Adjective Clause Examples With Who, Whom, Whose, Which and That

An adjective clause is a dependent clause that begins with a relative pronoun or a relative adverb and describes a noun in the main clause. These 338 adjective clause examples are written for who, whom, whose, which, that, where, when, and why, together with restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses, questions, and everyday contexts. You get model sentences for essays, emails, and exam practice, together with related practice on relative clauses, noun clauses, and complex sentences.

Quick Answer: Adjective Clause Examples

• Who: The doctor who treated my brother works at the city clinic.
• Whom: The teacher whom we respect retires in June.
• Whose: The girl whose bag was stolen reported it to the guard.
• Which: The bridge which crosses the river opens at dawn.
• That: The book that you lent me made me cry.
• Where: This is the cafe where we first met in spring.
• When: I remember the day when the first snow arrived.
• Why: Nobody knows the reason why the train stopped.

Adjective Clause Examples for Everyday Use

Relative words such as who, that, and where begin clauses that describe people, objects, and locations, as in “who lives next door”, “when the harvest began”, and “which overlooked the harbour”.

1. The woman who lives next door teaches music at the academy.
2. I lost the umbrella that my aunt gave me.
3. The village where Tariq grew up has a single bakery.
4. A friend whose brother plays for the national team visited us.
5. The film which we watched last night ended with a surprise.
6. Students who study every day usually remember more.
7. The day when the harvest began was warm and bright.
8. She admired the painter whom the critics praised.
9. The scarf that Ines knitted is hanging by the door.
10. The bridge that crosses the river was repaired in spring.
11. Lucía bought a coat that kept her warm in the snow.
12. The man who fixed our roof refused any payment.
13. The recipe that Grandma wrote down is stained with oil.
14. We stayed at a hotel which overlooked the harbour.
15. The girl who sat beside me forgot her pencil.
16. I met a boy whose kite had tangled in a tree.
17. The song that played at the wedding made everyone cry.
18. This is the street where the festival begins.
19. The bakery that opened last month sells excellent bread.
20. The neighbour whom we invited brought a cake.

Relative Pronoun Sentences with Adjective Clauses

Five relative pronouns, who, whom, whose, which, and that, begin the clause, as in “that winds through the forest”, “which leads to the lake”, and “whom Sara praised”.

Adjective Clause Examples with Who

With who, the clause describes a person, as in “who treated my grandfather”, “who crashed into the fence”, and “who live near the river”.

1. The doctor who treated my grandfather retired last spring.
2. People who exercise regularly sleep better.
3. I admire teachers who listen carefully.
4. The boy who won the spelling contest is my cousin.
5. The cyclist who crashed into the fence was unhurt.
6. The woman who owns the bakery greets every customer by name.
7. Farmers who plant early harvest before the rains.
8. The singer who performed last received the longest applause.
9. Mei is the only student who solved the final problem.
10. The children who live near the river swim every summer.
11. A stranger who looked lost asked me for directions.
12. The pilot who landed the plane was praised by the passengers.
13. Our guide, who has worked here for twenty years, knows every path.
14. Volunteers who clean the beach meet every Saturday.

Adjective Clause Examples with Whom

Whom names the object of an action in the clause, as in “whom I admire most”, “whom the committee selected”, and “whom Sara praised”.

1. The man whom I admire most is my grandfather.
2. She thanked the nurse whom she had met in the ward.
3. The author whom the students interviewed signed their books.
4. My cousin, whom I have not seen for years, is visiting next week.
5. The candidate whom the committee selected begins in May.
6. The colleague whom we trusted left the firm.
7. The artist whom Sara praised declined the prize.
8. Maria is the person whom they asked to lead the team.
9. The friend whom I called did not answer.
10. The woman whom everyone respected led the town for ten years.

Adjective Clause Examples with Whose

Whose names an owner or possessor, as in “whose bicycle was stolen”, “whose students become leaders”, and “whose branches reached the roof”.

1. The girl whose bicycle was stolen reported it to the police.
2. I know a man whose dog can open doors.
3. Writers whose books sell well receive many invitations.
4. The family whose house burned down stayed with relatives.
5. She admires teachers whose students become leaders.
6. The company whose workers went on strike lost three contracts.
7. A boy whose voice was unusually deep sang the solo.
8. Choose a restaurant whose menu includes vegetarian dishes.
9. The artist whose paintings hung in the lobby gave a short talk.
10. The tree whose branches reached the roof was cut down.
11. Ravi, whose brother lives in Delhi, plays the tabla.
12. The student whose essay won the prize read it aloud.

