Ory's Writing Notes: Clauses part 2, Adjective Clauses.

An adjective clause is a dependent clause the modifies either a noun or pronoun. An Adjective clause tells the reader 'Which one' or 'What kind.' Adjective clauses almost always come after the noun or pronoun they are modifying.

An adjective clause usually starts with one of the following pronouns: That, Which, Whom, Who, Whose.

Example: Merry, who we see every day, is coming to the party.

Independent clause: Merry is coming to the party.
Dependent clause: Who we see every day.

Note: Sometimes you can leave pronoun out the dependent clause and the sentence will make sense.

Example: The girl whom I had a date with is pregnant!
Example: The girl I had a date with is pregnant!

Both ways are fine. Just say it out loud. If it sounds fine without the pronoun it most likely is. If you are however writing something formal you should keep the pronoun.

Adjective clauses can also start with Relative adverbs: When, where, Why.

Example: The Jewel where there was a shooting at is one of my favorite places to go.

Like everything else that acts as an adjective (Prepositional phrases, Participles phrases etc.) Adjective clauses can either be restrictive or non-restrictive. If it is restrictive the clauses does not need commas, if it is non-restrictive than it needs commas around it.

That vs. Which.

I believe I covered this is the pronoun section, but as a reminder, That is used in restrictive clauses, and which is used in nonrestrictive clauses when referring to non-people.

Example: The Car that has the dent is mine.

Example: The Divine Comedy, which is my favorite book, has three parts to it.

This ends my notes on Adjective clauses. Next, I will be looking at Adverb clauses.