Adjectives Clause or Relative Clauses
Channel: Shiksha Mantra
Date: 2020-03-04

Clauses are an essential part of English grammar. 
We have so far learnt the basics of clauses and noun clauses hence now we are going to discuss the the next part that is the adjective clauses or relative clauses.
An Adjective Clause is a group of words which contains a subject and a predicate of its own, and does the work of an Adjective, and so qualifies some noun or pronoun in the main clause.
An adjective clause is introduced by a relative Pronoun or by a Relative Adverb; as,
 Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.
 The house where the accident occurred is nearby.
But we should remember that a Relative Pronoun introduces a Co-ordinate clause; as,
 I met Rama, who(=and he) gave me your message.
 Though it appears to be a relative clause but it in no way indentifies or describes Rama.
 In the sentence,
 He is the boy who broke the window.
 the clause, who broke the window, is clearly identifies and describes the boy, and is an Adjective Clause.
These are the examples of who (and which) used to introduce a co-ordinate clause,
  I met Mr. Joshi who(=and  he)thereupon shook hands with  me.
  He gave me a message, which (-and it) is this.
  The prisoner was taken before the Captain, who (=and he)  condemned him to instant death.
  He released the bird, which (=and it) at once flew away.
The Relative Pronoun or the Relative Adverb, introducing an Adjective clause, is sometimes understood, and not expressed; as,
 Eat all ^ you can.
 [Here the Relative Pronoun that is  understood.]
 On the day ^ you pass the examination I  shall give you a reward.
 [Here the Relative Adverb when is  understood.]
In older English but is used as a relative pronoun as in the sentences below. in such cases but is equivalent to a relative pronoun followed by not.
There was not a woman present but wept to hear such news.
 [That is, who did not weep to hear such news.]
There was not a widow but longed to die upon the pyre of her husband.
 [That is, who did not long to die upon the pyre of her husband.]
Note that than is sometimes used as a Preposition before a Relative Pronoun in the Adjective Clause; as,
They elected Ram than whom no better boy ever went to school.
It was a blow than which no crueller was ever struck.
We came to a spot than which mine eyes have seldom seen a lovelier.
We will follow Brutus than whom Rome knows no nobler son.
The infinitive with to is often used as the equivalent of an Adjective Clause.
 a)Give me some food which I may eat.
 b)Give me some food to eat.
 a)The doctor has given me medicine which I must take.
 b)The doctor has given me medicine to take.
   a)I have work which I must do.
   b)I have work to do.