LESSON 14 Adjective Clauses (PETERSON’S TOEFL SUCCESS)

(PETERSON’S TOEFL SUCCESS)

LESSON 14

Adjective Clauses

As mentioned in the previous lesson, there are three types of dependent clauses, all of which are tested in the Structure section. Adjective clauses—also called relative clauses—are the most commonly tested of the three. You will see one or two items involving adjective clauses on most tests. Adjective clauses are a way of joining two sentences. In the joined sentence, the adjective clause modifies (describes) a noun (called the head noun) in another clause of the sentence. It begins with an adjective-clause marker. For example: I wanted the book. The book had already been checked out. The book that I wanted had already been checked out. The adjective clause in this example begins with the marker that and modifies the head noun book. Adjective-clause markers are relative pronouns such as who, that, or which or the relative adverbs when or where. Adjective Clause Marker Use Example who Subject (people) A neurologist is a doctor who specializes in the nervous system. whom Object (people) This is the patient whom the doctor treated. whose Possessive (people/things) Mr. Collins is the man whose house I rented. which Subject/object (things) That is a topic which interests me. (which as subject) That is the topic on which I will write. (which as object of preposition) that Subject/object (people/ things) Art that is in public places can be enjoyed by everyone. (that as subject) The painting that Ms. Wallace bought was very expensive. (that as object) where Adverb (place) Here is the site where the bank plans to build its new headquarters. when Adverb (time) This is the hour when the children usually go to bed. Like all clauses, adjective clauses must have a subject and a verb. In some cases, the adjective-clause marker is the subject; in some cases, there is another subject. The painting was very expensive. Ms. Wallace bought it. The painting, which Ms. Wallace bought, was very expensive. The adjective-clause marker in the joined sentence replaces it, the object of the verb bought. In the joined sentence, the adjective clause keeps the subject—Ms. Wallace—which it had in the original sentence. For example: This is a topic. It interests me. This is a topic that interests me. The adjective-clause marker in the joined sentence replaces it, the subject of the second original sentence. In the joined sentence, the marker itself is the subject of the adjective clause. Notice that the inclusion of the pronoun it in the joined sentences above would be an error. Incorrect: The painting that Ms. Wallace bought it was very expensive. This is a topic that it interests me. This type of mistake is sometimes seen in distractors. When the markers which, that, and whom are used as objects in relative clauses, they can correctly be omitted. The painting Ms. Wallace bought is very expensive. (which omitted) The adjective-clause markers which and whom can also be used as objects of prepositions: That is the topic. I will write on it. That is the topic on which I will write. You may also see sentences with adjective clauses used in this pattern: quantity word + of + relative clause He met with two advisers. He had known both of them for years. He met with two advisers, both of whom he had known for years. I read a number of articles. Most of them were very useful. I read a number of articles, most of which were very useful. Any part of a relative clause can be missing from the stem of Structure items, but most often, the marker and the subject (if there is one) and the verb are missing. Any word or phrase from another clause— usually the head noun—may also be missing from the stem. Sample Items Cable cars are moved by cables __________ underground and are powered by a stationary engine. (A) they run (B) that they run (C) run (D) that run The correct answer is (D). Choice (A) is incorrect because the pronoun they cannot be used to join two clauses. Choice (B) is not appropriate because the subject they is not needed in the adjective clause; the marker that serves as the subject of the clause. Choice (C) is incorrect because there is no marker to join the adjective clause to the main clause. The melting point is the temperature ________ a solid changes to a liquid. (A) which (B) at which (C) which at (D) at The correct answer is (B). Choice (A) is incorrect because a preposition is needed before the adjective clause. Choice (C) is incorrect because the relative pronoun comes before the preposition. Choice (D) is incorrect because the relative pronoun has been omitted. There are six types of flamingos, all ________ have long legs, long necks, and beaks that curve sharply downward. (A) of them (B) that (C) of which (D) they The correct answer is (C). Choices (A) and (D) do not contain connecting words needed to join clauses. Choice (B) does not follow the correct pattern of relative clauses after a quantity word (all). The correct pattern needed to complete this sentence is quantity word + of + marker. Only choice (C) follows this pattern. EXERCISE 14 Focus: Answering structure problems involving incomplete adjective clauses. (Note: One or two items in this exercise do NOT focus on adjective clauses; these items are marked in the answer key with asterisks.) Directions: For Sentence Completion items, mark the answer choice—(A), (B), (C), or (D)—that correctly completes the sentence. For Error Identification items, circle the underlined portion of the sentence that would not be considered correct. 1 Most folk songs are ballads ________ have simple words and tell simple stories. (A) what (B) although (C) when (D) that 2 After its introduction in 1969, the float process _________________ the world’s principal method of manufacturing flat sheets of glass. (A) by which it became (B) it became (C) became (D) which became 3 Dolphins lack (A) vocal cords but they have a large, oil-filled (B) organ called the “melon,” which with (C) they can (D) produce a variety of sounds 4 In 1850, Yale University established Sheffield Scientific School, ______________________________. (A) engineers were educated there (B) where engineers were educated (C) in which were engineers educated (D) where were engineers educated 5 There are thousands (A) of kinds of bacteria, many (B) of whom (C) are beneficial (D). 6 The Ringling Brothers were five brothers which (A) built a small group of performers (B) into the world’s (C) largest (D) circus. 7 Most beans _________________________________ are a form of kidney bean. (A) that are cultivated in the United States (B) their cultivation in the United States (C) are cultivated in the United States they (D) they are cultivated in the United States 8 In addition to being a naturalist, Stewart E. White was a writer ________________________ the struggle for survival on the American frontier. (A) whose novels describe (B) he describes in his novels (C) his novels describe (D) who, describing in his novels 9 Diamonds are often found in rock formations called pipes, ______________________ the throats of extinct volcanoes. (A) in which they resemble (B) which resemble (C) there is a resemblance to (D) they resemble 10 William Samuel Johnson, who (A) helped write (B) the Constitution, become (C) the first (D) president of Columbia University in 1787. 11 Seals appear clumsy on the land, __________ are able to move short distances faster than most people can run. (A) but they (B) which they (C) they (D) which 12 The Pritzker Prize is given every year (A) to architects their (B) work benefits (C) humanity and the environment. (D) 13 The instrument panel of a light airplane has at least a dozen instruments _______________________________. (A) the pilot must watch (B) what the pilot must watch (C) that the pilot must watch them (D) such that the pilot must watch them 14 A keystone species is a species of plants or animals ________ absence has a major effect on an ecological system. (A) that its (B) its (C) whose (D) with its 15 Active stocks are stocks (A) they are (B) frequently (C) bought and sold. (D) 16 Pipettes are glass tubes, open at both (A) ends, which (B) chemists use them (C) to transfer small volumes (D) of liquid. 17 The size and shape of a nail depends primarily on the function _____________ intended. (A) which it is (B) for which it is (C) which it is for (D) for which is 18 Gene Krupa had one of the few (A) big band (B) that (C) was centered on (D) a drummer. 19 In geometry, a tangent is a straight line ______________ a curve at only one point. (A) it touches (B) whose touching (C) its touching (D) that touches 20 There (A) are many species (B) of plants and animals that they (C) are peculiar to (D) Hawaii.

ANSWER KEY