Adjective clauses english grammar

Adjective ClausesWhat is an adjective clause?. An adjective clause also called adjectival clause is a dependent clause which modifies a noun and usually begins with a relative pronoun w

Adjective Clauses

What is an adjective clause?

An adjective clause (also called adjectival clause) is a dependent clause which modifies

a noun and usually begins with a relative pronoun (which, that, who, whom, whose) or a relative adverb (where, when, why).

Examples:

• Students who work hard get good grades

→ The adjective clause who work hard modifies the noun students

• The book which you lent me is very interesting

→ The adjective clause which you lent me modifies the noun the book

• Leila, whose father is a famous poet, invited me to her birthday party

→ The adjective clause whose father is a famous poet modifies the noun Leila

• My grandmother remembers the days when there were no personal

computers

→ The adjective clause when there were no personal computers modifies the

noun the days.

There are two types of adjective clauses:

• restrictive or defining clauses

• non-restrictive or non-defining clauses

Restrictive / Defining Clauses

Restrictive (also called defining) clauses give essential information about the noun These

clauses don't require commas

Examples

• The man who is standing there is a secret agent.

• The writer who won the Nobel Prize is from Colombia.

Non-restrictive / non-defining clauses

Non-restrictive (also called non-defining) clauses give extra or non-essential information about the noun These clauses require commas.

Examples

• Fast food, which most people love, is not very healthy at all.

• My uncle, who is a farmer, lives in the countryside.