DEFINITION
An adjective clause is simply a group of words with a subject and a verb that provide a description. The clause starts with a pronoun such as who, whom, that, or which or an adverb such as when, where and why.
An adjective clause is a dependent clause that modifies a noun. It is possible to combine the following two sentences to form one sentence containing an adjective clause:
The children are going to visit the museum.
They are on the bus.
They are on the bus.
The children who are on the bus are going to visit the museum.
| adjective clause |
| adjective clause |
In the sentence above, there are two other ways to write the sentence correctly using the second sentence as the adjective clause.
• The children that are on the bus are going to visit the museum.
• The children on the bus are going to visit the museum.
EXAMPLE:
Who
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This morning he fought with a little guy who was his best friend.
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Which
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The fire which broke out in the warehouse swept through the factories.
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When
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Grandpa remembers the old days whenthere was no television.
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Where
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The place where he flies his kites is very quiet.
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Whom
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She is the only cousin whom I enjoy talking to.
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That
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The package that arrived this morning is on the desk.
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The main relative pronouns:
Pronoun
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Use
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Examples
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Who
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Used for humans in subject position
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Hans, who is an architect, lives in Berlin.
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Whom
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Used for humans in object position
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Marike, whom Hans knows well, is an interior decorator.
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Which
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Used for things and animals in subject or object position
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Marike has a dog which follows her everywhere.
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That
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used for humans, animals and things, in subject or object position (but see below)
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Marike is decorating a house that Hans designed.
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