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Sentence Complexity and EmbeddingAdjective ClausesThere are three types of subordinate clauses, and we have now looked closely at two of them, at adverb clauses and at noun clauses. In this chapter we will take up the third type, adjective clauses. If we recall that subordinate clauses are clauses that perform a function for the main clause of the sentence that it is part of, and if we apply that definition to the types we have already studied, we will recall that adverb clauses perform an adverbial function for information in the main clause, telling when, why, how, or in what situation or under which conditions something in the main clause happens. We will also recall that noun clauses act in the grammatical roles usually taken by nouns in a sentence, and so a noun clause can act as the subject, direct object, indirect object, object of a preposition, subject complement, object complement, or appositive for the main clause. It will then come as no surprise that an adjective clause modifies one of the nouns in the main clause, for noun modification, or more exactly description, is the function of adjectives, and adjective clauses are entire clauses that function in the same ways that adjectives do. Let’s look at the examples in Activity 16.1.
Activity 16.1: Identifying the Forms of Noun Modifiers Exercise 1 – Look at the following sentences and underline the parts of the sentences that directly answer the questions asked. A. Which man won the race?
1. The tall man won the race. _____________ Now look back at the parts of the sentences that you underlined and identify the grammatical form of each, writing the label in the space provided.
The Function of Adjective Clauses Activity 16.1 demonstrates that there are individual words that can describe nouns, that there are phrases that can modify nouns, and that there are clauses that can modify nouns. The words are adjectives, the phrases are prepositional phrases and adjective phrases, and the clauses are adjective clauses. All these grammatical forms allow us to provide the descriptive information to the questions what is it like, or which one. The term adjective clause is frequently the term used in ESL/EFL textbooks, but grammar reference books will often refer to the same structure as a relative clause. Calling the structure an adjective clause focuses attention on the function of the structure: to act as adjectives do. Calling the structure a relative clause, however, focuses attention on another aspect of the structure: the leading word of the structure, which is a relative pronoun. So calling the structure a relative clause essentially means that it is a clause that begins with a relative pronoun. In the end then, an adjective clause and a relative clause are exactly the same thing.
Activity 16.2: Seeing Adjective Clauses Look at the following sentences and put an X in front of the sentences that contain adjective clauses. Leave the sentences that do not have any adjective clauses blank. Then underline the whole adjective clause. _____ 1. Tom, who is always late, arrived late for his wedding.
The Form of Relative Clauses In order to see the adjective clauses in the sentences in Activity 16.2, it is helpful to understand their function of describing nouns, but it is also helpful to recognize the relative pronouns. As the activity shows, there isn’t just one pronoun that is used in these kinds of structures, so a deeper understanding of these forms will develop through understanding the various relative pronouns in English. The pronoun chart in the reference section tells us that there are five relative pronouns. Let’s see what they are and how speakers choose which of the five they will use in their sentences.
Activity 16.3: Understanding Relative Pronouns Exercise A -- Study the sentences below and place an X in front of the ones that include adjective clauses. Underline the adjective clauses and circle the relative pronouns in each. _____ 1. Yesterday I saw a man. The man was picking his nose. Exercise B — Now look closely that the words you circled and try to determine why that pronoun is used. What is involved in relative pronoun choice?
Activity 16.3 should remind us that relative pronouns are first and foremost pronouns, and like the personal pronouns, they stand in for noun phrases. Because they substitute for noun phrases, they must agree with the head noun in the referent noun phrase that they replace. Relative pronouns must agree with their antecedents in animacy. That is, they must show whether the head noun referent is human or nonhuman. We use the pronouns who, whom, and whose to refer to nouns that are human, and we use the relative pronouns which and whose to refer to nonhuman referents. Is there anything else involved in relative pronoun selection?
Activity 16.4: Understanding Relative Pronouns 2 Exercise A – Read each sentence and put an asterisk in front of the sentences that you consider ungrammatical. Then consider if the sentence is also standard English usage. If so, write standard in the space after the sentence. 1. Yesterday I saw a woman whom I knew. ____________________ 3. Yesterday I called a man whom I worked for. ____________________ 7. Yesterday a player made derogatory statements which he was suspended for. ___________ 9. Insolence is a behavior which I won’t put up with. ____________________ Exercise B – Now review the sentences you marked as ungrammatical and try to identify the problems in each.
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TESL 654
