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Adjective Clause Summary

 

 

Diagnostic

AdjCl-Diagnostic

Adjective Clause Diagnostic Quiz: a tool to help you identify specific points that need review
Computer Skills
  • Quiz 1: beginning – intermediate
  • Quiz 2: intermediate – advanced 

 

 

Adding a Modifying Clause

That / Which

That: adding a descriptive clause for an inanimate noun
  • that
  • which
  • omitting that

smart car on street 

The car that is very small  is economical to drive.

The car that I want to buy  is economical to drive.

 

 

Relative Pronouns

Who / Whom

Who / Whom: Using a modifying clause with who, whom & that

Adding descriptive information for people and things

  • who
  • who(m)
  • that
  • which

Omitting an object pronoun

Woman on Phone

The woman who called you is here.

The woman  (whom) you called is here.

 

Whose

Whose: adding descriptive information for possessive nouns (animate)
  • whose (for people)
greek woman 

The woman  who is Greek is on the phone.

The woman  whose name is Greek is on the phone.

 

Of which / With

Of Which / With: adding descriptive information for possessive nouns (inanimate)
  • of which
  • which ....  of
  • that
  • whose (for people or things)
  • with
car

The car  the door of which I dented  cost a fortune to repair.
The car  of which I dented the door cost a fortune to repair.
The car  that I dented the door of cost a fortune to repair.
The car  whose door I dented  cost a fortune to repair.
The car  with the door I dented  cost a fortune to repair.
 

 

When/ Where

When / Where: adding descriptive information for time or place
  • when (time)
  • where (place)
flower child 

San Francisco,  where the "flower children" began,  is a colorful city.

The 1960s, when the "flower children" thrived,   was a colorful decade.

 

Wh-ever

Wh-ever: using an indefinite pronoun to add a modifying clause
  • whoever
  • whatever
  • whenever
  • wherever
  • however
gossip 

Whoever you want, you can have on your team. 

Whichever one you want, you can have. 

Whatever you want, you can have. 

 

All of which

All of Which / Whom / Whose: using a quantity phrase to add a modifying clause
  • little of which
  • some of which
  • most of which
  • a few of which
Visitors

The Walt Disney Company has several parks, all of which are run by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

California has a lot of visitors, most of whom come to see Disneyland.

 

 

Identifying and Nonidentifying Clauses

That vs. Which

That vs. Which: adding a modifying clause to identify which noun
  • commas – if clause identifies the noun it modifies
  • no commas – if clause adds extra information to the noun it modifies

 

Bottled Water

The water that I drank last night contained sodium.

The Evian water, which I drank last night, contained sodium.

 

Some or All

Some or All: restrictive vs. nonrestrictive clauses
  • commas -–   refers to all (non-restrictive)
  • no commas – refers to a few or some -  specific (restrictive)  

 

bio-scientist 

The bio-scientist who creates green energy will make a profit.

The bio-scientist, who creates green energy, will make a profit.

 

Which-clause

Which Clauses: modifying an entire clause
  • that  refers to a noun or noun phrase
  • which  can refer to a noun, phrase or clause

 

pressing delete key

He deleted the picture that upset me. (The picture upset me.)

He deleted the picture, which upset me. (The action upset me.)

 

Reducing Adjective Clauses to Phrases

Phrases [be]

Shortening Clauses to Phrases: removing wordiness from descriptive clauses

For example:

  • [who is] behind you
  • [that improves] improving his life
  • [which was improved] improved by …
talk show 

A talk show [which is] trying to improve its rating may plan a fight.
A talk show trying to improve its rating may plan a fight.

 

Particpl Phrases

Participial Phrases:  removing wordiness from sentences
  • [who lives] living nearby
  • [that improves] improving his life
  • [which changes] changing his ways
Congress

The U.S. Congress, [which consists] of two houses, is on a break.
The U.S. Congress, consisting of two houses, is on a break.

 

Particpl Phrases1

 

 

 

Participial Phrases 1: reducing clauses to modifying phrases
  • passive verb – past participle phrase (-ed)

That + be deletion

 

Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge, [which was] designed by Joseph Stauss, ...
The Golden Gate Bridge, designed by Joseph Stauss, ...

 

Particpl Phrases2

 

 

Participial Phrases 2: reducing clauses to modifying phrases
  • passive verb – past participle phrase (-ed)
  • active verb –present participle phrase (-ing)

That + be deletion

Alcatraz 

Alcatraz Island [that was] known as "The Rock", was a maximum...
Alcatraz Island known as "The Rock", was a maximum...

Law enforcement agencies [who knew] about the isolation of Alcatraz ...
Law enforcement agencies knowing about the isolation of Alcatraz

 

Review & Final Quiz

Ch 13 Adj Clauses

 

 

Review of adjective clauses

with practices that follow Azar UUAE chapter 13

 

 

Located in Review Practices

Kiddie TV

Commercials that you see on TV  (is / are) ____ aimed at children.

 

Adj Clause Qz

Adjective Clause Quiz: modifying clauses for possessives and quantifiers   (auto-correcting)
runners on cell phones

The Bay to Breakers race, (its, whose, that)  ____ name comes from its route, is fun for all.

 

 

Related Pages

Complex Agrmnt

Complex Agreement: agreement in sentences containing clauses and phrases
  • identifying the modifying clause or phrase
  • maintaining agreement between subject and verb in the main clause

 

monkey emerging from bananas

At least three quarters of the monkeys – in the zoo – suffer from nutritional deficiencies.

The monkey  – under the bananas – is hiding.
The monkeys  – under the bananas – aare hiding.