× PREFACE
  CHAPTER 1
What is Academic English?
  CHAPTER 2
Academic Vocabulary
  CHAPTER 3
Useful Sentence Structures and Language for Academic Writing
  CHAPTER 4
Paraphrasing, Summarising and Quoting
  CHAPTER 5
Paragraph Structure
  CHAPTER 6
Common Academic Text Structures




PREFACE

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6
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Home > Chapter 3: Useful Sentence Structures and Language for Academic Writing

Chapter 3: Useful Sentence Structures and Language for Academic Writing

3d: Adjective Phrases and Clauses

Adjective clauses

An adjective clause, which is also called a relative clause, functions as an adjective to describe a noun. It can be used to link up ideas, compress information and make communication more effective. For example,

A nurse is a professional. A nurse cares for sick people.
-> A nurse is a professional who cares for sick people.

By connecting the two sentences with ‘who’, the ideas are better linked and the message becomes clearer.


A relative clause begins with a relative pronoun (i.e. that, who, which, where, whose, when, why, what or whom) and provides essential information (defining relative clauses) or non-essential information (non-defining relative clauses) about the noun it modifies.

Examples Notes about the Defining/ Non-defining Clauses
Defining clauses People who are allergic to wheat may suffer from nausea and diarrhoea.
  • essential information as it specifies the group of people who may have the problems
  • cannot be omitted
Non-defining clauses Nicholas II, who was the last Emperor of Russia, was put to death in July 1918.
  • additional information about the person that is already known to the reader
  • can be omitted
  • a comma before the relative pronoun, separating the relative clause and the noun it modifies


  3a  3b3c3d

 Activity 9

Decide whether defining or non-defining clauses are used in the following sentences. Then choose the best relative pronouns to complete the sentences.

  • The mechanical lifting device _____ is used to lift heavy loads is called a jack.
    A defining relative clause which
    A non-defining relative clause who
    why
    what
  • Sir Charles Kuen KAO, _____ laid the groundwork for fibre optic communications, was awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics.
    A defining relative clause that
    A non-defining relative clause who
    where
    whom
  • Nick Vujicic, _____ stories are full of hope and motivation, has warmly moved a lot of people.
    A defining relative clause whose
    A non-defining relative clause who
    which
    whom
  • Passwords _____ are simple and repetitive must be avoided.
    A defining relative clause whose
    A non-defining relative clause where
    why
    that