Grammar for Everyone - Barbara Dykes 2007

Adjectival clauses and relative pronouns
Introduction
Part II The parts of speech

We use relative pronouns to refer to a noun or pronoun already mentioned in the main clause, or in another subordinate clause of the same sentence. They form the subject or object of an adjectival clause, often introducing it. Thus, they join the two clauses, being two pieces of information about the same person or thing.

Relative pronouns are the same in singular and plural but they differ according to function.

1. For the subject of a clause, we use who for people, and which or that for things, for example:

He is the boy who delivers our paper.

This is the paper that he brings.

2. For the object of a clause, we use whom for people, and which or that for things, for example:

He is the boy whom you met in the shop.

(In conversation we sometimes omit this relative pronoun, as it is said to be understood).

He was wearing the jacket (that) I gave him.

3. For possession we use whose for people, and which or that for things, for example:

He is the boy whose Dad plays in the band.

It is the band of which I have all those albums.

In conversation we usually turn these sentences around to sound more natural.

4. As prepositions take an object, so, following a preposition, we use the objective form (in 2 above) of the relative pronoun, such as for whom (or which), by whom, to whom etc., for example:

To whom did you give those tickets?

5. Sometimes, we use conjunctions as relative pronouns - probably to invest the statement with a little extra meaning, yet in a contracted form, for example:

This is the town where (in which) the film was shot.

Friday was the day when (at which time) the crime was committed.

6. We can give emphasis to relative pronouns by adding ’so ever’.

Whosoever believes in me shall have everlasting life.

You can give that away to whomsoever you like.

Analysing a sentence containing an adjectival clause

This is the woman who was stung by a bee.

Finite verbs:  is, was stung

Main clause:  This is the woman

Relative pronoun (link): who

Subordinate clause: who was stung by a bee

Complex sentence

The relative pronoun is included in the subordinate clause, as it is the subject of its verb.

26.1 Activities: adjectival clauses and relative pronouns

1. Students bracket the relative pronoun and underline the adjectival clause in each of the following sentences, for example:

Tomorrow I will ride my new BMX [that] I got for my birthday.

a. This competition, which is held twice a year, is for Under 12’s.

b. The trainer, who is my friend’s dad, was a champion.

c. The boys whom he is training now could be champions too.

d. My dad prefers tennis, which he still plays.

e. The farmer whose land we use often gives us apples.

2. Students add adjectival clauses to each of the following.

a. I bought a new guitar yesterday at our music store.

b. My sister plays a trumpet.

c. We have a music room to practise in.

d. We shall both play in the concert.

e. I have a new dress for the party.

3. Students add three adjectival clauses to the following sentence, each introduced with a different relative pronoun: who, which, whose, whom, that.

Gillian was sitting in the front row.

4. Students join the two sentences to make one, by using an adjectival clause.

a. The headmaster was angry. He glared at us over his spectacles.

b. He had seen us go down to the river. The river was out of bounds.

c. Benny started to cry. His father is very strict.

d. Mr Prophet said he was especially angry with Jack. He had given him detention last week.

e. I apologised about our bad behaviour. It was not very responsible.

5. Students analyse the following sentences, after they have written one up on the board, using the format shown in the examples on pages 162-3, 165.

a. We had a team of oxen that pulled the load of produce to the market.

b. My mother, who milked the cows, made butter and cheese.

c. This is the old churn that she used for making butter.

d. My father, whose horses are very old now, still rides occasionally.

e. That is the horse which used to win the races.

Checklist: adjectival clauses and relative pronouns

Students should now be able to:

• list the relative pronouns used to join adjectival clauses to nouns

• recognise and mark adjectival clauses in sentences or passages

• use relative pronouns correctly to form their own adjectival clauses