Adjective Clause Examples with Which

For objects and events, the clause begins with which, as in “which opened in March”, “which I bought in 2020”, and “which many tourists photograph”.

1. The book which I borrowed from the library was overdue.
2. We visited the museum which opened in March.
3. The storm, which lasted all night, knocked down several trees.
4. The old tower, which the city restored last year, now holds concerts.
5. My laptop, which I bought in 2020, still works perfectly.
6. The road which leads to the lake is closed in winter.
7. Tea, which is grown in the hills, is the town’s main export.
8. She wore a scarf which her grandmother had knitted.
9. The theory, which scientists tested for years, was finally confirmed.
10. The bridge, which many tourists photograph, is closed for repairs.
11. He keeps a diary which nobody else has ever read.
12. The cake which Nadia baked disappeared in minutes.
13. Our school, which has two thousand pupils, has a new gym.
14. The chair which stood by the window was broken.

Adjective Clause Examples with That

That begins a clause about a person or an object, as in “that we saw yesterday”, “that I have ever had”, and “that the committee published”.

1. The movie that we saw yesterday was far too long.
2. Everything that Rosa said was true.
3. I found the wallet that you lost.
4. The bike that Tom repaired looks brand new.
5. She is the best teacher that I have ever had.
6. The photos that hang in the hallway show my grandparents.
7. The only thing that scared him was the dark.
8. The soup that Dad makes is famous in our street.
9. Anything that grows in this soil needs plenty of water.
10. The report that the committee published was criticised.
11. We watched the match that decided the championship.
12. The email that arrived this morning contained bad news.
13. He spoke about the mistake that cost the company a fortune.
14. The path that winds through the forest is steep.

Relative Adverb Sentences with Adjective Clauses

Relative adverbs begin the clause, as in “why the family moved”, “when the orchard blooms”, and “where we spent the summer”.

Adjective Clause Examples with Where

Describing a place with where, the clause follows the noun, as in “where we first met”, “where Ali works”, and “where the final was played”.

1. The café where we first met has closed.
2. She returned to the town where her parents were born.
3. This is the room where the treaty was signed.
4. I remember the beach where we collected shells.
5. The garage where Ali works repairs old motorcycles.
6. Show me the shelf where you found the book.
7. The hospital where Dr Patel trains is two hours away.
8. They live in a village where nobody locks a door.
9. The stadium where the final was played holds fifty thousand people.
10. The cottage where we spent the summer had no electricity.
11. The park where children fly kites opens at dawn.
12. Every classroom where the heater broke received a new heater on Friday.

Adjective Clause Examples with When

When clauses describe days, seasons, and times, as in “when we won the cup”, “when the market is busiest”, and “when everything changed”.

1. I still remember the day when we won the cup.
2. Winter is the season when the lake freezes.
3. There was a time when letters took weeks to arrive.
4. Saturday is the day when the market is busiest.
5. The year when the drought began was the hardest for the farmers.
6. She talked about the morning when her daughter was born.
7. It was the moment when everything changed.
8. Spring is the time when the orchard blooms.
9. He recalled an afternoon when snow stopped the traffic.
10. Do you recall the night when the power failed?

Adjective Clause Examples with Why

Naming a reason with why, the clause describes the noun before it, as in “why I left early”, “why you are laughing”, and “why he refused”.

1. That is the reason why I left early.
2. Nobody knows the reason why the match was cancelled.
3. Tell me the reason why you are laughing.
4. She explained the reason why the bridge closed.
5. The reason why the experiment failed is still unknown.
6. I understand the reason why he refused.
7. Is there any reason why she should wait?
8. Money was the reason why the family moved.

Restrictive Sentences with Adjective Clauses

Without commas, the clause identifies the noun it follows, as in “who miss the deadline”, “that have torn covers”, and “who called this morning”.

