Majalah Ilmiah UNIKOM Vol.9, No.

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SASTRAI

THE USE OF ADJECTIVE CLAUSE IN ENGLISH SENTENCES

ASIH PRIHANDINI
Program Studi Sastra Inggris
Fakultas Sastra

Adjective clause is a dependent clause that functions like an adjective. Descriptive

method is used by describing adjective clause based on the functions, types, introduc-
tory words and form. The results of analysis show that the function of adjective clause in
this article mostly modify a noun; the type of adjective clause mostly are essential and
the most common introductory words of adjective clause are who, which, and that.

A. Definition of Sentence 102). Whereas a complex sentence is a

In grammar, students learn how to sentence that consists of an independ-
construct sentence. A sentence is the ent clause and one or more dependent
largest grammatical unit consisting of clause, the dependent clause can be
phrases and / or clause, used to ex- adverb, adjective or noun clause
press a statement, question, command, (Farmer, 1985 : 341).
etc (Hornby, 1987 : 1071). According to
house and Harman in Husain, a sen- B. Definition of Clause
tence is a group of words that states a A clause is component of a
complete thought (Husain, 1993 : 94). (complex) sentence, with its own and
While according to Syah, a sentence is predicate, especially on doing the work
a group of words which has minimally of a noun, adjective or adverb (Hornby,
one subject and one predicate and it 1987 : 204). Another definition of clause
has a complete meaning (1977 : 91). is a group of words which has its own
From some definitions above, we can subject and predicate (Syah, 1977 : 88).
conclude that a sentence is a largest There are two basic types of clause,
grammatical unit consisting of phrases those are :
and / or clauses used to express a
statement, question, command, etc 1. Independent /principal /main clause
which has minimally one subject and Main clause is a clause which con-
one predicate and state a complete tains a complex idea and it can stand by
thought and meaning. itself as a complete simple sentence
Basically there are three kinds of (Husain, 1977 : 88). While according to
sentence, those are simple, compound Farmer, an independent clause is a
and complex sentence. A simple sen- group of word containing a subject and a
tence is a sentence that only consists of predicate that can stand as a sentence
main clause without any subordinate by itself, the clauses in color are inde-
clause (Syah, 1997 : 93). A compound pendent (1985 :324).
sentence is a sentence that consists of e.g. : The moon is shining in the sky
two or more main clauses without any S P
subordinate clause (Husain, 1993 :

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2. Dependent / subordinate clause tive clause that we saw yesterday describes

Dependent clause is a clause that can’t the noun the movie.
stand by itself or still depends on independ-
ent clause because it does not have a com- b. Adjective clause modifies a pronoun.
plete idea yet (Husain, 1993 : 90). Another It means that adjective clause de-
definition of independent clause is a group scribes or gives additional information to a
of words containing a subject and a predi- pronoun.
cate that functions as a part of a sentence e.g. : It is me whom you met at the party last
and depends on the rest of the sentence to night.
complete its meaning; the clauses in color The example shows us that the adjec-
are dependent (Farmer, 324 : 325). A de- tive clause whom you met at the party last
pendent clause may be an adverb clause, night describes the pronoun me.
an adjective clause, or a noun clause.
e.g. : a. The girl who played the violin won 3. The types of adjective clause
the trophy. (adjective clause) There are two types of adjective clause,
b. Whatever she does is always wrong those are :
for him. (noun clause) a. An essential / limiting / restrictive adjec-
c. Grace was angry because we didn’t tive clause.
invite her at the party. (adverb An essential adjective clause contains
clause) information that is necessary to the mean-
ing of the sentence. Without it, the sentence
C. Adjective Clause would have a very different meaning
1. The definition of adjective clause (Farmer, 1985 : 330). Restrictive adjective
An adjective clause gets its name from clause also helps us to identify or define the
the way it functions in a sentence. noun phrase which they modify (Krohn,
Adjective means word that describes a noun 1975 : 185).
(Manser, 1995 : 5). To find out whether the clause is essen-
Here are some definitions of adjective tial or not, remove it from the sentence and
clause : see if the sentence still has the same mean-
a. Adjective clause is a dependent clause ing or not.
that functions like an adjective e.g. : 1. The place where she died has been
(Farmer, 1985 : 329). rebuilt.
b. Adjective clause is a clause that func- 2. The place has been rebuilt.
tions as an adjective or modifies Obviously sentence (1) means some-
a noun (Syah, 1997 : 90). thing very different with sentence (2), the
c. Adjective clause is subordinate clause adjective clause where she died influences
that functions as an adjective that the meaning of the whole sentence.
modifies a noun or pronoun (Husain, Since removing the adjective clause
1933 : 90). changes the meaning of the whole sen-
tence, the adjective clause is essential.
2. The function of adjective clause
From the definition above we can con- b. A nonessential / additive / nonrestric-
clude that the functions of adjective clause tive / appositive / non defining adjective
are : clause.
a. Adjective clause modifies a noun. Additive adjective clause, in the other
It means that adjective clause de- hand give further information which is not
scribes or gives additional information to a essential to the meaning or identification of
noun. the noun phrase, they are equivalent to
e.g. : The movie, that we say yesterday, was separate (Krohn, 1975 : 187). A nonessen-
the best movie I’ve ever seen. tial adjective clause simply adds information
The example shows us that the adjec- to a sentence, the information does not

