[Grammar] Adjective clause: analysis and break down.

[The apprentice]

Dear teachers and members:


I'm taking an exam in june for being a teacher and consequently I'm studying lots of grammar, phonetics and phonology in these days. Next I bring the following.

1°) An adjective clause is a dependent clause used as an adjective within a sentence, it usually begins with a relative such as : A relative pronoun which, that, who; a possessive pronoun whose; an object pronoun whom; an adverb pronoun where, when, why or a zero pronoun (omission of a relative). The dependent clause is that which takes the adjective marker (a relative).

a) The painting was very expensive. (Independent or main clause).

b) Ms. Wallace bought it. (Dependent or subordinate clause).

The painting which Ms. Wallace bought was very expensive.

2°) In the above clauses:

a) The common noun (The painting) is the subject of the main clause.

b) The proper noun (Ms. Wallace) is the subject of the subordinate clause.

3°) In the dependent clause Ms. Wallace bought it, the relative pronoun WHICH substitutes the object pronoun IT and modifies the noun THE PAINTING of the independent clause, thus becoming into an adjective clause in the whole sentence.

4°) This sentence can also be written with a zero pronoun.

The painting Ms. Wallace bought was very expensive.

QUESTIONS:

I° - Is which the object of the adjective clause?

II - Is which the object of the whole sentence?

III° - Is the subordinate clause the object of the sentence?

IV° - It seems to me that the adjective clause always modifies the noun of a main clause, doesn't it?

V° - Whether the adjective clause marker (a relative pronoun) substitutes the subject or the object in the dependent clause, does make the independent clause becoming into the subject or the object in the sentence?


Please, I would like to know if my explanations are correct and I would also like to know the answers to all of my questions.

 

[5jj]

a) The painting was very expensive. (Independent or main clause).

b) Ms. Wallace bought it. (Dependent or subordinate clause).

'Mrs Wallace bought it' is an independent or main clause.

Is which the object of the whole sentence?

No

Is which the object of the adjective clause?

Yes

Is the subordinate clause the object of the sentence?

No

 

[The apprentice]

Thank you 5jj:


1°) Cannot a dependent clause take an object with it?

2°) Can an independent clause become into a dependent one as above?

a) Mrs. Wallace bought it. b) Which Mrs Wallace bought.

3°) Is there no object in the whole sentence? If there is one, which is it?

4°) Is it because which took the object from one of the two clauses the reason why it became the object of that same clause?


Please, help me in this matter. I need to learn that.

 

[The apprentice]

I have these additional questions:


1°) Cannot a dependent clause take an object with it?

2°) Can an independent clause become into a dependent one?

3°) Is there no object in the whole sentence? If there is one, which is it?

4°) Is it because which took the object from one of the two clauses the reason why it became the object of that same clause?


Please, help me in this matter. I need to learn that.

 

[Rover_KE]

You have been asked before to stop using those little circles after the question numbers. They are unacceptable in English, unless you are writing degrees of temperature or angle.

 

[5jj]

I am closing the thread, because it has become too unwieldy. You are asking far too many questions at a time, The apprentice. I answered some of the questions in your first post and, before anybody had time to look at the others, you posted some more.The thread would become very confusing if it were to continue. Please start a fresh thread with one question. When you have received a response, by all means ask one follow-up question at a time. In that way we may be able to deal with your problems systematically