1. Students who miss the deadline lose ten points.
2. The dog that barked all night belongs to the neighbours.
3. I like sweaters that are made of wool.
4. The teacher who taught me chemistry has retired.
5. Books that have torn covers are sold at half price.
6. The driver who stopped to help us refused a reward.
7. Only guests who have tickets may enter the hall.
8. The shirt that I bought on Monday has already lost a button.
9. Plants that need little water suit the dry garden.
10. The man who called this morning left no name.
11. Children who read every day build a larger vocabulary.
12. A shop that sells fresh bread opened on our street.
13. The candidate who answered the question honestly won my vote.
14. The runner who finished second was disqualified later.

Nonrestrictive Sentences with Adjective Clauses

Between commas, the clause adds extra facts about the noun, as in “who lives in Toronto”, “where my uncle lives”, and “when the schools close”.

1. My sister, who lives in Toronto, is a pilot.
2. The Marlow River, which floods every spring, supplies the town with water.
3. Mr Dube, who teaches physics, coaches the chess club.
4. My phone, which I bought last week, has already cracked.
5. Lagos, where my uncle lives, is my favourite city to visit.
6. The festival, which draws thousands of visitors, takes place in June.
7. Her grandmother, whom she adores, bakes on Sundays.
8. Our dog, whose coat is almost white, hates the rain.
9. The bakery on Pine Street, which opened in March, already has a queue.
10. Professor Lund, who won the prize last year, will give the keynote.
11. In July, when the schools close, the town grows quiet.
12. The old library, where I studied as a child, will be demolished.
13. Priya’s brother, who is a dentist, lives in Leeds.
14. The mayor, who had promised lower taxes, resigned on Monday.

Sentences with Adjective Clauses Without a Relative Pronoun

Leaving out who, which, or that, the clause begins with a subject, as in “I borrowed”, “lena wore”, and “Mario ordered”.

1. The novel I borrowed had a torn cover.
2. Here is the letter she wrote.
3. The person you met yesterday is my cousin.
4. Everything he said during the meeting was true.
5. The coat Lena wore was too big.
6. I loved the song they played.
7. The movie we watched had no ending.
8. She is the teacher everyone respects.
9. That is the mistake I made last year.
10. The pizza Mario ordered arrived cold.
11. The meal we cooked took three hours.
12. The city they moved to is by the sea.
13. Nobody liked the speech the minister gave.
14. The first thing I noticed was the smell.

Preposition Sentences with Adjective Clauses

Prepositions appear before the relative pronoun or at the end of the clause, as in “on which she sat”, “I wrote the letter with”, and “among whom she grew up”.

1. The chair on which she sat collapsed.
2. The friend to whom I wrote never replied.
3. The house in which they lived was demolished.
4. The tools with which he worked were sharpened daily.
5. This is the pen I wrote the letter with.
6. The girl he is dancing with is my sister.
7. The city that we flew to was covered in snow.
8. She is the woman for whom the song was written.
9. The team that Raj plays for won again.
10. The room in which the meeting took place had no windows.
11. The people among whom she grew up spoke three languages.
12. The subject we were arguing about has been forgotten.
13. The candidate for whom I voted lost by two votes.
14. The bed that the cat sleeps on is by the stove.

Position Sentences with Adjective Clauses

Adjective clauses follow subjects, objects, complements, and pronouns, as in “I invited”, “that makes toys”, and “that moved her deeply”.

Adjective Clause Examples After Subjects

Following the subject, the clause describes the noun that begins the main clause, as in “who sits behind me”, “that leaves at noon”, and “that hangs in the hall”.

1. The boy who sits behind me whispers constantly.
2. The pie that Aisha baked vanished within minutes.
3. A teacher whose lessons I loved wrote me a letter.
4. The train that leaves at noon is always crowded.
5. The tourists who arrived late missed the boat.
6. The shop where I buy bread closes at five.
7. The painting that hangs in the hall was a gift.
8. Employees who work nights receive extra pay.
9. The river that runs behind the school freezes in January.
10. The girl whose phone rang blushed.

Adjective Clause Examples After Objects

After the main verb, the clause describes its object, as in “who speaks six languages”, “where nobody uses electricity”, and “which saves commuters an hour”.

1. I met a woman who speaks six languages.
2. She sold the car that her father gave her.
3. They adopted a puppy whose ears were too large.
4. We visited a village where nobody uses electricity.
5. Dan hired a mechanic who repairs bicycles.
6. Mina read a novel that moved her deeply.
7. The council built a bridge which saves commuters an hour.
8. I saw a cat that was chasing a squirrel.
9. He praised the student who helped the new pupil.
10. The museum bought a painting that nobody had seen for a century.

