Adjective Clause - Definition, Types and Examples


Adjective clauses like adjective and adjective phrase are commonly used in English. Adjective clause is one of the three major types of dependent clause (dependent clause types: noun clause, adjective clause and adverbial clause) . This article covers:

1. Adjective clause definition and meaning
2. Adjective clause examples 
3. How to identify an adjective clause?
4. Types of adjective clause 
5. Adjective clause exercises 


Adjective Clause - Definition and Meaning

An adjective clause, also known as adjectival or relative clause, is a dependent clause that gives information about a noun, noun phrase or pronoun. Unlike adjective phrases, adjective clauses have a subject and predicate. However, as a dependent clause, adjective clauses cannot stand alone, cannot form a complete sentence and cannot express a complete thought.

From the definition above, we learn that:

1. An adjective is also know as adjectival or relative clause.
2. It is a dependent clause.
3. It has a subject and predicate.
4. It gives information about a noun, noun phrase or pronoun.
5. As a dependent clause, it cannot form a complete sentence, stand alone or express a complete thought.

Adjective Clauses Examples 

a. The boy who is sitting there is my friend. 
b. My son, who is 9, has gotten the highest grade in his exam.
c. John is the one who is wearing the blue T-shirt.

The clauses in bold are adjective clauses because they give more information about the noun, noun phrase, the boy and my son and about the pronoun, the one. 


How Do You Identify an Adjective Clause?

Identifying an adjective clause isn't difficult. It can be identified as easily as an adjective. Follow the below-given steps to identify an adjective clause.

1. Look for how many clauses are used in a given sentence.
2. Look for the noun used in that sentence.
3. See which clause gives information about the noun, noun phrase or pronoun.
4. Name the clause describing a noun, noun phrase or pronoun adjective clause.


Types of Adjective Clause

There are only two types of adjective clause in English grammar based on the type of information an adjective clause gives. They are given as under:

1. Essential  
2. Nonessential

An essential adjective clause, also known as restrictive adjective clause, gives essential information which when omitted makes the sentence incomplete. Unlike a nonessential adjective clause, an essential adjective clause is never separated by commas.

Essential adjective clause examples:

a. The man who will phone you today at 9 o'clock is my friend.
b. The girl whom you met at the party is my cousin.
c. My wife is the one who is dressed in red. 

The clauses in bold are essential or restrictive adjective clauses. Those clauses are essential for expressing a complete thought or meaning in the sentence. If you omit those clauses, the intended meaning will be lost.  

A nonessential adjective clause, also known as non-restrictive clause, gives additional information. It is separated by commas. It can be omitted without affecting the meaning of the sentence. 

Nonessential clause examples:

a. My daughter, who is here, has won gold medal in the 2020 badminton match.
b. John, who is a lazy person, isn't available here.
c. My son, whom I love very much, has ranked 1 in the entrance test.

The clauses in bold are nonessential clauses. They are separated by commas. They when omitted don't affect the meaning of the sentence. 


Adjective Clauses Exercises

Find out the adjective clauses in the following sentences and identify their types (essential or nonessential). Do it yourself and then check the answer keys provided below.

a. The cell phone which you gifted me last year has lost.
b. The boy that phoned you is my son.
c. My only son, who is here, likes you.
d. The man who beat you is my uncle.
e. The woman whom you like is here.

Answer keys:

a. which you gifted me (essential)
b. that phoned you (essential)
c. who is here (nonessential)
d. who beat you (essential)
e. whom you like (essential)

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is an adjective clause?

An adjective clause is a type of dependent clause that gives information about a noun, noun phrase or pronoun. Adjective clauses are also known as relative clauses. Adjective clauses cannot form complete sentences, cannot stand alone and cannot express a complete thought. 

Which sentence contains an adjective clause?

The following sentences contain adjective clauses. The adjective clauses are in bold. 

a. The boy who is sitting there is my friend. 
b. My son, who is 9, has gotten the highest grade in his class.
c. John is the one who is wearing the blue T-shirt.

How do you identify an adjective clause?

Follow the below-given steps to identify an adjective clause.

1. Look for how many clauses are used in a given sentence.
2. Look for the noun used in that sentence.
3. See which clause gives information about the noun, noun phrase or pronoun.
4. Name the clause describing a noun, noun phrase or pronoun adjective clause.

10 Examples of adjectival clause

 1. The cell phone which you gifted me last year has lost.
2. The boy that phoned you is my son.
3. My only son, who is here, likes you.
4. The man who beat you is my uncle.
5. The woman whom you like is here.
6. The boy who is sitting there is my friend. 
7. My son, who is 9, has gotten the highest grade in his class.
8. John is the one who is wearing the blue T-shirt.
9. John, who is a lazy person, isn't available here.
10. My son, whom I love very much, has ranked 1 in the entrance test.

Which sentence contains an essential adjective clause?

a. The man who will phone you today at 9 o'clock is my friend.
b. The girl whom you met at the party is my cousin.
c. My wife is the one who is dressed in red.

Which sentence contains a nonessential adjective clause?

a. My daughter, who is here, has won gold medal in the 2020 badminton match.
b. John, who is a lazy person, isn't available here.
c. My son, whom I love very much, has ranked 1 in the entrance test.

What type of word introduces an adjective clause?

Relative pronouns usually introduce adjective clauses. In the following sentences, the adjective clauses are in bold and relative pronouns are in bold and underlined.

a. My daughter, who is here, has won gold medal in the 2020 badminton match.
b. John, who is a lazy person, isn't available here.
c. My son, whom I love very much, has ranked 1 in the entrance test.