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Relative Clause
What Is a Relative Clause?
A relative clause is another term for an adjective clause. Relative, or adjective, clauses are
dependent clauses that modify nouns or pronouns. They include a subject and a verb or verb
phrase and are introduced by words known as relative pronouns and relative adverbs. These
types of pronouns and adverbs are referred to as relative because they relate the clauses to the
words they modify. That, who, whom, whose, and which are relative pronouns, and where,
when, and why are relative adverbs.
Relative Pronoun Examples:
I’d like to paint the room a color that is cheerful .
( That is cheerful is a relative clause. It contains the relative pronoun that, which also
functions as the clause’s subject, and the verb is. The clause modifies the noun color.)
The person to whom Candice owes the greatest gratitude is her mother.
( To whom Candice owes the greatest gratitude is a relative clause. It contains the relative
pronoun whom, the subject Candice, and the verb owes. The clause modifies the noun
person.)
The play, which debuted last week , has been sold out every night.
( Which debuted last week is a relative clause. It contains the relative pronoun which, which
also functions as the clause’s subject, and the verb debuted. The clause modifies the noun
play.)
We’re going to see a band whose lead singer is a friend of ours .
( Whose lead singer is a friend of ours is a relative clause. It contains the relative pronoun
whose, the subject singer, and the verb is. The clause modifies the noun band.)
I’m buying a gift for the neighbor who helped me move .
( Who helped me move is a relative clause. It contains the relative pronoun who, which also
functions as the clause’s subject, and the verb helped. The clause modifies the noun
neighbor.)
Yellowstone National Park, which opened in 1872 , was the first national park in the
country.
( Which opened in 1872 is a relative clause. It contains the relative pronoun which, which
also functions as the clause’s subject, and the verb opened. The clause modifies the noun
Yellowstone National Park.)
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Relative Adverb Examples:
The university where my sister goes to school is in Chicago.
( Where my sister goes to school is a relative clause. It contains the relative adverb where,
the subject sister, and the verb goes. The clause modifies the noun university.)
My family is taking a trip during the month when I graduate from high school .
( When I graduate from high school is a relative clause. It contains the relative adverb when,
the subject I, and the verb graduate. The clause modifies the noun month.)
Our early flight is the reason why we need to leave right away in the morning .
( Why we need to leave right away in the morning is a relative clause. It contains the relative
adverb why, the subject we, and the verb need. The clause modifies the noun reason.)
Kelli visited the office where her dad works .
( Where her dad works is a relative clause. It contains the relative adverb where, the subject
dad, and the verb works. The clause modifies the noun office.)
Summer is the season when I have the most fun .
( When I have the most fun is a relative clause. It contains the relative adverb when, the
subject I, and the verb have. The clause modifies the noun season.)
Diego biked to the lake where he likes to go swimming .
( Where he likes to go swimming is a relative clause. It contains the relative adverb where,
the subject he, and the verb likes. The clause modifies the noun lake.)
Adverb Clause
A dependent, or subordinate, clause contains a subject and a verb or verb phrase but does not
express a complete thought. As a result, it cannot stand alone as a sentence. Dependent
clauses can function either as noun clauses, adjective clauses, or adverb clauses.
What Is an Adverb Clause?
An adverb clause is a dependent clause that, like an adverb, modifies an adjective, an
adverb, or a verb or verb phrase. Adverb clauses begin with words such as after, although,
because, before, if, since, than, until, when, and while.
Adverb Clause Examples
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When we went to the zoo , we saw a lion and a bear.
( When we went to the zoo is an adverb clause. It contains the subject we and the verb went.
The clause modifies the verb saw.)
Keiko’s report was the best because she did the most research .
( Because she did the most research is an adverb clause. It contains the subject she and the
verb did. The clause modifies the adjective best.)
If Brian fixes his flat tire today , he can go for a bike ride.
( If Brian fixes his flat tire today is a dependent clause. It contains the subject Brian and the
verb fixes. The clause modifies the verb phrase can go.)
The dancers are going to practice in the studio now while they have the chance .
( While they have the chance is an adverb clause. It contains the subject they and the verb
have. The clause modifies the adverb now.)
