Adjective Clause: Types, Examples with Usage & Exercises

Adjective Clauses are a type of dependent clause just like individual adjectives which describe or alter nouns. They are often referred to as adjectival clauses or relative clauses. Adjective clauses have a subject and a verb, just like any other type of clause. It is easy to recognise since they typically start with a relative pronoun such as that, which, or who. Continue reading this blog post to learn more about adjective clauses.

What is an Adjective Clause?

An adjective clause is a dependent clause that adds information about a noun or pronoun in a sentence to modify it. It will have a verb and a subject which is used to explain more, about any noun or pronouns in the sentence. In simple terms, two sentences can be combined by using this clause.

For example: “The man wearing a red suit is my father”, “He lives in the house where I grew up.”

Also read: What are Clauses: Definition, Types

Types of Adjective Clauses

Based on the nature and behaviour of adjective clauses in sentences, they are divided into two different types:

• Essential Adjective Clauses
• Non-Essential Adjective Clause

Let us dive into details about types of adjective clauses 👇

Essential Adjective Clause

Essential adjectives are used in a sentence to make sense, regarding the description of the sentence. It cannot be eliminated from the statement because it is an integral part of the meaning of the sentence and the description is what counts. Also, there is no particular punctuation used to set the clause apart from the remainder of the phrase. Below are some instances that include necessary adjective clauses.

• They tried to find a restaurant that served Italian food.
• The book that is on the table belongs to me.

Non-Essential Adjective Clause

A non-essential adjective clause, in contrast to an essential one, is not the primary clause focus and offers further details about the noun. These kinds of clauses don’t matter when eliminated in a sentence and it will be still complete without them. For reference, here are a few non-essential adjective clauses.

• My friend Ria, who is an excellent cook, is coming for dinner tonight.
• My sister, who lives in America, will be coming to India next week.

Also Read: Coordinating Clause: Definition, Usage & Exercise

15+ Examples of Adjective Clauses

Gain a detailed understanding of types of adjective clauses through the help of examples:

Essential Adjective Clause	Non-Essential Adjective Clause
The bike that he bought last month is already giving me trouble.	My friend, who lives in New York, is coming to visit next month.
He is reading a novel that was recommended by his teacher.	My father’s new car, which he bought last week, is a hybrid.
The house where he grew up is now abandoned.	Mr. Gupta, who is my neighbour, always helps with gardening.
Do you know the boy who won the physics fair?	The company, whose profits have been declining, is implementing cost-saving measures.
She visited the city that her ancestors once called home.	The series, which won several awards, is now available on the online platform.
The pastry that he baked yesterday was delicious.	My aunt, who is a nurse, provided valuable medical advice.
This is the hotel where he stayed during his summer vacation.	The cat, which belongs to my friend, is very well-trained.
We need the money that he lent you last week.	The cafe, where we celebrated our anniversary, had an amazing ambiance.
The laptop that I purchased recently is very fast.	The novel, which was recommended by my teacher, turned out to be insightful.

Usage of Adjective Clause

If you understand what adjective clauses include and how they’re put together, using them will be easier. An adjective clause is a dependent clause that comes after the subject or object of the sentence, so keep that in mind when learning about its form. Things you need to know about the adjective clause are as follows:

• It comes right after the noun or phrase.
• It is modified and starts with a relative pronoun, such as who, that, which, whose, etc. 
• There should also be a verb if a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun follows the relative pronoun. 
• If a verb comes before the relative pronoun, an adjective will probably come after it.

Also read: 30+ Adverb Clauses Examples in English

Practise Exercise Adjective Clause

Question: Identify the adjective clause in the below sentences.

1. The book that is on the table belongs to Ria.
2. The woman who is wearing a red shirt is my mother.
3. I visited the place where my grandmother grew up.
4. He likes to read books that have happy endings.
5. The cat, which is brown and white, is very friendly.
6. She bought a car that runs on electricity.
7. The cafe where we had lunch last afternoon was excellent.
8. The boy who won the competition was ecstatic.
9. Th house whose roof was damaged in the storm needs repairs.
10. The teacher who teaches Hindi is very knowledgeable.

Answers: 

1. Adjective Clause: “that is on the table”
2. Adjective Clause: “who is wearing a red shirt”
3. Adjective Clause: “where my grandmother grew up”
4. Adjective Clause: “that have happy endings”
5. Adjective Clause: “which is brown and white”
6. Adjective Clause: “that runs on electricity”
7. Adjective Clause: “where we have lunch last afternoon”
8. Adjective Clause: “won the competition”
9. Adjective Clause: “whose roof was damaged in the storm”
10. Adjective Clause: “who teaches Hindi”

Related Reads on English Grammar

Noun Clause Examples For Your Understanding!	Parts of Speech
How to Write a Letter: Letter Writing Types and Examples	101+ One Word Substitutions
List of Idioms and Phrases for IELTS	All Types of Adjective Worksheet

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