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That / Which
Adding a Modifying Clause
Adjective vs. Modifying Clause (Relative Clause)
| ADJECTIVE |
An adjective is placed before the noun it modifies. |
| SUBJECT |
MODIFIER |
NOUN |
Jack sells |
new |
cars. |
He collects |
old |
autos. |
He prefers |
hybrid |
vehicles. |
| MODIFYING CLAUSE |
A modifying clause is placed after the noun it modifies. Either that or which is used with an inanimate noun. That is used informally with a personal noun. |
| SUBJECT |
NOUN |
MODIFYING CLAUSE |
Jack sells |
cars |
which are new. |
He collects |
autos |
that are antique. (old) |
He prefers |
vehicles |
that are hybrid. |
hybrid – powered by more than one source (e.g., gas and electricity)
vehicle (n.) – a means of transportation
antique (adj.) – old, especially items wanted by collectors
Forming a That–Clause
Replacing the Subject or Object Noun
That / Which
| THAT AS THE SUBJECT |
That or which replaces the repeated noun in the modifying clause. The that-clause is placed directly after the noun it modifies. (A modifying clause removes unnecessary words.) |
The car is economical to drive. The car is small. (noun)
The car is economical to drive. It is small. (pronoun) |
| |
SUBJECT of MOD CLS |
|
The car |
The car is small.
 |
is more economical to drive. |
|
that / which |
|
The car |
that / which is small |
is more economical to drive. |
| THAT AS THE OBJECT |
That or which replaces the repeated noun in the modifying clause. That is placed at the beginning of the modifying clause and placed directly after the noun it modifies. |
The car is economical to drive. I want to buy the car.
The car is economical to drive. I want to buy it. |
| |
OBJECT of MOD CLS |
|
The car |
I bought the car
 |
is more economical to drive. |
|
that / which |
|
The car |
that / which I bought
that / which I bought |
is more economical to drive. |
economical (adj.) – costs less
Add commas if the clause adds extra information that is not essential to identifying who the person is. (a non-identifying, non-restrictive clause) See Some or All
That-Clause
Clause Position
Modifying the Subject of the Main Clause
| SUBJECT of MOD CLS MODIFIES SUBJECT OF MAIN CLAUSE |
Below, a that-clause modifies the subject noun of the main clause. That has taken the place of the subject pronoun in the modifying clause. |
| SUBJECT |
MODIFYING CLAUSE |
|
The car
 |
that is small
subject–verb–adjective |
is green. |
The seats |
that are inside
subject–verb–preposition
|
are leather. |
| OBJECT of MOD CLS MODIFIES SUBJECT OF MAIN CLAUSE |
Below, a that-clause modifies the subject noun of the main clause. That has taken the place of the object pronoun in the modifying clause. Optionally omit that in these clauses. |
| SUBJECT |
MODIFYING CLAUSE |
|
The car
|
(that) you drive
object–subject–verb |
is green. |
The seats |
(that) you sit on
object–subject–verb |
are leather. |
complement – a word, phrase or clause which is necessary in a sentence to complete its meaning
verb + complement – elements required to complete the meaning of the clause
Modifying the Object of the Main Clause
| SUBJECT of MOD CLS MODIFIES OBJECT OF MAIN CLAUSE |
Below, a that-clause modifies the object noun of the main clause. That is the subject pronoun in the modifying clause. |
| |
OBJECT |
MODIFYING CLAUSE |
Jack drove |
the car
|
that is small.
subject–verb–adjective |
Jack likes |
the seats |
that are leather.
subject–verb–noun |
| OBJECT of MOD CLS MODIFIES OBJECT OF MAIN CLAUSE |
Below, a that-clause modifies the object noun of the main clause. That is also the object pronoun in the modifying clause. Optionally, omit that in these clauses. |
| |
OBJECT |
MODIFYING CLAUSE |
Jack drove |
the car
|
that he liked.
object–subject–verb |
Jack likes |
the seats |
that he ordered.
object–subject–verb |
tiny (adj)– very small
tryout (v.) – test drive
Related pages: That vs. Which using commas | Who / Whom using that for people
Object Pronouns
Omitting That
When can you omit that?
| SUBJECT PRONOUN OF CLAUSE |
When that takes the place of the subject noun/pronoun of a clause, it cannot be omitted (deleted). |
The phone that woke you is
here.
— The phone woke you — (subject) |
The number that is in my book was incorrect.
— The number is in my book — (subject) |
The ringtone that sounds like a frog is
funny.
