Adjective Clauses

Who, that, which, and whose.

Review -

Adjective clauses begin with a relative pronoun:
Relative pronouns that can be the object of the clause
are:










FORM:
OBJ RELATIVE PRONOUN + S + V



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.


I like the food which she makes.
I like the food which they make.

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.


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.
(Im pointing to the book, so the
adjective clause isnt necessary to
identify it. The clause gives additional
information).


When do we leave out the object relative
pronoun?
In an identifying adjective
clause, we can often leave out
the object pronoun.

BUT DO NOT leave out the
object relative pronoun in a
nonidentifying adjective clause
The book which I just finished is
great. OR
The book I just finished is great.

This book, I just finished, is
great.
This book, which I just finished,
is great. CORRECT
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.
Shes the writer who/whom I met.
Shes the writer I met.



I read the book which/that she
wrote.
I read the book she wrote.


Thats the author whose book I
read.
NOT: Thats the author book I read.
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.
Hes the writer for whom I work.
(formal)
OR
Hes the writer who I work for.
(informal)
OR
Hes the writer I work for. *less
formal

Hes the writer. I work for his wife.
Hes the writer whose wife I work
for.
WHEN and WHERE
When and where are also used
to start an adjective clause

When or that for time


Where place

NOTE: You CAN leave out when
and that in identifying adjective
clauses ( NO COMMAS)



I remember the day when/that I
met you.

Thats the library where she
works.