V) --- around the earth --- was
proven(V) --- by Galileo. NC as Subject

EXERCISE

1. ____ to space travelers is high acceleration or deceleration forces.

a. Danger can be c. What can be dangerous
b. They can be dangerous d. While danger
2. Because of Aleut’s constant exposure to cold weather, they have long recognized ____.
a. anybody needs to be fat c. that fats need a body
b. how fat the body needs to d. that body needs fats