What Is an Adjective Clause?

(with Examples)
When we think of an adjective, we usually think about a single word used before a noun to
modify its meanings (e.g., tall building, smelly cat,argumentative assistant). However, an
adjective can also come in the form of an adjective clause.

An adjective clause usually comes after the noun it modifies and is made up of several
words which, like all clauses, will include a subject and a verb.

Recognize an adjective
clause when you see one.
An adjective clausealso called an adjectival or relativeclause
will meet three requirements:

First, it will contain a subject and verb.

Next, it will begin with a relative
pronoun [who,whom, whose, that, or which] or
a relative adverb [when, where, or why].
Finally, it will function as an adjective, answering the
questions What kind? How many? or Which one?

The adjective clause will follow one of these two patterns:

RELATIVE PRONOUN OR ADVERB + SUBJECT+ VERB

RELATIVE PRONOUN AS SUBJECT + VERB

Here are some examples:

W hos e bi g, brown eyes pleaded for another c ooki e

Whose = relative pronoun; eyes = subject;pleaded = verb.

W hy Fred cannot stand si tting ac ros s from his sis ter

Mel anie

Why = relative adverb; Fred = subject; can stand = verb [not,

an adverb, is not officially part of the verb].

That bounc ed ac ross the ki tc hen fl oor

That = relative pronoun functioning as subject;bounced = verb.

W ho hicc upped for s ev en hours afterward

Who = relative pronoun functioning as subject;hiccupped = v

First, lets remember that adjectives modify

(or describe) nouns and pronouns.

Example:

Intelligent students understand adjectives.

 (The word "intelligent" is an adjective because it describes the noun "students.")

But adjectives are not always single words. Sometimes they are
clauses:

Example:

Students who are intelligent understand adjectives.

(The adjective clause is underlined. It is an "adjective" clause because it describes the noun "students.")

Remember
A clause is a group of related words with a subject and verb.

Remember
Adjective clauses are always dependent clauses.
 Relative Pronouns for People Who / Whom / That

SUBJECT PRONOUNS

Who replaces a personal subject noun in a modifying clause. That is used

informally as a personal (animate) noun and which is not used at all.

The woman who called you is my friend.

The woman that called you is my friend. (informal)

OBJECT PRONOUN

OBJECT PRONOUN

Whom or who replaces a personal object noun in a modifying clause. That is

used informally for a personal (animate) noun and which is not used.

The woman whom/ who you called is my friend.

The woman that you called is my friend. (informal)

Which relative pronoun(s) can complete each sentence?

1. Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
2. Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "check" or the "check 1-10" button at the bottom.

1.
My friend told me about a student. The student has taken the TOEFL test twelve times!

My friend told me about a student has taken the

TOEFL test twelve times!

Feedback 1

2.

The advisor didn't know the answer to my academic question. I talked to the advisor.

The advisor I talked to didn't know the answer to my

academic question.

Feedback 2

3.

I was looking for a good English program. The program offers a lot of writing and composition.

I am looking for a good English program

offers a lot of writing and composition .

Feedback 3

4.
Some of the courses have been very useful. I took the courses last semester.

Some of the courses I took last

semester have been very useful.

Feedback 4

5.

My friend studies with me in the afternoon. My friend is in my mathematics class.

My friend is in my mathematics

class studies with me in the afternoon.

Feedback 5

6.

All students have to take Algebra101 and Statistics101. All students want to graduate.

All students want to graduate have to take Algebra101

and Statistics101.

Feedback 6

7.

A friend thinks the courses will be useful. I trust this friend.

A friend I trust believes the courses will be useful.
Feedback 7

8.

I would like to find an instructor. The instructor teaches creative writing.

I would like to find a instructor teaches creative writing.

Feedback 8

9.

The group prefers to study at night. I study with the group.

The group I study with prefers to study at night.

Feedback 9

10.

We would all like to take the writing course. The new instructor will be teaching the course.

We would all like to take the writing course the

new instructor will be teaching .

Feedback 10

Reset
Practice 2
Dave

Read for Errors

Dave is a teenager who has just turned fifteen. He is also a person who he is enjoying his life. He is a guy

whom likes to have a good time. He is also a guy whom you would probably like a lot. He can tell stories who

will make you laugh.

His friends who hang out with him think he is smart and funny. Dave is also a guy whose a "ladies man". The

girls text him who like him. One girl that he likes thinks he's cute. Dave is a guy who he hates cute. He

prefers smokin'.

guy (N) male (informal); guys male and female (very informal)
hang out with spend time with
smoking (Adj) hotter than hot; good looking
 Decide whether the modifying clause is correct.

