Adjective Clause 101

​Here's today's menu:

​- General functions of an adjective clause

​- Adjective clause for a subject, an object of verb, and an object of preposition

​- Adjective clause patterning

​- Adjective pronouns: whose, where, and when

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​Let's get started :)

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Do you remember these sentences:

> They wanted to know the secret of polyglots, people who speak a lot of languages.

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​> The best place to meet a lot of polyglots is an event where hundreds of language lovers meet in one place to practice their languages.

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> .... and so I decided to go there and ask polyglots about the methods that they use. 

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They are some examples of adjective clauses.

​An adjective clause can function to modify:

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• Subject​s

• ​Objects (of a verb)

• ​Objects (of a preposition)

​My mother works in that bakery.

She is a pastry chef.

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> My mother who is a pastry chef works in that bakery.

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Try to guess the adjective clause in the sentence in that quote there!

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An adjective clause can modify the object of a verb.

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I took an English class. | It was taught by Mr. Ardi.

​​> I took an English class that was taught by Mr. Ardi.

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​​Try to figure the adjective clause in the sentence below!

The baker made a cake. | It had ice cream filling.

> The baker made a cake which had ice cream filling.

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The dancers are practicing a traditional dance. | It is called a Yapong Dance.

> The dancers are practicing a traditional dance that is called a Yapong Dance.

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My husband is talking to Mr Dan. | He is our local butcher.

> My husband is talking to Mr Dan who is our local butcher.

​When you use an adjective clause to modify a subject or an object of a verb, the pattern is:

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Head noun + relative pronoun + VP + other details (subject complement, object, adverbial, …)

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Examples:

My mother + who + is + a pastry chef (SC)

A person + who + is singing + a ‘Happy Birthday’ song (Obj)

The people + who + went + to school (adv.)

​An adjective clause can modify the object of a preposition. See the example below:

​The movie is good.

You talked about it last night.

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> The movie that you talked about last night is good.

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​Try to spot the adjective clause in the picture!

When you use an adjective clause as the object of preposition, the patterns are:

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1)  Head noun + relative pronoun + NP + VP + preposition + other details

The song + that + we + listened + to + last night

The song + which + we + listened + to + last night

The song + (none) + we + listened + to + last night

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2)  Head noun + preposition + relative pronoun + NP + VP + other details The man + to + whom + I + talked + last night

he class + to + which + I + go + this semester

​In an adjective clause, whose is used to show possession.

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I remember Mika.

Her acting performance was well-known.

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> I remember Mika whose acting performance was well-known.

​See the example below:

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The shopping center is far away.

I work there (in that shopping center).

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> The shopping center where I work is far away.

Important note: the word where may be replaced with other adjective pronouns. If you want to replace where, usually with which or that, make sure to include the proposition.

Example:

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I love the library.

I read my favorite books here (in this library).

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> I love the library in which I read my favorite books.

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​I often visit the museum. | My uncle works here.

> I often visit the museum which my uncle works at.

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That man is renovating the arcade. | We used to play here.

> That man is renovating the arcade that we used to play at.

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The postman forgets the address. | He needs to deliver the mail there.

> The postman forgets the address he needs to deliver

the mail to.

I am exercising with my friend. | Her gym schedule is similar to mine.

> I am exercising with my friend whose gym schedule is similar to mine.

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That institution enforces new regulations this month. | Its main focuses are insurance and finance.

> That institution whose main focuses are insurance and finance enforces new regulations this month.

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That band just declared their hiatus. | We listened to their songs yesterday.

> That band whose songs we listened to just declared their hiatus.

​See the example below:

I really like the wedding day. I tried zuppa soup for the first time then (on that day).

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> I really like the wedding day

when I tried zuppa soup for the first time.

The adjective pronoun when can be replaced, usually with which or that, and you need to include the prepositions.

You can also follow pattern 2.

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Another example:

That day was interesting. I learned to make janur then (on that day).

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> That day on which I learned to make janur was interesting.

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​The year was quite depressing. | The inflation happened then.

> The year the inflation happened was quite depressing.

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A few hours ago was nerve-wracking. | The burglar broke into

our house then.

> A few hours ago that the burglar broke into our house was nerve-wracking.

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Ben will remember the day. | Rosa will get here then.

> Ben will remember the time on which Rosa will get here.

How's the discussion about the adjective clause? Tough? Or a piece of cake?​

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​Need more references? Try this link!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftZr1_Ny8L8

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Open bit.ly/AdjectiveClause101

> Make a short passage using the 6 materials we learned today.​

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Download the PDF of the quizizz questions here!

https://bit.ly/QuizizzExercise

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