Grammar-Quizzes › Clauses › Relative Clauses ›That & Which Clauses
That and Which Clauses
Add a modifying clause to an inanimate noun
Adjective vs. Modifying Clause (Relative Clause)
| ADJECTIVE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
An adjective is placed before the noun it modifies. |
|||
| SUBJECT – PREDICATE | OBJECT [NOUN PHRASE] | ||
| NOUN – VERB | DETERMINER | ADJECTIVE | NOUN |
Jack sold |
his
|
old |
car. |
He collects |
some
|
antique |
cars. |
He bought |
an
|
electric |
vehicle. |
He prefers |
|
economical |
vehicles. |
| MODIFYING CLAUSE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
A modifying clause is placed after the noun it modifies. A relative pronoun, that or which, begins the clause. (Who is preferred before a personal noun.) |
|||
| SUBJECT – PREDICATE | OBJECT [NOUN PHRASE] | ||
| NOUN – VERB | DETERMINER | NOUN | MODIFYING CLAUSE |
Jack sold |
his
|
car |
which was old. |
He collects |
some
|
cars |
that are antique. |
He bought |
a
|
vehicles |
that is electric. |
He prefers |
|
vehicles |
that are economical. |
antique (Adj) – old, especially items wanted by collectors
economical (Adj) – having the quality of saving money
hybrid – powered by more than one source (e.g., gas and battery)
vehicle (N) – a means of transportation
a relative clause – is a clause that relates identifying information about the item we are referring to. The clause is restrictive (limiting, defining which one). See That vs. Which.
Forming a That–Clause
Replacing the Subject or Object Noun
That / Which
| THAT AS THE SUBJECT | ||
|---|---|---|
That or which replaces the repeated noun in the modifying clause. The that-clause is placed directly after the noun it modifies. (A modifying clause removes unnecessary words.) |
||
The car is economical to drive. The car is small. (noun) |
||
| SUBJECT of MOD CLS | ||
The car |
The car is small. |
is more economical to drive. |
|
that / which |
|
The car |
that / which is small |
is more economical to drive. |
| THAT AS THE OBJECT | ||
|---|---|---|
That or which replaces the repeated noun in the modifying clause. That is placed at the beginning of the modifying clause and placed directly after the noun it modifies. |
||
The car is economical to drive. I want to buy the car. |
||
| OBJECT of MOD CLS | ||
The car |
I bought the car |
is more economical to drive. |
|
that / which |
|
The car |
that / which I bought |
is more economical to drive. |
Add commas if the clause adds extra information that is not essential to identifying who the person is. (a non-identifying, non-restrictive clause) See Some or All
That-Clause
Clause Position
Modifying the Subject of the Main Clause
| SUBJECT of MOD CLS MODIFIES SUBJECT OF MAIN CLAUSE | ||
|---|---|---|
Below, that + a clause modifies the subject noun of the main clause. That has taken the place of the subject pronoun in the modifying clause. |
||
| SUBJECT | MODIFYING CLAUSE | |
The car |
that is small |
is green. |
The seats |
that are inside |
are leather. |
| OBJECT of MOD CLS MODIFIES SUBJECT OF MAIN CLAUSE | ||
|---|---|---|
Below, that + a clause modifies the subject noun of the main clause. That has taken the place of the object pronoun in the modifying clause. Optionally omit that in these clauses. |
||
| SUBJECT | MODIFYING CLAUSE | |
The car |
(that) you drive |
is green. |
The seats |
(that) you sit on |
are leather. |
complement – a word, phrase or clause which is necessary in a sentence to complete its meaning
verb + complement – elements required to complete the meaning of the clause
Modifying the Object of the Main Clause
| SUBJECT of MOD CLS MODIFIES OBJECT OF MAIN CLAUSE | ||
|---|---|---|
Below, that + a clause modifies the object noun of the main clause. That is the subject pronoun in the modifying clause. |
||
| OBJECT | MODIFYING CLAUSE | |
Jack drove |
the car |
that is small. |
Jack likes |
the seats |
that are leather. |
| OBJECT of MOD CLS MODIFIES OBJECT OF MAIN CLAUSE | ||
|---|---|---|
Below, that + a clause modifies the object noun of the main clause. That is also the object pronoun in the modifying clause. Optionally, omit that in these clauses. |
||
| OBJECT | MODIFYING CLAUSE | |
Jack drove |
the car |
that he liked. |
Jack likes |
the seats |
that he ordered. |
tiny (Adj) – very small
tryout (V) – test drive
Related pages: That vs. Which using commas | Who / Whom using that for people
Object Pronouns
Omitting That
When can you omit that?
