Adjective Clauses - 6

Types of Adjective Clauses
Possessive Adjective Clauses
In addition to the subject- and object-pattern adjective clauses, there are also adjective clauses with whose. In clauses of this type, whose shows possession. It is always combined with a noun or noun phrase.

Examples:
1. The author is Steve Smith. He likes the author's books best.
The author whose books he likes best is Steve Smith.


The sentence with "whose" has an adjective clause: whose books he likes best. In this clause, whose is the relative pronoun and is
used with books. The clause modifies the subject of the sentence, the author.

The students will be happy to assist you. The student's names are on this list.
The students whose names are on this list will be happy to assist you.

Here, the adjective clause is whose names are on this list. The adjective clause modifies the subject of the main, sentence, the students.

2. I liked discussing the author. We had just read the author's latest novel.
I liked discussing the author whose latest novel we had just read.

Again, the sentence with whose has an adjective clause: whose latest novel we had just read. The clause modifies the object of the main sentence, the author.

I've contacted all the employees. The employee's names are on this list.
I've contacted all the employees whose names are on this list.

Here, the adjective clause is whose names are on this list. The clause modifies the object of the main sentence, the employees.




Extra Notes
1. Do not use a subject relative pronoun and a "regular" possessive "pronoun in an adjective clause:

Incorrect: The author who / that his books he likes best is Steve Smith.
Incorrect: The students who / that their names are on this list will be happy to help you.
Incorrect: I liked discussing the author who / that
his latest novel we had just read.
Incorrect: I've contacted all the employees who / that their names are on this list.
Incorrect: He just bought a computer that / which
its processor speed is 450 mhz.
 
2. Whose clauses for Things

There is a problem when you want to make a possessive adjective clause for things--because English does not have a special relative pronoun for this situation:

He just bought a laptop. The laptop's processor speed is 450 mhz.
He just bought a laptop _____ processor speed is 450 mhz.

Important: Because English does not have a possessive relative pronoun that refers to things, whose must be used:

He just bought a computer whose processor speed is 450 mhz.
Bill has a car whose color is blue.

Sentences with adjective clauses like the above are awkward because whose seems more appropriate for people than for things.
You can avoid this problem by rephrasing the adjective clause:

He just bought a computer which / that has a processor speed of 450 mhz.
Bill has a blue car.