Adjective Clauses

At a certain point in your writing in English, you should be able to

identify every sentence you write as simple, compound, or complex.
Two additional structures, adjective clauses and appositives, will give
you a much greater sentence variety within which to accomplish your
writing objectives. This page contains a small amount of information
about adjective clauses along with just ten very difficult exercises.
First, we will define what adjective clauses are and how they work.
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.
The children who are on the bus are going to visit the museum.
| 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.
Some other sentences can be combined into a sentence using adjective
clauses in a variety of ways, and they are all correct. Note the variety
of ways in which the following two sentences can be combined.
The church is old.
My grandparents were married there.
The
The
The
The
The

church
church
church
church
church

where my grandparents were married is old.

in which my grandparents were married is old.
which my grandparents were married in is old.
that my grandparents were married in is old.
my grandparents were married in is old.

In the sentences above, the adjective clauses are underlined. All

answers are correct. Note the use of the word "in" and how and where
it is used.
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT PUNCTUATION Managing simple,

compound, and complex sentences and then adding adjective clauses into the
mix can result in some confusing situations regarding punctuation. There are
some specific rules when punctuation is permissible or required around

adjective clauses (when the information in the adjective clause is nonessential information); however, in my composition classes, I insist that
students NOT use commas around adjective clauses for several reasons.
First, non-essential information should generally be avoided in academic
writing, at least in the short essays required for these composition classes.
Thus, not including the commas will more often be right than wrong.
Second, my Spanish speaking students have a natural tendency to write long
sentences using many commas inappropriately. By not using commas around
adjective clauses, students can perhaps more readily recognize when a period
is required.
Third, I believe it is easier to learn to apply commas later when they are
required than the other way around. Indiscriminate use of commas is a hard
habit to undo in my experience. Therefore do not use commas around
adjective clauses, at least for one semester. Are you ready to take the quiz?
This quiz is very difficult. These sentences are actually the hardest I could
find (in the sense that you need to know ALL the rules in order to get them all
correct), so please follow the directions carefully.
1. Do not use commas in any of the completed sentences.
2. Make adjective clauses of the second sentence in every case. (Obviously,
any of these sentences could be written using the first sentence as the
adjective clause; however, making adjective clauses of the second sentence is
harder because it requires knowledge of all the "rules" of writing adjective
clauses.)
3. Spell correctly! This quiz is "graded" by computer, so any spelling mistake
or punctuation error, like forgetting a period at the end of a sentence, will be
counted wrong.

1: The man was wearing a blue shirt. He witnessed the accident.

2: The boy was studying in the library. I talked to him very quietly.
3: The book is about the history of Mexico. I bought it yesterday.
4: The house is still standing. Abraham Lincoln was born there.
5: The man reported the accident. His car was damaged.
6: The research paper must be finished by Friday. David is working on it.
7: The church is very old. My grandparents were married there.
8: 1910 is the year. The revolution began then.
9: The people are very kind. I am staying in their house.
10: The students passed the exam. They studied hard.
clause.
A sentence which contains just one clause is called a simple sentence.
A sentence which contains one independent clause and one or
more dependent clauses is called a complex sentence. (Dependent
clauses are also called subordinate clauses.)

There are three basic types of dependent

clauses: adjective clauses, adverb clauses, and noun clauses. (Adjective
clauses are also called relative clauses.)
This page contains information about adjective clauses. Also see Adverb
Clauses and Noun Clauses.

A. Adjective clauses perform the same function in sentences that

adjectives do: they modify nouns.
The teacher has a car. (Car is a noun.)
Its a new car. (New is an adjective which modifies car.)
The car that she is driving is not hers.
(That she is driving is an adjective clause which modifies car. Its
a clause because it has a subject (she) and apredicate (is driving); its
an adjective clause because it modifies a noun.)
Note that adjectives usually precede the nouns they modify; adjective
clauses always follow the nouns they modify.