— The ringtone sounds like a frog — (subject) |
| OBJECT PRONOUN OF CLAUSE |
When that takes the place of the object noun/pronoun of a clause, it can optionally be omitted (deleted). |
The phone (that) you dropped is
here.
— you dropped the phone— (object) |
The number (that) you gave me was incorrect.
— you gave me the number— (object) |
The ringtone (that) I heard was
hilarious.
— I heard the ringtone — (object) |
hilarious (adj.) – very, funny
ringtone (n.) – the sound a phone makes when receiving a call or a text message
How do you know if that is an object pronoun? (This is a method for simple clauses.)
| FOLLOWED BY A VERB |
If the relative pronoun is followed by a verb, then the relative pronoun is probably the subject of the clause. It cannot be deleted. |
The car — that drives the best — is the sports car.
— that → verb — (It's likely the subject.) |
The engine — which looks small — is powerful.
— which → verb — (It's likely the subject.) |
The radio — that is included — is not very good.
— that → verb — (It's likely the subject.) |
| FOLLOWED BY A SUBJECT NOUN / PRONOUN |
If the relative pronoun is followed by a subject noun or pronoun – I, we, he, she, they – then that or which is probably the object and it can be deleted. |
The
car –– that we spoke about — is a sports car.
— that → we… — (It's likely the object.) |
The
engine –– which she prefers — is powerful.
— which → she… — (It's likely the object.) |
The radio — that you like — isn't included.
— that → you… — (It's likely the object.) |
apologetic (adj.) – sorry; giving of apologies
That-Clause
Punctuation
An Identifying vs. Nonidentifying Clause
| IDENTIFYING CLAUSE |
 A clause that identifies the noun before it (tells you which one) is not set off with commas. Which or that is used. No comma(s) is/are used.
|
The car that Jack bought is a hybrid. |
Jack prefers the tires (that) you recommended. |
| NONIDENTIFYING CLAUSE |
 A clause that adds extra, nonidentifying information is set off with comma(s). Which (not that) is required in a non-identifying clause. Commas
|
The Prius, which Jack bought, is a hybrid car. |
Jack prefers the Michelin tires, which¹ you recommended. |
An identifying clause adds information or narrows the noun to a specific one, group or lot. The clause helps by telling us which one. No commas are used. It is also called restrictive, essential , or necessary clause. See That vs. Which Some or All.
A nonidentifying clause adds extra information about a noun already identified by other means, for example, by name, by shared knowledge or context. The clause, a comment, is set off with commas (before and, if necessary, after the clause). It is also called nonrestrictive, nonessential, or unnecessary clause. See Commas – comments.
¹An object relative pronoun cannot be omitted from (left out of) a nonidentifying clause.
Common Mistakes
Errors and Solutions
| ERROR |
FIX |
*A car is very economical that holds just two passengers. |
A car that holds just two passengers is very economical.
 Move the clause forward, next to the word it modifies. |
*The phone is available that I want to buy. |
The phone that I want to buy is available.
Move the that -clause next to (after) the word it modifies.
|
*The car that I want to buy it is economical to drive.
|
The car that I want to buy [it] is economical to drive.
Delete it. Otherwise, there are two pronouns referring
to the car. |
*The guy which was sitting next to me in the bus was from Ghana. |
The guy who was sitting next to me in the bus was from Ghana. Use who as a personal pronoun.
|
*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.
Grammar Notes
Traditional and Linguistic Description
Advanced
| TRADITIONAL / ESL DESCRIPTION |
LINGUISTIC DESCRIPTION |
Relative Clause. A dependent clause that modifies an antecedent and is most often expressly introduced by a relative pronoun such as which, who, whose, or that. — Garner 886
Adjective Clause – An adjective clause modifies a noun.
Adjective clause pronouns – Who is used for people; which is used for things; that is used for both people and things. UUEG 13-1
Relative Clauses. Clauses beginning with question words (e.g. who, which, where) are often used to modify nouns and some pronouns – to identify people and things, or to give more information about them. PEU 494 |
Relativistion. "A relative clause contains within its structure an overt or covert element that relates it anaphorically to an antecedent." CaGEL 12 §3.1
- I agree with [what you said.] [NP]
- They agree with the suggestion [that you wrote]. [Clause]
Relative Clause vs. Content Clause
- They agreed with the suggestion that you wrote. [relative]
- They agreed with the suggestion that you be more specific. [content]
|
| REED-KELLOGG DIAGRAM — SUBJECT |
TREE DIAGRAM — SUBJECT |
Jack drove the car* [which you gave him __*]
(Car is the antecedent for which. Which is the object of the relative clause.)
