Adjective clauses, also known as relative clauses, are groups of words that modify or describe a noun or pronoun in a sentence. They typically begin with a relative pronoun such as “who,” “whom,” “whose,” “which,” or “that.” However, there is another type of relative pronoun that is less commonly used in adjective clauses – the subject relative pronoun.
Who, Whom, and That
Subject relative pronouns, which include “who,” “whom,” and “that,” function as the subject of an adjective clause. This means that they refer to the person or thing that performs the action in the relative clause. Let’s take a look at an example:
Example: The woman who won the prize is my neighbor.
In this sentence, “who” is a subject relative pronoun that begins the adjective clause “who won the prize.” The clause describes the woman who won the prize, and “who” refers to the person who performed the action of winning.
Here are a few more examples:
- The team that scored the most points won the game.
- The boy whom I saw at the store was my classmate.
- The car that runs on electricity is very popular.
Notice that in each of these examples, the subject relative pronoun is the subject of the adjective clause and refers to the person or thing that performs the action.
Defining & Non-Defining Adjective Clauses
Subject relative pronouns can be used in both defining and non-defining adjective clauses. Defining clauses provide essential information about the noun or pronoun they modify and are not set off by commas. Non-defining clauses provide extra information about the noun or pronoun and are set off by commas. Let’s look at examples of both:
- Defining: The teacher who assigned the homework is strict.
- Non-defining: My sister, who is a doctor, is coming to visit.
In the first example, the adjective clause is defining because it provides essential information about the teacher. In the second example, the clause is non-defining because it adds extra information about the speaker’s sister.
Questions
Subject relative pronouns can also be used in questions. For example:
- Who is the person that broke the vase?
- Whom did you invite to the party?
- Which team scored the most points?
In these questions, the subject relative pronoun is used to ask about the person or thing that performs the action.
Conclusion
In conclusion, subject relative pronouns are a type of relative pronoun that function as the subject of an adjective clause. They are used to refer to the person or thing that performs the action in the clause. Understanding how to use subject relative pronouns in adjective clauses can help you write clear and concise sentences.
Example Exercises