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Modifying Clause Summary

Previously called "Adjective Clause Summary"

 

Diagnostic

ModCl-Diagnostic

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

 

 

 

Modifying Clauses  (Relative Clauses)

That / Which

That: adding a descriptive clause for an inanimate noun (Int. ESL, Native Speakers)

 

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 (Int. ESL, Native Speakers) 

 

Woman on Phone

The woman who called you is here.

The woman  (whom) you called is here.

 

Whose

Whose: adding descriptive information for possessive personal nouns (Int. ESL, Native Speakers)
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) (Int.–Adv. ESL, Native Speakers)

 

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 (Int. ESL, Native Speakers)

 

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 (Int. ESL, Native Speakers)

 

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 (Adv. ESL, Native Speakers)

 

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  (restrictive clauses)

That vs. Which

That vs. Which: adding a modifying clause to identify which noun (Int. ESL, Native Speakers)

 

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 (Int. ESL, Native Speakers)

 

bio-scientist 

The bioscientist who creates green energy will make a profit.

The bioscientist, who creates green energy, will make a profit.

 

Which-clause

Which Clauses: modifying an entire 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.)

 

 

Reduced Modifying Clauses

Clause Reduc 1

Clause Reduction 1: shortening a relative clause with a be verb form

Also known as:  That + be deletion, or changing a finite relative clause to a non-finite relative clause

talk show 

The seat [that was] next to me was empty.
The woman [who is] seated behind me is eating popcorn. 
A talk show [which is] trying to improve its rating may plan a fight. 

 

Clause Reduc 2

Clause Reduction 2: shortening a relative clause to a present participial clause (-ing)

Also known as:  That + be deletion, or changing a finite relative clause to a non-finite relative clause

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.

 

Participial Clauses 1

 

 

 

Participial Clause 1: reducing a clause with a passive verb to a participial clause (Int.–Adv. ESL, Native Speakers)

That + be deletion; finite to a non-finite relative clause

 

Golden Gate Bridge

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

 

Participial Clauses 2

 

 

Participial Clause 2: reducing a clause with a passive or active verb to a participial clause (Int.–Adv. ESL, Native Speakers)

That + be deletion; finite to a non-finite relative clause   

 

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

 

Misrelated Clauses

 

 

Misrelated Clauses: placement and reference (Int.–Adv. ESL, Native Speakers)

 

heart in the trash 

*Being a guy, it is hard for him to understand her point of view.

Being a guy, he has a hard time understanding her point of view.

 

 

 

Review & Final Quiz

Ch 13 Adj Clauses

 

 

Review of modifying 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.

 

Mod Clause Qz

Modifying Clause Quiz: modifying clauses for possessives and quantifiers   (auto-correcting)

 

(modifying clause quiz)

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: subjects with modifying clauses (Int. ESL / Native Speakers)

 

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 – are hiding.

 

Ending w/ Preposition

Preposition at End:  placing a preposition at the end of a sentence

 

A mismatch on a date

Who did you give your number to?
To whom did you give your number?  very formal

Can you tell me what kind of person you are interested in?
Can you tell me in what kind of person you are interested?

The word that you looked up is not in my dictionary.
*The word up which you looked is not in my dictionary.

 

*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.