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change the meaning of the sentence. that are pets or that are called by name
e.g. : 1. Anna, who lives in Russia, will visit (Farmer, 1985 : 391).
us in June. My cat, who is called pussie, loves eat-
2. Anna will visit us in June. ing fish.
When we remove the adjective clause This sentence shows us that who
who lives in Russia, the meaning of the refers to my cat that function as the
whole sentence does not change because subject of the sentence.
the adjective clause who lives in Russia just Who is always followed by the verb
an additional that is not necessary for the of the clause.
sentence.
Since removing the adjective clause ii. Whom
from the sentence does not change the ba- Whom is used to refer to persons
sic meaning of the sentence, the clause is that function as object of the sentence
considered to be nonessential. Notice that a (Farmer, 1985 : 389).
nonessential adjective clause is always set The subject of the clause will always
off from the rest of the sentence with com- follow the object pronoun whom.
mas in writing and by pauses in speaking. Ivy loves the man whom she met
The relative pronoun that can’t be used in S V O S V
nonessential adjective clause (Krohn, at the cinema
1975 : 187). The sentence shows that the pro-
noun whom refers to the man that func-
4. The introductory words of adjective tion as the object of the sentence.
clause
An adjective clause may be introduced iii. Whose
by a relative pronoun or by a relative adverb Whose refers to persons, animals,
(Farmer, 1985 : 32). That’s why adjective object / things that have possessive
clause is also called as relative clause. meaning (Ridwan, 1995 : 19).
a. Relative pronoun is pronoun that join The cat whose fur is black is my
clause used in adjective clause are to the neighbor’s.
rest of a sentence (Manser, 1985 : 348).
Relative pronoun that are who, whom, iv. Which
whose, which and that. The choice of a Which refers to objects, animals,
relative pronoun can depend on the gen- and ideas but not person (Farmer,
der of its antecedent or, especially in 1985 : 391).
writing, on the kind of adjective clause it The dictionary, which I bought last
introduces (Farmer, 1985 : 391). Rela- week, is very heavy.
tive pronoun function to describe or mod- Which may refer to collective nouns
ify the preceding noun or pronoun like committee and orchestra, which
(Ahmadi, 1993 : 52). name groups of people (Farmer, 1985 :
i. Who 391).
Who is used to refer to persons that The London symphony orchestra,
function as subject of the sentence which I saw in the music concert last
(Farmer, 1985 : 389). week, will perform on TV.
Grace, who is my best friend, will In writing, which preferred to that
S V for using in non essential clauses.
marry a lawyer next month
O v. That
The sentence shows that relative That refers to persons, object,
pronoun who refers to Grace that func- ideas, or animals. In writing that is pre-
tions as subject. ferred to which in essential clauses
Who is also used to refer to animals (Farmer, 1985 : 392).

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That mountains that rise along the (watching, buying, etc) or a prepositional
shores of Loch Ness shroud the lake of phrase (on the table, in the box, etc)
fog. (essential clause) (Korhn, 1975 : 188).
The girl that is playing the ball is
b. Sometimes adjective clause is intro- Marianne.
duced by the combination of a preposi- The girl playing the ball is Marianne.
tion and a relative pronoun.
i. in which ii. That + be is followed by a phrase con-
The suitcase in which your clothes taining as…..as or like (Korhn, 1975 :
were packed has been lost. 188).
ii. from whom I want the dress that is as beautiful as
The man from whom you got this Natasia’s.
letter has been died. I want the dress as beautiful as Nata
sia’s.
c. Relative adverb is adverb that functions There is no change in meaning when
as conjunction of a sentence (Syah, that + be is omitted from an adjective
1974 : 74). The relative adverb used in clause.
adjective clause is where and when.
i. Where c. That may be omitted from adjective
Where is used to refer to places clause by adding suffix–ing to the verb,
He does not know the hospital but only a small number of adjective
where his wife died. clause can be changed in this way be-
ii. When cause it depends on the verb whether it
When is used to refer to time. can be added with suffix–ing or not
Sunday is the day when people (Korhn, 1975 : 187).
enjoy their holiday. Peter bought a bicycle that costs $100.
Peter bought a bicycle costing $100.
5. The form of adjective clause
Two sentences with identical nouns d. When the verb in the clause is finite of
may be combined to form one sentence with be (was, were, been, etc) and the adjec-
an adjective clause. The identical noun in tive is ended in –ble (impossible, visible,
the second sentence (plus any determiners etc), both the relative pronoun and the
of modifiers) is replaced by the relative pro- finite may be, and usually are omitted
noun or relative adverb that begins the ad- (Hornby, 1975 : 156).
jective clause (Farmer, 1985 : 331). The only person who was visible was a
The thief steals the girl’s wallet. policeman
The girl is my neighbor. The only person visible was a police-
These sentence can be combined into : man.
The girl whose wallet is stolen by the
thief is my neighbor. e. When the verb in the clause is in one of
the progressive tenses, the relative pro-
Here are some rules related to the form noun (subject) and the finite of be may
of adjective clause : be, and usually are omitted (Hornby,
a. Every sentence containing a noun pre- 1975 : 157).
ceded by a superlative form of adjective The man (who was) driving the truck
such as best, tallest, etc is followed by was drunk.
an adjective clause containing ever that
means at any time (Krohn, 1975 : 187). f. The relative pronoun who is also omitted
The best thing that I ever had is you. in colloquial speech after there is / was,
b. That + be can be omitted when : etc and it is / was, etc (Hornby, 1975 :
i. Be is followed by an –ing form of verb 157).

