What is an adjective clause?

Adjective Clauses

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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.