2. I like the elephant.
Do we know which elephant the speaker likes?
No.
3. I like the elephant
Independent Clause Dependent Clause
that is playing soccer.
4. I like the elephant that is playing soccer.
Independent Clause Dependent Clause
S SV V
5. Ex. I like the elephant. The elephant is playing soccer.
Why Adjective Clauses?
• help make writing or speaking more efficient.
• help you avoid short, repetitive sentences.
that
6. What are the relative pronouns?
Humans: that who whose whom
Non-Humans: that which whose
8. Ex. I want the cupcake
Ex. My sister made me delicious cupcakes,
Defining -
Non-Defining -
Tells ‘which one’
Tells ‘extra information” (You know ‘which ones’.)
• Information is necessary.
• Information is not necessary – it’s extra.
Always use comma
when information is extra!
that has chocolate sprinkles.
which I don’t need.
9. Question: Do these sentences have Defining (‘which one’) or
Non-defining (extra information) adjective clauses?
Give It a Try
2. The baby elephant, which lives in a zoo, likes showers.
1. I want the cupcake that my grandmother made.
‘Non-Defining’ Adjective Clause
‘Defining’ Adjective Clause
10. Ex. The cupcakes that are for the wedding
have fancy frosting.
Ex. I want a cupcake that my sister made.
Subject Adjective Clauses
Object Adjective Clauses
S
S
V
VO
Ex. I want a cupcake my sister made.
In an Object Adjective Clause,
the relative pronoun may be
omitted.
11. Question: Do the sentences below have SUBJECT or OBJECT
adjective clauses?
Give It a Try
1. The cupcake that has a cherry on top is chocolate flavored.
2. I want the cupcake that my grandmother made.
S VO
S V
‘Object’ Adjective Clause
‘Subject’ Adjective Clause