1. Select the response correct or incorrect.

2. Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "check" or the "check 11-20" button at the bottom.

11.

Dave is a teenager who has just turned fifteen.

Correct Incorrect

Feedback 11

12.

He is also a person who he is enjoying his life.

Correct Incorrect

Feedback 12

13.

He is a guy whom likes to have a good time.

Correct Incorrect
Feedback 13

14.

He is also a guy whom you would probably like a lot.

Correct Incorrect

Feedback 14

15.

He can tell stories who will make you laugh.

Correct Incorrect

Feedback 15

16.

His friends who hang out with him think he is smart and funny.

Correct Incorrect
Feedback 16

17.

Dave is also a guy whose a "ladies man".

Correct Incorrect

Feedback 17

18.

The girls text him who like him.

Correct Incorrect

Feedback 18

19.

One girl that he likes thinks he's cute.

Correct Incorrect
Feedback 19

20.

Dave is a guy who he hates cute. He prefers smokin'.

Correct Incorrect

Feedback 20

Reset

Practice 3
Childhood Food Allergies
 Read for errors

The number of children that have food allergies has been increasing. A recent study of kids under age 18 who

has allergies found that 8% of kids are allergic to at least one food. That is up from a previous study in 2009

which found that 4% had allergies.

Pediatricians who see children with allergies report that there is an increasing number of kids who allergic to

peanuts. Some allergies that used to occur in childhood now seem to carry over into teen years.

Preschoolers whose between the ages of 3 and 5 have the highest occurence of food allergies.

Boys in this study who have allergies are more likely to experience severe reactions. This is because they

don't want to appear different from other kids, and so they eat forbidden foods.

Food allergies become dangerous in kids that they ignore warnings and eat foods they aren't supposed to eat,

At school, children often have to sit and eat at the "peanut-free" table who have peanut allergies, which makes

them feel like outcasts. And when they go to birthday parties, they have to bring their own cupcakes which are

allergen free.

Parents have children with allergies say that it changes everything: how they buy, store, prepare and serve

food.

One family that researchers studied had two separate kitchens so that they could keep one kitchen allergen

free.
 Unless researchers can understand why the number of allergies is increasing among kids, the kids who suffer

from allergies will have to hope to outgrow them.

allergen (N) a substance that causes an allergy

allergic(Adj) having an allergy

allergy (N) a medical condition in which you become ill or in which your skin becomes red and painful because you have eaten
or touched a particular substance

forbidden (Adj) not permitted

occurrence (N) something that happens; event; incident

outcast (N) a person who is separated from the rest of society

outgrow (V) to leave behind or lose as one becomes older

pediatrician (N) doctor who treats children (Pediatrics)

Goodman, Brenda "Food allergies in Kids More Common Than Thought"WebMD

Edit for Errors

1. Edit the sentence(s) in the text box.

2. Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "check" or the "check 21-30" button at the bottom.

21.
The number of children that have food allergies has been increasing.

Edit 21

Feedback 21

22.
A recent study of kids under age 18 who has allergies found that 8% of kids are allergic to at least one food.
That is up from a previous study in 2009 which found that 4% had allergies.

Edit 22

Feedback 22

23.

Pediatricians who see children with allergies report that there is an increasing number of kids who allergic to
peanuts.

Edit 23

Feedback 23

24.

Some allergies that used to occur in childhood now seem to carry over into teen years. Preschoolers whose
between the ages of 3 and 5 have the highest occurence of food allergies.

Edit 24
Feedback 24

25.

Boys in this study who have allergies are more likely to experience severe reactions. This is because they don't
want to appear different from other kids, and so they eat forbidden foods.

Edit 25

Feedback 25

26.

Food allergies become dangerous in kids that they ignore warnings and eat foods they aren't supposed to eat.

Edit 26

Feedback 26

27.

At school, children often have to sit and eat at the "peanut-free" table who have peanut allergies, which makes
them feel like outcasts. And when they go to birthday parties, they have to bring their own cupcakes which are
allergen free, which makes them feel like outcasts.
Edit 27

Feedback 27

28.

Parents have children with allergies say that it changes everything: how they buy, store, prepare and serve
food.

Edit 28

Feedback 28

29.

One family that researchers studied had two separate kitchens so that they could keep one kitchen allergen
free.

Edit 29

Feedback 29
30.

Unless researchers can understand why the number of allergies is increasing among kids, the kids who suffer
from allergies will have to hope to outgrow them.

Edit 30

Feedback 30