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There is somebody who wants to see The clause which he would enjoy in the
you at the door. sentence above is an adjective clause be-
cause it functions like an adjective that is to
g. The relative pronoun that in some modify the noun a reception.
cases may replace who, especially in
colloquial style in informal situation 2. He once swore if he ever got married, he
(Hornby, 1975 : 157). would have a reception.
The boy who / that broke the win- It is obviously seen that first sentence
dow was called Tommy. means something different with the second
sentence, it means that the adjective clause
D. Discussion which he would enjoy influences the mean-
This writing describes adjective clause ing of the whole sentence, since removing
based on the function, types, introductory the adjective clause changes the meaning of
words and form found in English articles. the whole sentence, the adjective clause is
1. The functions of adjective clause essential.
a. Modifies a noun
He even wrote down details from the b. Nonessential adjective clause
previously mentioned movies which he 1.This light, which guards a real pedes-
planned to copy when he had his own trian crossing to the major mosque in
wedding reception. our neighborhood, seems to change
The clause which he planned to copy from red to green to red without a regu-
when he had his own wedding reception in lar pattern.
the sentence above is an adjective clause The clause which guards a real pedes-
because it functions like an adjective, that is trian crossing to the major mosque in our
to modify a noun. neighborhood in the sentence above is an
The function of adjective clause which adjective clause because it functions like an
he planned to copy when he had his own adjective that is to modify the noun this
wedding reception modifies the noun the light.
previously mentioned movies.
2. This light seems to change from red to
b. Modifies a pronoun green to red without a regular pattern.
But most observers agree that the power There is no basic different in meaning
of the uniformed dons has only waned between the first and second sentence be-
slightly, if at all, and that it is they who cause the adjective clause which guards a
are still running many of the rackets on real pedestrian crossing to the major
the mean streets of Grotavia. mosque in our neighborhood just gives addi-
The clause who are still running many tional information which is not necessary for
of the rackets on the mean streets of Grota- the meaning of the sentence to the noun
via is an adjective clause. It functions like an this light, since removing the adjective
adjective, that is to modify a pronoun. clause does not change the basic meaning
The function of adjective clause who of the whole sentence, the adjective clause
are still running many of the rackets on the is considered to be nonessential.
mean streets of Grotavia is to modify the
pronoun they.
3. The introductory words of adjective
2. The types of adjective clause in the arti- clause.
cle. a. Relative pronoun
a. Essential adjective clause 1. Who
1.He once swore if he ever got married, When Sukarno became the object of
he would have a reception which he adoration once again, it came many
would enjoy. years after his death, and he was