B. A sentence which contains one adjective clause and one

independent clause is the result of combining two clauses which
contain a repeated noun. You can combine two independent clauses
to make one sentence containing an adjective clause by following these
steps:
1. You must have two clauses which contain a repeated noun (or
pronoun, or noun and pronoun which refer to the same thing). Here are
two examples:
The book is on the table. + I like the book.
The man is here. + The man wants the book.
2. Delete the repeated noun and replace it with a relative pronoun in
the clause you want to make dependent. See C. below for information on
relative pronouns.
The book is on the table. + I like which
The man is here. + who wants the book
3. Move the relative pronoun to the beginning of its clause (if it is not
already there). The clause is now an adjective clause.
The book is on the table. + which I like
The man is here. + who wants the book

4. Put the adjective clause immediately after the noun phrase it modifies
(the repeated noun):
The book which I like is on the table.
The man who wants the book is here.

C. The subordinators in adjective clauses are called relative

pronouns.
1. These are the most important relative pronouns: who, whom, that,
which.
These relative pronouns can be omitted when they are objects of verbs.
When they are objects of prepositions, they can be omitted when they do
not follow the preposition.
WHO replaces nouns and pronouns that refer to people. It cannot replace
nouns and pronouns that refer to animals or things. It can be
the subject of a verb. In informal writing (but not in academic writing), it
can be used as the object of a verb.
WHOM replaces nouns and pronouns that refer to people. It cannot
replace nouns and pronouns that refer to animals or things. It can be
the object of a verb or preposition. It cannot be the subject of a verb.
WHICH replaces nouns and pronouns that refer to animals or things. It
cannot replace nouns and pronouns that refer to people. It can be
the subject of a verb. It can also be the object of a verb or preposition.
THAT replaces nouns and pronouns that refer to people, animals or
things. It can be the subject of a verb. It can also be the object of a
verb or preposition (but that cannot follow a preposition; whom,
which, and whose are the only relative pronouns that can follow a
preposition).
2. The following words can also be used as relative pronouns: whose,
when, where.
WHOSE replaces possessive forms of nouns and pronouns
(see WF11 and pro in Correction Symbols Two). It can refer to people,
animals or things. It can be part of a subject or part of an object of a
verb or preposition, but it cannot be a complete subject or
object. Whose cannot be omitted. Here are examples with whose:
The man is happy. + I found the mans wallet. =
The man whose wallet I found is happy.
The girl is excited. + Her mother won the lottery. =

The girl whose mother won the lottery is excited.

WHEN replaces a time (in + year, in + month, on + day,...). It cannot be
a subject. It can be omitted. Here is an example with when:
I will never forget the day. + I graduated on that day.=
I will never forget the day when I graduated.
The same meaning can be expressed in other ways:
I will never forget the day on which I graduated.
I will never forget the day that I graduated.
I will never forget the day I graduated.
WHERE replaces a place (in + country, in + city, at + school,...). It
cannot be a subject. It can be omitted but a preposition (at, in, to)
usually must be added. Here is an example with where:
The building is new. + He works in the building. =
The building where he works is new.
The same meaning can be expressed in other ways:

The building in which he works is new.

The building which he works in is new.
The building that he works in is new.
The building he works in is new.

D. Adjective clauses can be restrictive or nonrestrictive.

1. A restrictive adjective clause contains information that is necessary
to identify the noun it modifies. If a restrictive adjective clause is
removed from a sentence, the meaning of the main clause
changes. A restrictive adjective clause is not separated from the main
clause by a comma or commas. Most adjective clauses are restrictive; all
of the examples of adjective clauses above are restrictive. Here is another
example:
People who cant swim should not jump into the ocean.

2. A nonrestrictive adjective clause gives additional information about

the noun it modifies but is not necessary to identify that noun. If a
nonrestrictive adjective clause is removed from a sentence, the
meaning of the main clause does not change. A nonrestrictive
adjective clause is separated from the main clause by
a comma or commas. The relative pronoun that cannot be used in
nonrestrictive adjective clauses. The relative pronoun cannot be omitted
from a nonrestrictive clause. Here is an example:
Billy, who couldnt swim, should not have jumped into the ocean.

Adjective clauses can often be reduced to phrases. The relative

pronoun (RP) must be the subject of the verb in the adjective clause.
Adjective clauses can be reduced to phrases in two different ways
depending on the verb in the adjective clause.

1. REDUCING Verb To Be RP + BE = 0
People who are living in glass houses should not throw stones. (clause)
People living in glass houses should not throw stones. (phrase)
Mary applied for a job that was advertised in the paper. (clause)
Mary applied for a job advertised in the paper. (phrase)
2. RP + OTHER VERB (not BE) = OTHER VERB + ing
People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. (clause)
People living in glass houses should not throw stones. (phrase)
Students who sit in the front row usually participate more. (clause)
Students sitting in the front row usually participate more. (phrase)

Topic: Adjective Clauses

Adjective clause? Santa Claus?