| SUBJECT PRONOUN OF CLAUSE |
|---|
When that takes the place of the subject noun/pronoun of a clause, it cannot be omitted (deleted). |
| THAT = SUBJECT |
The phone—that woke you—is
over there. |
The number—that is in my book—was incorrect. |
The ringtone—that sounds like a frog—is funny. |
| OBJECT PRONOUN OF CLAUSE |
|---|
When that takes the place of the object noun/pronoun of a clause, it can be omitted (optionally deleted). |
| THAT = OBJECT |
The phone—(that) you dropped is over there.. |
The number—(that) you gave me was incorrect. |
The ringtone—(that) I hear is
funny. |
hilarious (Adj) – very, funny
ringtone (N) – the sound a phone makes when receiving a call or a text message
How do you know if that is an object pronoun? (This is a method for simple clauses.)
| FOLLOWED BY A VERB |
|---|
If the relative pronoun is followed by a verb, then the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause. It cannot be deleted. |
| IT IS THE SUBJECT! |
The car—that drives the best—is the sports car. |
The engine— which looks small—is powerful. |
The radio — that is included — is not very good. |
| FOLLOWED BY A SUBJECT NOUN / PRONOUN |
|---|
If the relative pronoun is followed by a subject pronoun (I, we, he, she, they), then that or which is the object moved to the front of the clause. It can be deleted. |
| IT IS THE OBJECT! |
The car—that we spoke about—is a sports car. |
The engine –– which she prefers—is powerful. |
The radio—that you like—isn't included. |
apologetic (Adj) – sorry; giving of apologies
That-Clause
Punctuation
An Identifying vs. Nonidentifying Clause
| IDENTIFYING CLAUSE |
|---|
|
The car that Jack bought is a hybrid. |
Jack prefers the tires (that) you recommended. |
A clause that identifies the noun before it (tells you which one) is not set off with commas. | NONIDENTIFYING CLAUSE |
|---|
|
The Prius, which Jack bought, is a hybrid car. |
Jack prefers the Michelin tires, which¹ you recommended. |
A clause that adds extra, nonidentifying information is set off with comma(s). An identifying clause adds information or narrows the noun to a specific one, group or lot. The clause helps by telling us which one. No commas are used. It is also called restrictive, essential , or necessary clause. See That vs. Which Some or All.
A nonidentifying clause adds extra information about a noun already identified by other means, for example, by name, by shared knowledge or context. The clause, a comment, is set off with commas (before and, if necessary, after the clause). It is also called nonrestrictive, nonessential, or unnecessary clause. See Commas – comments.
¹An object relative pronoun cannot be omitted(left out) from a nonidentifying clause.
Also see Commas.
Common Mistakes
Errors and Solutions
Error and Solution
| ERROR |
|---|
*A car is very economical that holds just two passengers. |
*The phone is available that I want to buy. |
*The car that I want to buy it is economical to drive. |
*The guy which was sitting next to me in the bus was from Ghana. |
| FIX |
|---|
A car that holds just two passengers is very economical. |
The phone that I want to buy is available. |
The car that I want to buy [it] is economical to drive. |
The guy who was sitting next to me in the bus was from Ghana. Use who as a personal pronoun. |
*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.
Grammar Notes (Advanced)
Traditional and Linguistic Description
Traditional and Linguistic Descriptions
| TRADITIONAL / ESL DESCRIPTION |
|---|
Relative Clause. A dependent clause that modifies an antecedent and is most often expressly introduced by a relative pronoun such as which, who, whose, or that. (Garner 886) Adjective Clause – An adjective clause modifies a noun. Relative Clauses. Clauses beginning with question words (e.g. who, which, where) are often used to modify nouns and some pronouns – to identify people and things, or to give more information about them. (Swan 494) |
| REED-KELLOGG DIAGRAM — SUBJECT |
Jack drove the car* [which you gave him __*] (Car is the antecedent for which. Which is the object of the relative clause.) |
| LINGUISTIC DESCRIPTION |
|---|
Relativisation "A relative clause contains within its structure an overt or covert element that relates it anaphorically to an antecedent." (Huddleston 12 §3.1)
Relative Clause vs. Content Clause
|
| TREE DIAGRAM — SUBJECT |
|
Word Categories: N – Noun; V – Verb; Aux – Auxiliary; Adj – Adjective; Adv – Adverb; P –Preposition; Det –Determiner.
