ADJECTIVE CLAUSE & NOUN CLAUSE

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

What Is an Adjective Clause? (with Examples)

When we think of an adjective, we usually think about a single word used before a noun to modify its meanings (e.g., tall building, smelly cat, argumentative assistant). However, an adjective can also come in the form of an adjective clause.

An adjective clause usually comes after the noun it modifies and is made up of several words which, like all clauses, will include a subject and a verb.

Examples of Adjective Clauses

Here are some examples of adjective clauses:

·         The carpets which you bought last year have gone moldy.

·         The film which you recommended scared the kids half to death.

·         The follies which a man regrets most in his life are those which he didn't commit when he had the opportunity. (Helen Rowland, 1876-1950)

·         Bore: a person who talks when you wish him to listen.

The Components of an Adjective Clause

An adjective clause (which can also be called an adjectival clause or a relative clause) will have the following three traits:

·         It will start with a relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, that, or which) or a relative adverb (when, where, or why).

(This links it to the noun it is modifying.)(Note: Quite often, the relative pronoun can be omitted. However, with an adjective clause, it is always possible to put one in. There is more on this below.)

·         It will have a subject and a verb.

(These are what make it a clause.)

·         It will tell us something about the noun.

(This is why it is a kind of adjective)

The Relative Pronoun Can Be Omitted

It is common for the relative pronoun to be omitted. Look at these examples:

·         The carpets which you bought last year have gone moldy. 

·         The film which you recommended scared the kids half to death. 

·         The follies which a man regrets most in his life are those which he didn't commit when he had the opportunity.  (Helen Rowland, 1876-1950) 

Commas or No Commas around an Adjective Clause?

The big question with an adjective clause is whether to offset it with commas or not. The rule is this:

·         Don't use commas if your clause is essential; i.e., it is required to identify its noun. (This is called a restrictive clause.)

·         Do use commas if your clause is just additional information. (This is called a non-restrictive clause.)
This is a good test: If you would happily put brackets around it or delete it, then use commas.

Here is an example of a non-restrictive clause:

·         My brother, who claimed to have a limp, sprinted after the bus. 

(This clause is not required to identify My brother. It is just additional information.)

·         My brother (who claimed to have a limp) sprinted after the bus. 

(As it's just additional information, you can put it in brackets.)

·         My brother sprinted after the bus. 

(As it's just additional information, you can even delete it.)

NOUN CLAUSE

What Are Noun Clauses? (with Examples)

A noun clause is a clause that plays the role of a noun. For example (noun clauses shaded):

·         I like what I see.

·         I know that the tide is turning.

·         I've met the man who won the lottery.

(Not all agree this is a noun clause. See Note on the right.)

Compare the three examples above to these:

·         I like cakes.

·         I know London.

·         I've met Madonna.

The words in bold are all nouns. This shows that shaded clauses in the first three examples are functioning as nouns, making them noun clauses.

Like any noun, a noun clause can be a subject, an object, or a complement.

In a sentence, a noun clause will be a dependent clause. In other words, a noun clause does not stand alone as a complete thought.

Examples of Noun Clauses

Here are some examples of noun clauses:

·         A person who trusts no one can't be trusted. (Jerome Blattner)

(This noun clause is the subject of the sentence.)
(Not all agree this is a noun clause. See Note on the right.)

·         That he believes his own story is remarkable. (Jerome Blattner)

(This noun clause is the subject of the sentence. Be aware that starting a sentence with a noun clause starting That is acceptable, but it grates on lots of people's ears. As a result, many writers prefer to precede it with "The fact…".)

·         Ask your child what he wants for dinner only if he's buying. (Fran Lebowitz)

(This noun clause is the direct object of ask.)

·         He knows all about art, but he doesn't know what he likes. (James Thurber, 1894-1961)

(This noun clause is the direct object of know.)

·         It is even harder for the average ape to believe that he has descended from man. (H L Mencken, 1880-1956)

(This noun clause is the direct object of believe.)

·         I never know how much of what I say is true. (Bette Midler)

(This noun clause is an object of a preposition.)

·         Man is what he eats. (Ludwig Feuerbach)

(This noun clause is a subject complement.)

·         My one regret in life is that I am not someone else. (Woody Allen)

(This noun clause is a subject complement.) 

·         An economist is a man who states the obvious in terms of the incomprehensible. (Alfred A Knopf)

(This noun clause is a subject complement.)
(Not all agree this is a noun clause. See Note on the right.)

Source : http://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/adjective_clauses.htm

              http://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/noun_clauses.htm