What are Relative Pronouns? (Adjective Clauses)
Relative pronouns are words that introduce adjective clauses.
who, whom, whose, that, which
Relative adverbs can also introduce adjective clauses.
where, why, when…
An adjective clause is a subordinate clause that is used as an adjective. That means that the whole clause modifies a noun or pronoun.
Your Mini Lesson on Adjective Clauses
This is the green house.
Green is a word modifying the noun house. It is an adjective. Now, look at this sentence.
This is the house that Jack built.
That Jack built is a whole clause modifying the noun house. That Jack built is an adjective clause.
Introductory Words – Relative Pronouns & Relative Adverbs
Relative pronouns or relative adverbs link adjective clauses with the word in the independent clause that the adjective clause modifies.
This is the house that Jack built.
The relative pronouns may act as a subject, direct object, object of the preposition, or a modifier within the adjective clause.
- Independent Clause = This is the house
- Dependent Adjective Clause = that Jack built
- Relative Pronoun = that
- Adjective Clause Is Modifying = house
Let’s look at that sentence from above again. What is the relative pronoun’s job in the adjective clause that Jack built?
It is acting as the direct object. Think of it as Jack built that.
This is the park where we played.
If the adjective clause is being introduced by a relative adverb, the relative adverb is simply acting as an adverb. It has no other function in the clause.
- Independent Clause = This is the park
- Dependent Adjective Clause = where we played
- Relative Adverb = where
- Adjective Clause Is Modifying = park
See these pages for more help:
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AGH / Jan 2020