Marcel will make a restaurant reservation when we choose a night to go .
( When we choose a night to go is an adverb clause. It contains the subject we and the verb
choose. The clause modifies the verb phrase will make.)
Gretchen’s latest novel is funnier than her previous book was .
( Than her previous book was is an adverb clause. It contains the subject book and the verb
was. The clause modifies the adjective funnier.)
We will wait until Charlie finishes making his lunch .
( Until Charlie finishes making his lunch is an adverb clause. It contains the subject Charlie
and the verb finishes. The clause modifies the verb phrase will wait.)
Because Tamara won the photography contest , she got her picture in the newspaper.
( Because Tamara won the photography contest is an adverb clause. It contains the subject
Tamara and the verb won. The clause modifies the verb got.)
This computer works better than my last one did .
( Than my last one did is an adverb clause. It contains the subject one and the verb did. The
clause modifies the adverb better.)
After Terry bought his new boat , he took us for a ride on the lake.
( After Terry bought his new boat is an adverb clause. It contains the subject Terry and the
verb bought. The clause modifies the verb took.)
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I’ll find out my grade tomorrow when our teacher returns our tests .
( When our teacher returns our tests is an adverb clause. It contains the subject teacher and
the verb returns. The clause modifies the adverb tomorrow.)
Dad is worried about driving because the weather has gotten worse .
( Because the weather has gotten worse is an adverb clause. It contains the subject weather
and the verb phrase has gotten. The clause modifies the adjective worried.)
Noun Clause
A dependent, or subordinate, clause contains a subject and a verb or verb phrase but does not
express a complete thought. As a result, it cannot stand alone as a sentence. Dependent
clauses can function either as noun clauses, adjective clauses, or adverb clauses.
What Is a Noun Clause?
A noun clause is a dependent clause that acts as a noun. Noun clauses begin with words such
as how, that, what, whatever, when, where, whether, which, whichever, who, whoever, whom,
whomever, and why. Noun clauses can act as subjects, direct objects, indirect objects,
predicate nominatives, or objects of a preposition.
Noun Clause Examples
Whoever thought of that idea is a genius.
( Whoever thought of that idea is a noun clause. It contains the subject whoever and the verb
thought. The clause acts as a subject in the sentence.)
On weekends, we can do whatever we want.
( Whatever we want is a noun clause. It contains the subject we and the verb want. The clause
acts as a direct object in the sentence.)
The focus of our work is how we can satisfy customers most effectively.
( How we can satisfy customers most effectively is a noun clause. It contains the subject we
and the verb phrase can satisfy. The clause acts as a predicate nominative in the sentence,
identifying focus.)
Choose a gift for whomever you want.
( Whomever you want is a noun clause. It contains the subject you and the verb want. The
clause acts as an object of the preposition for in the sentence.)
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Whichever restaurant you pick is fine with me.
( Whichever restaurant you pick is a noun clause. It contains the subject you and the verb
pick. The clause acts as a subject in the sentence.)
Be sure to send whoever interviewed you a thank-you note.
( Whoever interviewed you is a noun clause. It contains the subject whoever and the verb
interviewed. The clause acts as an indirect object in the sentence.)
Do you know what the weather will be?
( What the weather will be is a noun clause. It contains the subject weather and the verb
phrase will be. The clause acts as a direct object in the sentence.)
My greatest asset is that I am a hard worker.
( That I am a hard worker is a noun clause. It contains the subject I and the verb am. The
clause acts as a predicate nominative in the sentence, identifying asset.)
It’s important to think about why we make certain decisions.
( Why we make certain decisions is a noun clause. It contains the subject we and the verb
make. The clause acts as an object of the preposition about in the sentence.)
I wonder how long we should wait here.
( How long we should wait here is a noun clause. It contains the subject we and the verb
phrase should wait. The clause acts as a direct object in the sentence.)
Always give whichever audience you perform for a great show.
( Whichever audience you perform for is a noun clause. It contains the subject you and the
verb perform. The clause acts as an indirect object in the sentence.)
I’m packing extra snacks for when we get hungry.
( When we get hungry is a noun clause. It contains the subject we and the verb get. The clause
acts as an object of the preposition for in the sentence.)
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