Adjective Clauses with Subject Relative Pronouns: What You Need to Know

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

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Question 1 of 10

1. Which of the following is an example of an adjective clause with a subject relative pronoun?

The book that I read yesterday was very good.

The man who is wearing a blue hat is my neighbor.

The car, which is parked in the driveway, belongs to my sister.

None of the above

Question 1 of 10

Question 2 of 10

2. Which relative pronouns are used as the subject in an adjective clause?

Which, that

None of the above

Who, whom, whose

Where, when, why

Question 2 of 10

Question 3 of 10

3. Which of the following relative pronouns can be used to refer to people or things?

Who, whom, whose

Which, that

Where, when, why

All of the above

Question 3 of 10

Question 4 of 10

4. Can an adjective clause with a subject relative pronoun be placed at the beginning of a sentence?

No

Yes

Question 4 of 10

Question 5 of 10

5. Which of the following is an example of an adjective clause with a subject relative pronoun that modifies a plural subject?

The man, whose car is parked on the street, is my neighbor.

The children who are playing in the park are having fun.

None of the above.

The flower, which is blooming in the garden, is beautiful.

Question 5 of 10

Question 6 of 10

6. What is an adjective clause with a subject relative pronoun?

A clause that describes the object of the main clause.

A clause that describes the verb of the main clause.

A clause that describes the subject of the main clause.

A clause that stands alone as a complete sentence.

Question 6 of 10

Question 7 of 10

7. Which of the following is an example of an incorrect adjective clause with a subject relative pronoun?

The cat, whose tail is black and white, is named Mittens.

The team who won the game celebrated their victory.

The woman that is walking her dog is my aunt.

None of the above

Question 7 of 10

Question 8 of 10

8. What is the purpose of an adjective clause with a subject relative pronoun?

To provide additional information about the object of the main clause.

To provide additional information about the subject of the main clause.

To provide additional information about the verb of the main clause.

To create a separate sentence.

Question 8 of 10

Question 9 of 10

9. Which of the following is an example of an adjective clause with a subject relative pronoun that modifies a pronoun?

None of the above

The dog, which we adopted from the shelter, is very friendly.

The dress that she is wearing is beautiful.

The person who I was talking to is my boss.

Question 9 of 10

Question 10 of 10

10. Which verb form is typically used in an adjective clause with a subject relative pronoun?

Base form (plain form of the verb)

Present participle (-ing)

Past participle (-ed)

Infinitive (to + verb)

Question 10 of 10

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