An adjective clause, also known as an adjective phrase or a relative clause, is a clause that functions as an adjective in a sentence. It modifies a noun or pronoun and is typically introduced by a relative pronoun, such as "who," "whom," "whose," "that," or "which." Adjective clauses provide additional information about the noun or pronoun they modify and are essential to the meaning of the sentence.
For example, consider the following sentence: "The book, which I read last night, was interesting." In this sentence, the adjective clause "which I read last night" modifies the noun "book" and provides more information about it. Without the adjective clause, the sentence would be incomplete and would not convey the same meaning.
Adjective clauses can also be used to describe a noun or pronoun in more detail. For instance, "The man who I saw at the store was tall and handsome." In this sentence, the adjective clause "who I saw at the store" provides more information about the man and helps to distinguish him from other men.
Adjective clauses can be restrictive or nonrestrictive. A restrictive adjective clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence and cannot be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence. For example, in the sentence "The book that I read last night was interesting," the adjective clause "that I read last night" is restrictive because it specifies which book is being referred to. Without this clause, the sentence would be ambiguous.
On the other hand, a nonrestrictive adjective clause is not essential to the meaning of the sentence and can be removed without changing the meaning. These clauses are typically set off by commas and provide additional information about the noun or pronoun they modify. For example, in the sentence "My sister, who is a doctor, lives in New York," the adjective clause "who is a doctor" is nonrestrictive because it provides additional information about the sister but is not essential to the meaning of the sentence.
In summary, an adjective clause is a clause that functions as an adjective in a sentence and provides additional information about a noun or pronoun. It is introduced by a relative pronoun and can be either restrictive or nonrestrictive. Understanding how to use adjective clauses correctly is an important aspect of proper grammar and effective communication.