Arent they the same?

Well. Um. No, they arent the same. Lets begin with Santa Claus. Hes
the chubby old man that lives at the North Pole. Now, lets talk
about adjective clauses.
Adjective clauses are adjectives. However, they look like sentences
because they have verbs and nouns. Take a look at the following
sentences with adjectives.

I love my new watch.

George gave me a leather wallet.
Elvis Presley was
a famous singer.
She just bought a blue car.

All of the words in red are adjectives. They are describing the nouns (the
words in blue).
Here are some more examples:

I just bought the you recommended book.

Frank is the taught me how to cook chef.
Snowmobiles are you can ride on the
snow cars.

Notice that these adjectives have verbs (recommended, taught, and

ride). In fact, these adjectives look like small sentences! In some
languages, this grammar is correct. In English, however, the above 3
sentences are INCORRECT! The problem is that when the adjective has a
verb (and looks like a small sentence), it canNOT be before the
noun. When the adjective has a verb (like the above examples), they are
placed AFTER the noun. In addition, these types of adjectives are
called adjective clauses.
As we said above, adjective clauses are adjectives, but they look like
sentences because they have verbs and nouns. Because they look like
sentences, put the adjective clause after the noun. Like these:

I just bought the book you recommended.

Frank is the chef taught me how to cook.
Snowmobiles are cars you can ride on the
snow.

THERE IS STILL A PROBLEM. When you use adjective clauses, you often
need a word that connects the noun with the adjective clause. The word
acts like glue and keeps the noun and the adjective clause together. This
word is called the relative pronoun. For our purposes, lets call it the RP
(relative pronoun).
So, here are the rules:
If the NOUN is a

then the RP is

person

>>

who or that

thing

>>

which or that

Using these rules, we get:

I just bought the book which you recommended.

-ORI just bought the book that you recommended.

Frank is the chef who taught me how to cook.

-ORFrank is the chef that taught me how to cook.

Snowmobiles are cars which you can ride on the snow.

-ORSnowmobiles are cars that you can ride on the snow.

Who, which, and that are just three RPs. There are more RPs
(whom, whose), but they will be discussed in a later lesson.
Sometimes, you dont need the RP. A good rule to remember: If the
word after the RP is a verb, you must have the RP there. If the word after
the RP is not a verb, you probably dont need it.
Example:

I just bought the book that you recommended.

The word after the RP is you. You is not a verb. Therefore, the following
sentence is also correct.
I just bought the book you recommended
When the noun is a proper name (and begins with a capital letter), do
NOT use that.

CORRECT

Winston Churchill, who was the prime minister of

England, is considered one of the greatest leaders
of the 20th Century.

Winston Churchill, that was the prime minister of

INCORRECT England, is considered one of the greatest leaders
of the 20th Century.

Some adjective clauses are necessary in the sentence; some adjective

clauses are not necessary, but they are used just to give extra
information. When the adjective clause is NOT necessary, use
commas. When the adjective clause IS necessary, dont use commas.
Example:

Wine that is made in southern Italy is very expensive.

Here, the adjective clause (that is made in southern Italy) is necessary

because if you take it out, the meaning of the sentence completely
changes. Take a look:
Wine is very expensive.
You can see that the first sentence is specifically saying that wine from
southern Italy is expensive. However, when you take out the adjective
clause, the meaning becomes ALL wine is expensive. The meaning of
these two sentences is very different. The difference is completely
dependent on the adjective clause. Therefore, the adjective clause is
NECESSARY. As a result, do not use commas.
In addition, when the adjective clause is not necessary at all (it just adds
extra information), that is usually not used.

CORRECT

The president of the company, who is a Harvard

graduate, plans to retire at the end of the month.

INCORRECT

The president of the company, that is a Harvard

graduate, plans to retire at the end of the month.

Lastly, do not include the noun or use a pronoun that refers to the noun
you are describing.
Example: The concert was loud. I went to it.

CORRECT

INCORRECT

The concert that I went to was loud.

The concert that I went to it was loud.

The noun being described is concert. It refers to concert.

