Adjective clauses - with subject relative clauses

1. ADJECTIVE CLAUSES

2. Who, that, which, and whose.
• Review Adjective clauses begin with a relative
pronoun: Relative pronouns that can be the
object of the clause are:
SUB
• Eva is a writer. She was born in
Poland.
• Eva, who was born in Poland, is a
writer.
OBJ
• Eva is a writer. I saw her on TV.
OBJ
• Eva, who I saw on TV, is a writer.
• FORM:
OBJ RELATIVE PRONOUN + S + V
• I like the food which she makes.
• I like the food which they make.

3. WARNING!
• Do NOT use a subject pronoun (I,
you, he, she, it , we, they) and a
object relative pronoun in the
same clause:
• She is the singer who I saw on TV
• NOT: She is the writer who I saw
her on TV.

4. Adjective clauses can be identifying and
nonidentifying
• An identifying adjective clause is
necessary to identify the noun it
refers to.
• IDENTIFYING:
I read a lot of books. The book which I
just finished was very interesting.
(The adjective clause is necessary to
identify the noun it refers to (which
book).
NONIDENTIFYING:
• I read a lot of books. This book, which I
just finished, was very interesting.
(I’m pointing to the book, so the
adjective clause isn’t necessary to identify
it. The clause gives additional
information).

5. When do we leave out the object relative
pronoun?
• In an identifying adjective clause,
we can often leave out the object
pronoun.
• The book which I just finished is
great. OR
• The book I just finished is great.
• BUT DO NOT leave out the object
relative pronoun in a
nonidentifying adjective clause
• This book, I just finished, is great.
• This book, which I just finished, is
great. CORRECT

6. Who(m), that, which, and whose
• WHOM, WHO, OR THAT for people
• You can also LEAVE OUT the
relative pronoun. (WHEN NO
COMMAS)
• Which or That for things. You can
also leave out the relative
pronoun. (WHEN NO COMMAS)
• Whose + noun to show possession.
You CANNOT leave out the relative
pronoun.
• She’s the writer who/whom I met.
• She’s the writer I met.
• I read the book which/that she
wrote.
• I read the book she wrote.
• That’s the author whose book I
read.
• NOT: That’s the author book I
read.

7. Who(m), that, which, and whose with
prepositions
• The relative pronouns Who(m),
that, which, and whose can be the
object of a preposition:
• REMEMBER: DO NOT leave the
relative pronoun with whose
• He is the writer. I work for him.
• He’s the writer for whom I work.
(formal)
• OR
• He’s the writer who I work for.
(informal)
• OR
• He’s the writer I work for. *less
formal
• He’s the writer. I work for his wife.
• He’s the writer whose wife I work
for.

8. WHEN and WHERE
• When and where are also used to
start an adjective clause
• When or that for time
• I remember the day when/that I
met you.
• Where – place
That’s the library where she works.
• NOTE: You CAN leave out when
and that in identifying adjective
clauses ( NO COMMAS)

9. Source
• Focus on Grammar 4 - 2011