Adjectives
* Definition: Words that describe or modify nouns or pronouns.
* Function: They provide more information about the noun or pronoun they modify, giving us details about its qualities, characteristics, or quantity.
* Structure: Single words.
* Examples: "The *big* dog," "The *blue* sky," "The *tired* student"
Adjective Clauses
* Definition: Groups of words that function as adjectives, modifying a noun or pronoun. They contain a subject and a verb.
* Function: They provide more complex information about the noun or pronoun they modify, often adding details about a relationship, reason, or other descriptive information.
* Structure: Usually begin with a relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, which, that) or a relative adverb (where, when, why).
* Examples:
* "The dog *that barked at me* was friendly." (Modifies "dog")
* "The sky *which was once blue* is now gray." (Modifies "sky")
* "The student *who studied hard* passed the test." (Modifies "student")
Key Differences
* Structure: Adjectives are single words, while adjective clauses are phrases with their own subject and verb.
* Complexity: Adjectives offer basic descriptions, while adjective clauses provide more nuanced and detailed information.
* Relationship: Adjective clauses often show a relationship between the noun they modify and other information in the sentence.
Example:
* Adjective: "The tall building."
* Adjective Clause: "The building that stands on the hill."
The adjective clause "that stands on the hill" provides more specific information about the building than the single adjective "tall."
In Summary
Think of it this way:
* Adjectives are like basic labels, providing simple descriptions.
* Adjective clauses are like detailed descriptions, adding context and depth.