Therefore, it is not used in the adjective clause (I went to).

Quiz Time
Directions: Put the two sentences together to create one sentence by
making an adjective clause. Note: There may be more than one
answer.
1. I love movies. Movies are exciting.
2. Do you have a dog? The dog is large with white fur.
3. She is the lady. The lady helped me find the magazine I was looking
for.

4. Mount Everest is very dangerous to climb. Mount Everest is the

highest mountain in the world.
5. Cars are very efficient. The cars run on electricity.
6. Dr. Jones writes books. Dr. Jones is a retired university professor.
7. This is the ring. My mother gave me the ring for my wedding.
Answers
1. I love movies. Movies are exciting. Answers: I love movies that are
exciting. I love movies which are exciting.
2. Do you have a dog? The dog is large with white fur.Answers: Do you
have a dog that is large with white fur? Do you have a dog which is large
with white fur?
3. She is the lady. The lady helped me find the magazine I was looking
for.Answers: She is the lady who helped me find the magazine I was
looking for. She is the lady that helped me find the magazine I was looking
for.
4. Mount Everest is very dangerous to climb. Mount Everest is the highest
mountain in the world.Answer: Mount Everest, which is the highest
mountain in the world, is very dangerous to climb.
5. Cars are very efficient. The cars run on electricity.Answers: Cars which
run on electricity are very efficient. Cars that run on electricity are very
efficient.

6. Dr. Jones writes books. Dr. Jones is a retired university professor.

Answer: Dr. Jones, who is a retired university professor, writes books.
7. This is the ring. My mother gave me the ring for my wedding.
Answers: This is the ring that my mother gave me for my wedding. This
is the ring which my mother gave me for my wedding This is the ring my
mother gave me for my wedding.

8. New York's Long Island has a booming real estate market. Long Island
is shaped like a fish.
Answer: New York's Long Island, which is shaped like a fish, has a
booming real estate market.
9. The manager is from Brazil. She is in my office. Answers: The
manager who is in my office is from Brazil. The manager that is in my
office is from Brazil
.
10. The music is rock and roll. I listen to the music.Answers: The music
that I listen to is rock and roll. The music which I listen to is rock and roll.
The music I listen to is rock and roll.
Rules to Remember!
1
Adjective clauses are adjectives. However, they look like sentences
because they have verbs and nouns. Adjective clauses are placed AFTER
the noun they are describing. Example: The music that I listen to is rock
and roll.
2
When you use adjective clauses, you often need a word that connects the
noun with the adjective clause. The word acts like glue and keeps the noun
and the adjective clause together. This word is called the relative
pronoun. When the noun is a person, use that or who. When the noun is
a thing, use that or which. Example: Cars which run on electricity are very
efficient.
3
Sometimes, you dont need the RP. A good rule to remember: If the word
after the RP is a verb, you must have the RP there. If the word after the RP
is not a verb, you probably dont need it. Example: I just bought the
book that you recommended.
The word after the RP is you. You is not a verb. Therefore, the following
sentence is also correct.v I just bought the book you recommended.
4 When the noun is a proper name (and begins with a capital letter), do NOT
use that. Example: Mount Everest, which is the highest mountain in the
world, is very dangerous to climb.
5 Some adjective clauses are necessary in the sentence; some adjective
clauses are not necessary, but they are used just to give extra
information. When the adjective clause is NOT necessary, use
commas. When the adjective clause IS necessary, dont use commas.
6 In addition, when the adjective clause is not necessary at all (it just adds
extra information), that is usually not used. Example: New York's Long
Island, which is shaped like a fish, has a booming real estate market.
7 Do not include the noun or use a pronoun that refers to the noun you are

describing. Example: The speech was too long. My friend gave it. The
speech which my friend gave was too long.
(no it.)

When? Where? Lesson Topic: Using When and Where in Adjective

Clauses
Look at the following 2 sentences:
I remember the time when was a lot of fun
for our whole family.
We want to visit a place where is
celebrating the New Year.

How's the grammar? You may have learned that when you write adjective
clauses, use when with time words and where with place words. However,
that is only part of the story. There are some simple rules to remember. Look
at the above examples. We used when withtime (a time word)
and where with place (a place word). Are the above sentences correct?
NO. Let us explain.
In this lesson, we will discuss adjective clauses. We strongly recommend you
read our first lesson on adjective clauses in order to thoroughly understand
this lesson. We will republish part of the first lesson about adjective clauses
here.
Adjective clauses are adjectives. However, they look like sentences because
they have verbs and nouns. Take a look at the following sentences with
adjectives.

