adjective clause

An adjective clause describes a noun. Because the clause is an adjective, it is positioned directly after the noun that it describes.

In the first example, there are two clauses: this is the subject of the verb is, and I is the subject of the verb want. That is the adjective clause connector that joins these two clauses, and the adjective clause that I want to buy describes the noun house.

In the second example, there are also two clauses: house is the subject of the verb is, and I is the subject of the verb want. In this sentence also, that is the adjective clause connector that joins these two clauses, and the adjective clause that I want to buy describes the noun house.

The following example shows how these sentence patterns could be tested in the Structure section of the TOEFL test.

Example

The job _____ started yesterday was rather difficult.
(A) when
(B) was
(C) after
(D) that he

In this example, you should notice quickly that there are two clauses: job is the subject of the verb was, and the verb started needs a subject. Because there are two clauses, a connector is also needed. Answers (A) and (C) have connectors, but there are no subjects, so these answers are not correct. Answer (B) changes started into a passive verb; in this case the sentence would have one subject and two verbs, so answer (B) is not correct. The best answer to this question is answer (D). The correct sentence should say: The job that he started yesterday was rather difficult. In this sentence job is the subject of the verb was, he is the subject of the verb started, and the connector that joins these two clauses.

The following chart lists the adjective clause connectors and the sentence pat terns used with them.

EXERCISE 9: Each of the following sentences contains more than one clause. Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice. Circle the connectors. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

1. I did not believe the story that he told me. (C)

   Analysis:

   First Clause                            : I did not believe the story
   Second Clause                       : He told me
   Adjective clause connector     : that

2. Ms. Brown, whom did you recommend for the job, will start work tomorrow.(I)

    Analysis:

    First clause                         : Ms. Brown will start work tomorrow
    Second clause                    : Did you recommend for the job (incorrect)
                                                It should be you recommended for the job
    Adjective clause connector : whom

    The correct sentence is Ms. Brown, who you recommended for the job, will start work tomorrow.

3. The lecture notes which lent me were not clearly written.(I)

     Analysis:

     First clause                       : The lecture notes were not clearly written
     Second clause                  :  lent me (incorrect)
                                               It should be I lent
     Adjective clause connector : which

     The correct sentence is the lecture notes which I lent were not clearly written

4. Sally has an appointment with the hairdresser whom you recommended. (C)

    Analysis:

     First clause                         : Sally has an appointment with the hairdresser
     Second clause                    : you recommended
     Adjective clause connector : whom

5. The phone number that you gave me.

    Analysis:

     First clause                        : The phone number (incorrect: no verb)
     Second clause                   : you gave me
     Adjective clause connector : that
     The correct sentence is The phone number that you gave me IS wrong

6. She is able to solve all the problems which did she cause.(I)

     Analysis:

      First clause                       : She is able to solve the problems
      Second clause                  : did she cause (incorrect)
                                                It should be she caused
      Adjective clause connector: She is able to solve all the problems which she caused
       
7. The day that she spent on the beach left her sunburned. (C)

      Analysis:

      First clause                         : The day left her sunburned
      Second clause                     :  she spend on the beach
      Adjective clause connector :  that

8. Next week I am going to visit my cousins, whom have not seen in several years.(I)

    Analysis:

    First clause                           : Next week I am going to visit my cousins
    Second clause                      :  have not seen in several years (incorrect)
                                                   It should be I have not seen in several years
    Adjective clause connector   : whom
    The correct sentence is Next week I am going to visit my cousins, whom i have not seen in several years

9. Did you forget the promise whom you made? (C)

    Analysis:

    First clause                            : Did you forget the promise
    second clause                        : you made?
    Adjective clause connector    : whom

10. The teacher whom the students like the most is their history teacher.

   Analysis:

   First clause                             : The teacher is their history teacher
   Second clause                        :  the students like the most
   Adjective clause connector     :  whom