adjective clause

An adjective clause—also called an adjectival or relative clause—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:

1. Whose big, brown eyes pleaded for another cookie

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

2. Why Fred cannot stand sitting across from his sister Melanie

3. That bounced across the kitchen floor

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

4. Who hiccupped for seven hours afterward

Who = relative pronoun functioning as subject; hiccupped = verb.