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mostly idolized by young people who tence above is an adjective clause because
had never experienced his leadership. it functions like an adjective that is to modify
The clause who had never experienced a noun.
his leadership in the sentence above is an The adjective clause which pretty much
adjective clause because it functions like an resembled weddings in those movies de-
adjective that is to modify a noun. scribes the noun a wedding reception, it
The adjective clause who had never proves that the relative pronoun which re-
experienced his leadership describes the fers to object.
noun young people, it proves that the rela-
tive pronoun who refers to persons. 5. That
Despite the fact that initially Don
2. Whom Soekarnino had a soft spot for the
They are friends of their parents or masses, and was even rumored to be
friends of their parents’ friends, or their genuinely concerned about their suffer-
parents’ bosses and associates whom ing, he had by this stage prostrated him-
they had never met before. self at the altar of wealth and power.
The clause whom they had never met The clause that initially Don Soekarnino
before the sentence above is an adjective had a soft spot for the masses, and was
clause because it functions like an adjective even rumored to be genuinely in the sen-
that is to modify a noun. tence above is an adjective clause because
The adjective clause whom they had it functions like an adjective that is to modify
never met before describes the noun phrase a noun.
friends of their parents or friends of their The adjective clause that initially Don
parents’ friends, or their parents’ bosses Soekarnino had a soft spot for the masses,
and associates, it proves that the relative and was even rumored to be genuinely de-
pronoun whom refers the persons. scribes the noun the fact, it proves that the
relative pronoun that refers to object.
3. Whose
From Jakarta to Medan to Makasar the b. Combination of a preposition and a rela-
man whose fall was so welcomed at tive pronoun
home and around the world in 1998 is 1. In which
now seen as being to and decisive In this topsy-turvy world, who can blame
The clause whose fall was so welcomed drivers when the very purpose of the
at home and around the world in 1998 in light is already questionable, let alone
the sentence above is an adjective clause the haphazard manner in which it per-
because it functions like an adjective that is forms its role?
to modify a noun. The clause in which it performs its role
The adjective clause whom are whose in the sentence above is an adjective clause
fall was so welcomed at home and around because it functions like an adjective that is
the world in 1998 has possessive meaning to modify a noun.
to the noun the man, it proves that the rela- The combination of preposition and
tive pronoun whose has possessive mean- relative pronoun in which refers to the hap-
ing to person. hazard manner.

4. Which 2. With whom

I almost forget the concept of a dream Those couples would be celebrating
wedding until I attended a wedding re- their luck in love since they actually had
ception which pretty much resembled found someone with whom they wanted
weddings in those movies. to spend the rest of their lives.
The clause which pretty much resem- The clause with whom they wanted to
bled weddings in those movies in the sen- spend the rest of their lives in the sentence

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above is an adjective clause because it func- 4. The form of adjective clause

tions like an adjective that is to modify a They said they were just lucky to have
noun. liberal parents who left all the wedding
The combination of preposition and decisions to them.
relative pronoun with whom refers to some- The clause who left all the wedding de-
one. cisions to them in the sentence above is an
adjective clause because it function like an
3. For which adjective that is to modify the noun liberal
The rise of Tommy “The driver” Soehar- parents.
tito mark the opening of a new chapter This sentence is formed by combining :
in brutality and greed, a chapter that 1. They said they were just lucky to have
ended with Tommy’s year-long flight for liberal parents.
justice and the cold blooded slaving of 2. Liberal parents who left all the wed
a supreme court judged in broad day- ding decisions to them.
light, a crime for which Tommy received The identical noun in these two sen-
derisory 15 – year sentence. tences is liberal parents, the identical noun
The clause for which Tommy received in the second sentence is replaced by the
derisory 15 – year sentence in the sentence relative pronoun who.
above is an adjective clause because it func-
tions like an adjective that is to modify a
noun. REFERENCES
The combination of preposition and
relative pronoun for which refers to a crime. Ahmadi, Rulam. 1993. Introduction to Eng-
lish Grammar. Yogya: Kanisius.
c. Relative adverb Farmer, Marjorie. Et. Al. 1985. Composition
1. When and Grammar vol.9&11.USA: Laidlaw
Soehartito’s long and steady rise to the Brother
top of steaming Grotavia dunghill really Hornby, A.S. 1975. Guide to Patterns and
began way back in 1942 when Dutch Usage in English. Oxford: Oxford Univer-
Holland and his henchmen, who had sity Press
ling dominated the city’s underworld, ---------. 1987. Oxford Advanced Learner’s of
were muscled out by the Japanese Ya- Current English. Oxford: Oxford Univer-
kuza, eager to get their hands on the sity Press
numbers, prostitution and gambling Husain, Abdul Rajak. 1993. Fundamentals
rackets that were and still are, such a of English Grammar. Solo: CV. Aneka
part of the city’s vice scene. Krohn, Robert. 1975. English Sentence
The clause when Dutch Holland and his Structure. USA. The University of Michi-
henchmen, who had ling dominated the gan Press
city’s underworld, were muscled out by the Manser, Martin H. 1995. Oxford Learner’s
Japanese Yakuza, eager to get their hands Pocket Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford Univer-
on the numbers, prostitution and gambling sity Press
rackets that were and still are, such a part Ramelan. 1994. English Phonetics. Sema-
of the city’s vice scene in the sentence rang: IKIP Semarang Press
above is an adjective clause because it func- Ridwan, Edy. 1995. Easy English Grammar.
tions like an adjective that is to modify a Pekalongan: TB. Bahagia
noun. Syah. Djalius and Enong, Azimar. 1977.
The relative adverb when refers to Modern English Grammar. Jakarta : CV.
1942, it proves that the relative adverb Simplex
when refers to time.

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