Adjective Clauses (Relative Clauses)

Adjective Clauses can cause problems for English learners.  Here’s a briefing on this grammar challenge.

An adjective modifies a noun. An adjective usually comes before a noun.

Adjective: I met a kind man.

 

An adjective clause describes or gives information about a noun.

          An adjective clause follows a noun.

          Adjective clause: I met a man who is kind to everyone.

The boy is adorable. He has the phone. (subject pronoun)

The boy who has the phone is adorable. (who is the subject)

          The child was funny. I saw him. (object pronoun)

          The child whom I saw was funny. (whom is the object)

 
Subject pronouns: WHO or THAT cannot be omitted

          The boy who has the phone is adorable.

          The boy that has the phone is adorable.

          Incorrect:  The boy has the phone is adorable.

Object pronouns: WHOM or THAT can be omitted

          The child whom I saw was funny.

          The child that I saw was funny.

          The child I saw was funny.


Use WHICH for things

          THAT for things OR people (correct but might offend)

          WHO or WHOM for people

 

The adjective clause must agree with the adjective it is modifying.

          I have a friend who is a great gardener.

          I have friends who are great gardeners.

          The class that she goes to is going on a field trip.

          The students that I know are all going.

Recognize adjective clauses (also called relative clauses) by looking for THAT, WHO, WHICH.  Clauses always need a subject and a verb.  An adjective clauses always describes a noun.  For more, see http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/relativeclause.htm