Adjective clauses

Adjective clauses modify nouns or pronouns, usually answering the question Which one? or What kind of? They begin with a relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, which, or that) or a relative adverb (when, where, or why).

Example sentence: A flower that is planted in summer will grow quickly. Explanation: The adjective clause that is planted in summer modifies the noun flower.

Example sentence: The coach chose players who would benefit from intense drills. Explanation: The adjective clause who would benefit from intense drills modifies the noun players.

What kind of flower grows quickly? A flower that is planted in summer. Which players did the coach choose? Players who would benefit from intense drills.

In addition to introducing the clause, the relative pronoun points back to the noun that the clause modifies.

Example sentence: A book that goes unread is a writer's worst nightmare. Explanation: The relative pronoun that refers to the noun book.

The relative pronoun that introduces the clause that goes unread and also points back to the noun book.

Relative pronouns are sometimes “understood.”

Example sentence: The things we cherish most are the things we might lose. Explanation: The relative pronoun that is understood in the sentence. The things [that] we cherish most are the things [that] we might lose.

The relative pronoun that is not necessary in the sentence The things we cherish most are the things we might lose.

Order of elements in adjective clauses

The parts of an adjective clause are often arranged as in sentences (subject/verb/object or complement).

Example sentence: Sometimes it is our closest friends who disappoint us. Explanation: The adjective clause who disappoint us is arranged in subject-verb-object order.

Frequently, however, the object or complement appears first, violating the normal order of subject/verb/object.

Example sentence: They can be the very friends whom we disappoint. Explanation: The adjective clause whom we disappoint is arranged in object-subject-verb order.

Words that introduce subordinate clauses

Style note: Reducing relative clauses

Exercise: Subordinate clauses 1

Exercise: Subordinate clauses 2

Exercise: Subjects of subordinate clauses

Exercise: Phrases and clauses

Related topics:

Commas with adjective clauses

Avoiding repetition on adjective clauses

noun The name of a person, place, thing, or an idea.

pronoun A word used in place of a noun. Usually the pronoun substitutes for a specific noun, known as its antecedent.