Types of Subordinate Clauses: Adjective Clauses
Now that you have a basic understanding of complex sentences, let’s explore types of subordinate clauses that can be used within complex sentences.
An adjective clause begins with a relative pronoun and follows the noun or pronoun it modifies. Consider the following example:
Mrs. Mallard, who has heart trouble, recently learned of her husband’s death.
Notice that the adjective clause “who has heart trouble” modifies “Mrs. Mallard,” a noun. The adjective clause begins with the relative pronoun “who.” This is because “who” refers to a person (“Mrs. Mallard”). The entire adjective clause comes after the word it modifies and is also set off from the rest of the sentence with commas. Commas are used only when the adjective clause is not essential to understanding the meaning of the sentence. In this case, “who has heart trouble” is extra information and not essential. Commas should be used.
Please also note that if the relative pronoun referred to a thing (something that is not a person), “which” or “that” would be used. Consider the following example:
The train accident that killed Mr. Mallard is unusual.
Because “accident” is a thing, the relative pronoun “that” is used.
Other Relative Pronouns
- who
- whom
- whoever
- whomever
- that
- which
- whatever
- whichever
Read the following sentence:
Mr. Mallard, who came home at the end of the story, did not die in a train accident.