I love my new watch.

George gave me a leather wallet.
Elvis Presley was a famous singer.
She just bought a blue car.

All of the words in red are adjectives. They are describing the nouns (the
words in blue). Here are some more examples:

I just bought the you recommended book.

Frank is the taught me how to cook chef.
Snowmobiles are you can ride on the
snow cars.

Notice that these adjectives have verbs (recommended, taught,

Answers are in red.

1. 1492 is the year. Columbus discovered North America in that year.
1492 is the year when Columbus discovered North America.
1492 is the year in which Columbus discovered North America.
1492 is the year that Columbus discovered North America.
2. Beijing is the place. That place has an area in a park called English
Corner.
Beijing is the place that has an area in a park called English Corner.
Beijing is the place which has an area in a park called English Corner.
You cannot use where. Why? Because the word after that is a verb! See
the above rule.
3. English Corner is a pretty section in a local park. In English Corner,
people speak only English.
English Corner is a pretty section in a local park where people speak only
English.
English Corner is a pretty section in a local park in which people speak only
English.
English Corner is a pretty section in a local park which people speak only
English in.
English Corner is a pretty section in a local park that people speak only
English in.
The first two answers above are more commonly said and more natural.
That's because the in is a little too far away from which andthat.
4. I come from a city. In that city, you can go dancing all night long.
I come from a city where you can go dancing all night long.
I come from a city in which you can go dancing all night long.
I come from a city which you can go dancing all night long in.
I come from a city that you can go dancing all night long in.
Again, the first two answers above are more commonly said and more
natural. That's because the in is a little too far away from which andthat.
5. Thursday, December 17, 1903 is the day. On that day, history was made
because it was the first successful trip in a self-propelled, heavier-than-air
flying machine.
Thursday, December 17, 1903 is the day when history was made because it
was the first successful trip in a self-propelled, heavier-than-air flying
machine.
Thursday, December 17, 1903 is the day on which history was made

because it was the first successful trip in a self-propelled, heavier-than-air

flying machine.
Thursday, December 17, 1903 is the day which history was made on
because it was the first successful trip in a self-propelled, heavier-than-air
flying machine.
Thursday, December 17, 1903 is the day that history was made on because
it was the first successful trip in a self-propelled, heavier-than-air flying
machine.

Rules to Remember!
1

If you are using a preposition with which or that, the preposition

should not be too far away from which or that. The following may be
grammatically correct, but it is somewhat unnatural because the
preposition is too far away from the
English Corner is a pretty section in a local park which people
speak only English in.

Don't use that after proper names.

Mount Everest, which is the highest mountain in the world, is very
dangerous to climb.

For further rules and explanations on the use of adjective clauses,

see our first lesson on this subject. Click here!

English Composition 1 Sentences: Simple,

Compound, and Complex
A common weakness in writing is the lack of varied sentences. Becoming
aware of three general types of sentences--simple, compound, and
complex--can help you vary the sentences in your writing. The most
effective writing uses a variety of the sentence types explained below.

1. Simple Sentences

A simple sentence has the most basic

elements that make it a sentence: a subject, a verb, and a
completed thought. Examples of simple sentences include the
following:
1. Joe waited for the train. "Joe" = subject, "waited" = verb
2. The train was late. "The train" = subject, "was" = verb
3. Mary and Samantha took the bus. "Mary and Samantha" =
compound subject, "took" = verb
4. I looked for Mary and Samantha at the bus station."I" = subject,
"looked" = verb
5. Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon and left
on the bus before I arrived. "Mary and Samantha" = compound
subject, "arrived" and "left" = compound verb
Tip: If you use many simple sentences in an essay, you should consider
revising some of the sentences into compound or complex sentences
(explained below).
The use of compound subjects, compound verbs, prepositional phrases
(such as "at the bus station"), and other elements help lengthen simple

sentences, but simple sentences often are short. The use of too many
simple sentences can make writing "choppy" and can prevent the writing
from flowing smoothly.
A simple sentence can also be referred to as an independent clause. It
is referred to as "independent" because, while it might be part of a
compound or complex sentence, it can also stand by itself as a complete
sentence.

