{"id":1629,"date":"2021-01-20T14:03:57","date_gmt":"2021-01-20T14:03:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/patrickcarpen.com\/english\/?page_id=1629"},"modified":"2021-01-20T14:10:05","modified_gmt":"2021-01-20T14:10:05","slug":"the-comma-and-adjective-clauses","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/patrickcarpen.com\/english\/grammar-punctuation-and-mechanics\/the-comma-keeping-order\/the-comma-and-adjective-clauses\/","title":{"rendered":"The Comma and Adjective Clauses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

First Published: 20th of January, 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last updated: January 20, 2021 at 14:10 pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An adjective clause does one of two things in a sentence:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Defines a noun.<\/li>
  2. Gives more information about a noun.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    When an adjective clause defines a noun, separate it with a comma, but when an adjective clause simply gives more information about a noun, do not separate it with a comma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here is an example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The cap which I wore to the football match has been stolen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The adjective clause “which I wore to the football match” defines the cap. That is because, in this context, I have several caps, and I want the reader to understand which cap exactly I’m referring to. An adjective clause which defines a noun is called an essential adjective clause. Do not separate an essential adjective clause with a comma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Let’s look at another example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    An American, whom I met at the Takutu Hotel, gave me this book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In the above example, the adjective clause, “whom I met at the Takutu Hotel,” is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. It simply adds more information about the noun, American. It is called a non-essential adjective clause. Always separate non-essential adjective clauses with a comma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here is another example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Canadian whom I met at the Takutu Hotel gave me this compass. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In the above sentence, I did not separate the adjective clause, “whom I met at the Takutu Hotel,” with a comma because it is used as an essential clause. That is, I want you to understand that the Canadian “whom I met at the Takutu Hotel” gave me the compass, and not, for example, the Canadian “whom I met at Ori Hotel.” In this context, I am using the adjective clause to define the Canadian, so it is treated as an essential adjective clause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But I could also write:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Canadian, whom I met at the Takutu Hotel, gave me this compass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In the above sentence, I used the same clause again, but this time, as a non-essential adjective clause. That is, I did not use the adjective clause to define the noun, but simply to add more information about the noun. In this context, it is understood that I only met one Canadian so there is no need to distinguish him. Therefore, the adjective clause simply gives more information. It is called a non-essential adjective clause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The same adjective clause can be used as an essential or non-essential adjective clause: depending on how you intend it. And you see, above, one such example.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    First Published: 20th of January, 2021 An adjective clause does one of two things in a sentence: Defines a noun. Gives more information about a noun. When an adjective clause Continue Reading →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":664,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[64,25,24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1629","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-comma","category-english-grammar","category-punctuation-mark"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Comma and Adjective Clauses - English<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Adjective clauses serve either to give more information about a noun or to define a noun. 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