Lesson 255 - 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. This is a matter about which there was much discussion.

2. It is the man on your left who will be the next principal.

3. The car whose license plate I could not read sped quickly away.

4. Did you find the opening where the sheep got through?

5. The man whom you admire greatly will be the next speaker.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. This is a matter about which there was much discussion.

- about which there was much discussion modifies matter

2. It is the man on your left who will be the next principal.

- who will be the next principal modifies man (prepositional phrase again separating the word renamed)

3. The car whose license plate I could not read sped quickly away.

- whose license plate I could not read modifies car

4. Did you find the opening where the sheep got through?

- where the sheep got through modifies opening

5. The man whom you admire greatly will be the next speaker.

- whom you admire greatly modifies man

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