2. Compound Sentences

A compound sentence refers to a

sentence made up of two independent clauses (or complete
sentences) connected to one another with a coordinating
conjunction. Coordinating conjunctions are easy to remember if
you think of the words "FAN BOYS":

For And

Nor

But

Or

Yet

So

Examples of compound sentences include the following:

1. Joe waited for the train, but the train was late.
2. I looked for Mary and Samantha at the bus station, but they arrived
at the station before noon and left on the bus before I arrived.
3. Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before
noon, and they left on the bus before I arrived.
4. Mary and Samantha left on the bus before I arrived, so I did not see
them at the bus station.
Tip: If you rely heavily on compound sentences in an essay, you should
consider revising some of them into complex sentences (explained below).
Coordinating conjunctions are useful for connecting sentences, but
compound sentences often are overused. While coordinating conjunctions
can indicate some type of relationship between the two independent
clauses in the sentence, they sometimes do not indicate much of a
relationship. The word "and," for example, only adds one independent
clause to another, without indicating how the two parts of a sentence are
logically related. Too many compound sentences that use "and" can
weaken writing.

Clearer and more specific relationships can be established through the use
of complex sentences.

3. Complex Sentences

A complex sentence is made up of an

independent clause and one or more dependent clauses connected
to it. A dependent clause is similar to an independent clause, or
complete sentence, but it lacks one of the elements that would
make it a complete sentence.
Examples of dependent clauses include the following:

because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon

while he waited at the train station

after they left on the bus

Dependent clauses such as those above cannot stand alone as a

sentence, but they can be added to an independent clause to form a
complex sentence.

Dependent clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions. Below are

some of the most common subordinating conjunctions: after although as

because before even though if since though unless until when

whereas whenever wherever while

A complex sentence joins an independent clause with one or more

dependent clauses.
The dependent clauses can go first in the sentence, followed by the
independent clause, as in the following:
Tip: When the dependent clause comes first, a comma should be used to
separate the two clauses.
1. Because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon,
I did not see them at the station.
2. While he waited at the train station, Joe realized that the train was
late.
3. After they left on the bus, Mary and Samantha realized that Joe was
waiting at the train station.

Conversely, the independent clauses can go first in the sentence, followed

by the dependent clause, as in the following:
Tip: When the independent clause comes first, a comma should not be
used to separate the two clauses.
1. I did not see them at the station because Mary and Samantha
arrived at the bus station before noon.
2. Joe realized that the train was late while he waited at the train
station.
3. Mary and Samantha realized that Joe was waiting at the train station
after they left on the bus.
Complex sentences are often more effective than compound sentences
because a complex sentence indicates clearer and more specific
relationships between the main parts of the sentence. The word "before,"
for instance, tells readers that one thing occurs before another. A word
such as "although" conveys a more complex relationship than a word such
as "and" conveys.
The term periodic sentence is used to refer to a complex sentence
beginning with a dependent clause and ending with an independent
clause, as in "While he waited at the train station, Joe realized that the
train was late."
Periodic sentences can be especially effective because the completed
thought occurs at the end of it, so the first part of the sentence can build
up to the meaning that comes at the end.

The Structure of a Sentence

Remember that every clause is, in a sense, a miniaturesentence. A simple
sentences contains only a single clause, while a compound sentence, a
complex sentence, or a compound-complex sentence contains at least two
clauses.
The Simple Sentence
The most basic type of sentence is the simple sentence, which contains
only one clause. A simple sentence can be as short as one word: Run!