 |
|
Categories: NP –noun phrase; N – noun; VP – verb phrase; V – verb; Det – determiner; PP – prepositional phrase; P – preposition; AdvP – adverb phrase; Adv – adverb; AdjP– adjective phrase; Adj – adjective; Subord – Subordinator; Coord – Coordinator; Interj – Interjection
Functions: Subject: Subject, Predicate: Predicator (V) Complement: elements required by the verb: object, indirect object, predicative complement Adjuncts: (optional modifiers) Adj, Adv, clause; Od – direct object; Oi– indirect object
Independent / Dependent Clause; Pronoun Placement : Antecedent – a word that comes before and is represented by another word after it.
- Azar, Betty Schrampfer, and Stacy A. Hagen. Understanding and Using English Grammar (UUEG) . White Plains, New York: Pearson Longman, 2009. Print.
- Garner, Bryan A. Garner's Modern American Usage. 3rd ed. New York: Oxford University Press. 2009. Print
- Huddleston, Rodney and Geoffrey K. Pullum, et al. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (CaGEL) . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002. Print.
- Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage (PEU). 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. Print.
Practice 1
A Tiny Car
Add a modifying clause to the sentence.
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check 1-8" button at the bottom, or the "check" buttons as you go.
Practice 2
Booking a Flight
Read for Errors
TRAVELER: Can you tell me when the next flight leaves that goes to Los Angeles.
AGENT: That would be the 6 o'clock flight.
TRAVELER: No, the flight which I want leaves in thirty minutes.
AGENT: I believe the five o'clock flight what you want is full
AGENT: The flight that it leaves at six o'clock has open seats.
TRAVELER: OK.
AGENT: Do you want a seat that is next to the window or on the aisle?
TRAVELER: I'd like a window seat please. Do you have one that is in the tail section? (Can you omit that?)
AGENT: Let me see… Yes, I do. OK. The boarding pass that I am giving you is for seat number 29C. (Can you omit that?)
TRAVELER: Thank you. This is a trip which I am looking forward to — going home! (Can you omit which?)
boarding pass (n.) – ticket for flight
omit (v.) – leave out, delete
open (adj.) – available seats; not occupied
tail section (n.) – back of the airplane
Decide whether the use of the modifying clause is correct or incorrect.
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check 9-16" button at the bottom, or the "check" buttons as you go.
Practice 3
Alternative Energy Cars
Read for Errors
Creative engineers around the world have designed a number of cars they are powered by some unusual sources.
We were amused when we learned about a car that it was powered by old French-fry oil. But can you imagine a car that is powered by excrement what you put in a toilet? The designers admit that it stinks (smells bad).
Another engineer, a farmer in England, produced a car that ran on apple fuel. Rather than making apple cider, he made methane fuel!
One sporty group made a car. It was powered by pedals (leg power). They also made another one which was powered by the arms of the four passengers. It was much like rowing a boat but without water.
Another research group made a vehicle had a jet engine. It was fast but not very practical.
The same was true for a wind-powered car. She worked very well but only on a windy day and only in one direction!
There are a number of car designs which they run on solar power — only on sunny days and for short distances.
Some "techies" from Silicon Valley designed their car to run on the same kind of battery is used in a laptop — a lithium-ion battery pack.
The design whom people have really wanted is a hydrogen-powered car. That is right! The dream car is one will run on pure water and emit clean air.
admit (v.) – reluctantly tell the negative point(s)
alternative (adj.) – other choices
biodiesel (n.) – fuel produced from vegetable oils and animals fats
cider (n.) – alcoholic drink made from apple juice
creative (adj.) – original or imaginative thinking
emit (v.) – give off; release into the air
emission (n.) – exhaust, gases that cars release back into the air
ethanol – a fuel mostly produced from corn
excrement (n.) – feces, a more formal word for shit, poo, or crap
methane (n.) – a colorless, odorless, gas
pedals (n.) – the part of a bicycle that you push with your feet
row (v.) – a method of moving a small boat by a long paddle or an oar
techies – people involved in computer technology (informal)
vehicle (n.) – a means of transportation such as a car
Edit for errors and join clauses if possible.
- Edit the sentence(s) in the text box.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check all " button at the bottom, or use the "check" button as you go.
