Adjective Clause Connectors

An adjective clause describe a noun. Because the clause is an adjective, it is positioned directly after the noun that it describes.

Examples:

• This is the house that I want to buy
• The house that I want to buy is quite expensive

In the first example, there are two clauses: this is the subject of the verb is, and I is the subject of the verb want. That is the adjective clause connector that join these two clauses, and the adjective clause that I want to buy describes the noun house.

In the second example, there are also two clauses: house is the subject of the verb is, and I is the subject of the verb want. In this sentence also, that is the adjective clause connector that joins these two clauses, and the adjective clause that I want to buy describes the noun house.

The job        started yesterday was rather difficult.
(A) when
(B) was
(C) after
(D) that he

In this example, you should notice quickly that there are two clauses: job is the subject of the verb was, and the verb started needs a subject. Because there are two clauses, a connector is also needed. Answers (A) and (C) have connectors, but there are no subjects. So these answers are not correct. Answer (B) changes started into a passive verb. In this case the sentence would have one subject and two verbs, so answer (B) is bot correct. The best answer to this question is answer (D). The correct sentence should say: The job that he started was rather difficult. In this sentence job is the subject of the verb was, he is the subject of the verb started, and the connector that joins these two clauses.