Usually, however, the sentence has a subject as well as apredicate and

both the subject and the predicate may have modifiers. All of the following
are simple sentences, because each contains only one clause: Melt!
Ice melts. The ice melts quickly. The ice on the river melts quickly under
the warm March sun. Lying exposed without its blanket of snow, the ice on
the river melts quickly under the warm March sun.
As you can see, a simple sentence can be quite long -- it is a mistake to
think that you can tell a simple sentence from a compound sentence or a
complex sentence simply by its length.
The most natural sentence structure is the simple sentence: it is the first
kind which children learn to speak, and it remains by far the most
common sentence in the spoken language of people of all ages. In written
work, simple sentences can be very effective for grabbing a reader's
attention or for summing up an argument, but you have to use them with
care: too many simple sentences can make your writing seem childish.
When you do use simple sentences, you should add transitional phrases to
connect them to the surrounding sentences.
The Compound Sentence
A compound sentence consists of two or moreindependent clauses (or
simple sentences) joined by co-ordinating conjunctions like "and," "but,"
and "or":
Simple Canada is a rich country.
Simple Still, it has many poor people.
Compound Canada is a rich country, but still it has many poor people.
Compound sentences are very natural for English speakers -- small
children learn to use them early on to connect their ideas and to avoid
pausing (and allowing an adult to interrupt):
Today at school Mr. Moore brought in his pet rabbit, and he showed
it to the class, and I got to pet it, and Kate held it, and we coloured
pictures of it, and it ate part of my carrot at lunch, and ...
Of course, this is an extreme example, but if you over-use compound
sentences in written work, your writing might seem immature.

A compound sentence is most effective when you use it to create a sense

of balance or contrast between two (or more) equally-important pieces of
information:
Montreal has better clubs, but Toronto has better cinemas.
Special Cases of Compound Sentences
There are two special types of compound sentences which you might want
to note. First, rather than joining two simple sentences together, a coordinating conjunction sometimes joins two complex sentences, or one
simple sentence and one complex sentence. In this case, the sentence is
called a compound-complex sentence:
compound-complex
The package arrived in the morning, but the courier left before I
could check the contents.
The second special case involves punctuation. It is possible to join two
originally separate sentences into a compound sentence using
a semicolon instead of a co-ordinating conjunction:
Sir John A. Macdonald had a serious drinking problem; when
sober, however, he could be a formidable foe in the House of
Commons.
Usually, a conjunctive adverb like "however" or "consequently" will appear
near the beginning of the second part, but it is not required: The sun rises
in the east; it sets in the west.
The Complex Sentence
A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least
one dependent clause. Unlike a compound sentence, however, a complex
sentence contains clauses which are not equal. Consider the following
examples:
Simple My friend invited me to a party. I do not want to go.
Compound My friend invited me to a party, but I do not want to go.
Complex Although my friend invited me to a party, I do not want to go.
In the first example, there are two separate simple sentences: "My friend
invited me to a party" and "I do not want to go." The second example joins
them together into a single sentence with the co-ordinating conjunction

"but," but both parts could still stand as independent sentences -- they are
entirely equal, and the reader cannot tell which is most important. In the
third example, however, the sentence has changed quite a bit: the first
clause, "Although my friend invited me to a party," has become
incomplete, or a dependent clause.
A complex sentence is very different from a simple sentence or a
compound sentence because it makes clear which ideas are most
important. When you write
My friend invited me to a party. I do not want to go.
or even
My friend invited me to a party, but I do not want to go.
The reader will have trouble knowing which piece of information is most
important to you. When you write thesubordinating conjunction "although"
at the beginning of the first clause, however, you make it clear that the
fact that your friend invited you is less important than, orsubordinate, to
the fact that you do not want to go.
Written by David Megginson

Review: Sentence Structure

You will not become a better writer simply by learning to name the
different types of sentences, but you will develop a more sophisticated
understanding of how language works. If you would like to make certain
that you understand how to identify a simple sentence, compound
sentence, complex sentence, or a compound-complex sentence, you may
try this simple exercise.
1. Ottawa is the capital of Canada, but Toronto is the capital of Ontario.
2. Democracy is a noble goal; it is important, however, to protect the
minority from the tyranny of the majority.
3. I do not own a Porsche.
4. Call your father as soon as you arrive in Antigonish.
5. I ate the sushi and left the restaurant.

6. Unless my girlfriend postpones her visit from Calgary, I will not have
time to study for my exam.
7. Susanne wanted to be here, but she cannot come because her car is
in the shop.
8. The football game was cancelled because it was raining.
9. The football game was cancelled because of the rain.

10.

When the train arrives and if Ms. Langlois is on it, she will be
served with a subpoena.

When / Where
"Flower Child" in San Francisco
in the 1960s.Adding descriptive information for time or place

An adjective clause uses pronouns to connect the dependent

clause to the independent clause. where (pronoun for place)

when

(pronoun for time)

When and Where - object pronouns

WHEN - REPLACES AN OBJECT
NOUN

WHERE - REPLACES AN OBJECT

NOUN

The city
where the "flower
children" lived, is a colorful city.
The "flower
children" lived there.

