Relative Pronouns

1. Relative Pronouns

2. Recognize an adjective clause • Contains subject and a verb • Begins with a relative pronoun (that, which, who, whom, or whose) or a relative adverb (when, where, or why) • It will function as an adjective, answering the questions:What kind? How many? or Which one? • Is a dependent clause, so it cannot stand alone • Does not express a complete thought • Must connect to a main (independent) clause

3. The adjective clause will follow one of these two patterns: • pronoun or adverb + subject + verb • relative pronoun as subject + verb • Example:Whose big, brown eyes pleaded for another cookie • Whose = relative pronoun; eyes = subject; pleaded = verb.

4. More Examples: • That bounced across the kitchen floor • That = relative pronoun functioning as subject; bounced = verb. • Who hiccupped for seven hours afterward • Who = relative pronoun functioning as subject; hiccupped = verb.

5. Punctuating Clauses • NOTE: Essential Clauses do not require commas. An adjective clause is essential when you need the information it provides. • Diane felt manipulated by her beagle Santana, whose big, brown eyes pleaded for another cookie. (nonessential) • Growling ferociously, Oreo and Skeeter, Madison's two dogs, competed for the hardboiled egg that bounced across the kitchen floor. (essential) • Laughter erupted from Annamarie, who hiccupped for seven hours afterward. (nonessential)

6. Punctuating Clauses • Example:Broccoli, which people often leave uneaten, is very nutritious. (nonessential) • “which people often leave uneaten” could be left out of the sentence and it would still make sense and be clear to the reader. • Example:The vegetables that people leave uneaten are often the most nutritious. (essential) • You have to have “that people leave uneaten” in the sentence because it explains which vegetables are often the most nutritious.