Lesson 253 - Parts of the Sentence - Adjective Clauses

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A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause (which can stand alone and make sense) and a dependent clause (which must be attached to the independent clause to make sense). 

 

Example: 

The television was playing (independent clause) as I left the room (dependent clause). 

 

There are three kinds of dependent clauses: adjective clause, adverb clause, and noun clause.

The adjective clause is used to modify a noun or a pronoun. It will begin with a relative pronoun (who, whose, whom, which, and that) or a subordinate conjunction (when and where). Those are the only words that can be used to introduce an adjective clause. The introductory word will always rename the word that it follows and modifies except when used with a preposition which will come between the introductory word and the word it renames. 

 

Examples: 

The student whose hand was up gave the wrong answer. (adjective clause)

Jane is a person in whom I can place my confidence. (adjective clause)

Instructions: Find the adjective dependent clause in the following sentences and tell which word it modifies.

1. The ride that we rode at the amusement park was very scary.

2. Here is the place where the plane wrecked.

3. The diamond in that ring that Mark bought was gigantic.

4. The dress that the Queen is wearing weighs fifty pounds.

5. The student whose hand was raised shouted out the answer.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. The ride that we rode at the amusement park was very scary.

- that we rode at the amusement park modifies ride

2. Here is the place where the plane wrecked.

- where the plane wrecked modifies place

3. The diamond in that ring that Mark bought was gigantic.

- that Mark bought modifies ring

4. The dress that the Queen is wearing weighs fifty pounds.

- that the Queen is wearing modifies dress

5. The student whose hand was raised shouted out the answer.

- whose hand was raised modifies student

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