The years when the "flower

children" thrived, was a colorful
decade.
The "flower children"
thrived then.

colorful = interesting and unusual

decade = 10 year period; thrive =

to live well and expand

Adding a Clause with Where

JOIN THE
SENTENCES

1. Replace the object

pronoun city
with where.

INDEPENDENT
CLAUSE

The city is a colorful

place.

DEPENDENT CLAUSE

The "flower children"

lived in this city.

2. Move the relative

pronoun to the front of
the sentence.

where the "flower

children" lived

3. Insert the clause into The city

the main sentence.

where the "flower

children" lived is a
colorful place.

4. Add punctuation if
the clause
is nonidentifying.

where the "flower

children" lived, is a
colorful place. (Use
commas.)

San Francisco,

Adding a Clause with When

JOIN THE
SENTENCES

1. Replace the object

pronoun 1960s with
when.

INDEPENDENT
CLAUSE

DEPENDENT CLAUSE

The time was a colorful The "flower children"

decade.
thrived in this time.

2. Move the relative

pronoun to the front of
the sentence.

when the "flower

children" thrived

3. Insert the clause

The time
into the main sentence.

when the "flower

children"
thrived was a colorful
decade.

4. Add punctuation if
the clause
is nonidentifying.

when the "flower

children"
thrived, was a colorful
decade. (Use commas.)

The 1960s,

thrive (v.) to become very successful or very strong and healthy

Where can replace:

AT WHICH

ON WHICH

IN WHICH

exact address or
residence

the house

floor, street location,

geographical place

at which I the floor

work is
nearby.

city, area, state,

country

on which I the room

work is the
twelfth.

in which I
work is
here.

the building at which I the street

work is
nearby.

on which I the city

work is
nearby.

in which I
work is
nearby.

the address at which I the corner

work is 310
Elm St.

on which I the state

work

in which I
pay
taxes is
Utah.

the location at which I the island

work

on which I the country in which I

work
pay
taxes is the
U.S.A.

* No commas are used.

When can replace:

AT WHICH

ON WHICH

IN WHICH

hour, time of the day

day

month, season, year,

decade, century

the time

at which I the day

on which I

the month in which I

eat
lunch is
noon.

was bornwas
snowy.

the hour

at which I the day

eat
lunch (at
12:00)

on which I
the season in which I
work (Tuesda
pay
y)
taxes is
spring.

the time

at which I the day

eat
lunch (at
night)

on which I
quit (June
31)

Using Commas

pay
taxes is
April.

the year

in which I
will
retire is
near.

Identifying vs.

nonidentifying clauses

AN IDENTIFYING CLAUSE

A NON-IDENTIFYING CLAUSE

No commas are used to set off a

clause that provides information
that helps identify the noun.

Commas are used to set off a

modifying clause that provides
additional information about a
noun that is already clearly
identified.

The area where the "flower

children" lived was a colorful
section of San Francisco.

The Haight, where the "flower

children" lived, was a colorful area
in San Francisco.

The years when the "flower

children" thrived was a colorful
decade.

The 1960s, when the "flower

children" thrived, was a colorful
decade.

Related pages: Identifying Clauses , Restrictive vs. Nonrestrictive clauses

Practice

Changing when or where to a which-clause

1. Change the sentence with "when' or "where" to a sentence with "in

which", "on which" or "at which".
2. Change the second sentence into a clause. (Leave the prepositions
at the end of the sentence.)

# YOUR RESPONSE

CHECK ANSWER

Monday is the day when we begin the

work week.
Monday is the day
we
--

begin the work week.

Midnight is the time when the date

changes.
Midnight is the time
the
--

date changes.

3. Three-fifty Main street is the

address where you can write me.
Three-fifty Main street is the address
you can write me.
--

4. The lake where we swam was clean

and clear.
The lake
we swam was
--

clean and clear.

5. 2001 was the year when the new

century began.
2001 was the year
the
--

new century began.

6. Seven o'clock is the time when I get

up.
Seven o'clock is the time
I get up.
--

7. California is the state where I live.

California is the state
I
--

live .

8. Parking lot D is the place where I

parked my car.
Parking lot D is the place
I parked my car.
--

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