Phrasal Categories: NP – Noun Phrase; VP – Verb Phrase; AdjP – Adjective Phrase; AdvP – Adverb Phrase; PP – Prepositional Phrase; DP – Determinative Phrase.
Clausal Categories: Cls – clause; F – finite clause; NF – nonfinite clause (Ger – gerund; Inf – infinitive; PPart – past participle).
Word Functions: Subj – subject; Pred – predicate/predicator; Comp – complement: elements required by an expression to complete its meaning (DO – direct object; IO – indirect object); Adjunct – adjunct: elements not required by an expression to complete its meaning (Subord – subordinator; Coord – coordinator); Supl – supplement: a clause or phrase added onto a clause that is not closely related to the central thought or structure of the main clause.
Resources
- Azar, Betty Schrampfer, and Stacy A. Hagen. Understanding and Using English Grammar. 4th ed., Pearson Education, 2009.
- Garner's Modern American Usage, Bryan A. Garner, 3rd ed., Oxford UP, 2009.
- Huddleston, Rodney D., and Geoffrey K. Pullum. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge UP, 2002.
- Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage. 3rd ed., Oxford UP, 2005.
Practice 1
A Tiny Car
Add a modifying clause to the sentence.
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "check" or the "check 1-8" button at the bottom.
Practice 2
Booking a Flight
Read for Errors
TRAVELER: Can you tell me when the next flight leaves that goes to Los Angeles.
AGENT: That would be the 6 o'clock flight.
TRAVELER: No, the flight which I want leaves in thirty minutes.
AGENT: I believe the five o'clock flight what you want is full
AGENT: The flight that it leaves at six o'clock has open seats.
TRAVELER: OK.
AGENT: Do you want a seat that is next to the window or on the aisle?
TRAVELER: I'd like a window seat please. Do you have one that is in the tail section? (Can you omit that?)
AGENT: Let me see… Yes, I do. OK. The boarding pass that I am giving you is for seat number 29C. (Can you omit that?)
TRAVELER: Thank you. This is a trip which I am looking forward to — going home! (Can you omit which?)
boarding pass (N) – ticket for flight
omit (V) – leave out, delete
open (Adj) – available seats; not occupied
tail section (N) – back of the airplane
Decide whether the use of the modifying clause is correct or incorrect.
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "check" or the "check 9-16" button at the bottom.
Practice 3
Alternative Energy Cars
Read for Errors
Creative engineers around the world have designed a number of cars they are powered by some unusual sources.
We were amused when we learned about a car that it was powered by old French-fry oil. But can you imagine a car that is powered by excrement what you put in a toilet? The designers admit that it stinks (smells bad).
Another engineer, a farmer in England, produced a car that ran on apple fuel. Rather than making apple cider, he made methane fuel!
One sporty group made a car. It was powered by pedals (leg power). They also made another one which was powered by the arms of the four passengers. It was much like rowing a boat but without water.
Another research group made a vehicle had a jet engine. It was fast but not very practical.
The same was true for a wind-powered car. She worked very well but only on a windy day and only in one direction!
There are several car designs which they run on solar power — only on sunny days and for short distances.
Some "techies" from Silicon Valley designed their car to run on the same kind of battery is used in a laptop — a lithium-ion battery pack.
The design whom people have really wanted is a hydrogen-powered car. That is right! The dream car is one will run on pure water and emit clean air.
admit (V) — reluctantly tell the negative point(s)
alternative (Adj) — other choices
bio-diesel (N) — fuel produced from vegetable oils and animals fats
cider (N) — alcoholic drink made from apple juice
creative (Adj) — original or imaginative thinking
emit (V) — give off; release into the air
emission (N) – exhaust, gases that cars release back into the air
ethanol — a fuel mostly produced from corn
excrement (N) — feces, a more formal word for shit, poo, or crap
methane (N) — a colorless, odorless, gas
pedals (N) — the part of a bicycle that you push with your feet
row (V) — a method of moving a small boat by a long paddle or an oar
techies — people involved in computer technology (informal)
vehicle (N) — a means of transportation such as a car
Edit for errors and join clauses when possible.
- Edit the sentence(s) in the text box.
- Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "check" or the "check 17-28" button at the bottom.