Adjective Clauses What is an adjective clause? An adjective clause (also called adjectival clause) is a dependent clause which modifies a noun and usually begins with a relative pronoun (which, that, who, whom, whose) or a relative adverb (where, when, why) Examples: • Students who work hard get good grades → The adjective clause who work hard modifies the noun students • The book which you lent me is very interesting → The adjective clause which you lent me modifies the noun the book • Leila, whose father is a famous poet, invited me to her birthday party → The adjective clause whose father is a famous poet modifies the noun Leila • My grandmother remembers the days when there were no personal computers → The adjective clause when there were no personal computers modifies the noun the days There are two types of adjective clauses: • restrictive or defining clauses • non-restrictive or non-defining clauses Restrictive / Defining Clauses Restrictive (also called defining) clauses give essential information about the noun These clauses don't require commas Examples • The man who is standing there is a secret agent • The writer who won the Nobel Prize is from Colombia Non-restrictive / non-defining clauses Non-restrictive (also called non-defining) clauses give extra or non-essential information about the noun These clauses require commas Examples • Fast food, which most people love, is not very healthy at all • My uncle, who is a farmer, lives in the countryside