Adjective Clause Examples After Complements

A noun that completes the verb is described by the clause, as in “who designed the bridge”, “when the river froze”, and “where we met”.

1. Ravi is the engineer who designed the bridge.
2. This is the book that changed my mind.
3. That was the day when the river froze.
4. She became a doctor whom patients trusted.
5. Mila is a girl whose laughter fills the room.
6. It was the café where we met.
7. Brenton is a city that has excellent public transport.
8. He remained the only one who understood the plan.

Adjective Clause Examples After Objects of Prepositions

Nouns after a preposition are described by the clause, as in “that was already late”, “where herons nest”, and “who helped me”.

1. She talked to a man who had sailed around the world.
2. We waited for the bus that was already late.
3. He lives near a lake where herons nest.
4. Sofia works for a company that makes toys.
5. They sat beside a woman whose child was crying.
6. I am grateful to everyone who helped me.
7. The letter came from a friend whom I had met in Cairo.
8. Dina laughed at the joke that Omar told.

Adjective Clause Examples After Pronouns

Pronouns such as anyone, those, and everyone are described by the clause, as in “who wants a ticket”, “that happened that night”, and “whom I trust”.

1. Anyone who wants a ticket should queue here.
2. Those who arrive early get the best seats.
3. Everyone who attended the concert received a poster.
4. Something that Maria said stayed with me.
5. Nothing that happened that night was reported.
6. The proverb says he who hesitates is lost.
7. Somebody who knows the road should drive.
8. I will help anyone who asks.
9. Those whom I trust know the secret.
10. All that remained was a pile of ash.
11. Many who joined the choir had never sung before.
12. Everybody I invited came to the party on time.

Agreement Sentences with Adjective Clauses

The verb in every clause matches the noun it describes, as in “who plays the drums”, “who needs help”, and “who are late”.

1. The boy who plays the drums lives next door.
2. The boys who play the drums live next door.
3. She is one of those teachers who inspire their students.
4. He is the only one of my friends who has a pilot’s licence.
5. Anyone who needs help is welcome.
6. The people who need help are welcome.
7. The team that wins receives a trophy.
8. The teams that win receive trophies.
9. A student who is late must sign the book.
10. Students who are late must sign the book.
11. The news that arrives by radio is always a day old.
12. The shoes that stand by the door belong to Dad.
13. She is the kind of person who always helps.
14. These are the books that were damaged.

Negative Sentences with Adjective Clauses

Not, no, or nobody is used with the clause.

1. The man who did not pay was asked to leave.
2. I have no friend who lives nearby.
3. Nobody who read the book liked the ending.
4. She did not buy the dress that she had tried on.
5. There is nothing that I would change.
6. The students who had not studied looked worried.
7. We could not find the house where she had lived.
8. He never wore the sweater that his aunt knitted.
9. I do not know anyone who has met her.
10. The teacher did not accept the excuse that Ali offered.

Question Sentences with Adjective Clauses

In questions, the noun being asked about is described by a clause, as in “who is waving at us”, “where the accident happened”, and “whose novel won the prize”.

1. Who is the woman who is waving at us?
2. Have you read the book that Mira recommended?
3. Do you know the man who owns that shop?
4. Is this the street where the accident happened?
5. Which of the students who took the test passed?
6. Where is the jacket that I left here?
7. Did you meet the author whose novel won the prize?
8. Why did the company hire a manager whom nobody trusted?
9. Can you recommend a restaurant that serves vegetarian food?
10. Was the day when the bridge opened a holiday?

Passive Sentences with Adjective Clauses

Inside the clause, the verb is passive, as in “that was broken yesterday”, “who were arrested last night”, and “that are borrowed most often”.

1. The window that was broken yesterday has been repaired.
2. The letter which was delivered this morning was addressed to my sister.
3. The house, which was built in 1900, has been restored.
4. The thieves who were arrested last night denied everything.
5. The novel that was written by a teenager became a bestseller.
6. The man who was given the award thanked his coach.
7. The books that are borrowed most often are replaced yearly.
8. The package that had been sent to the wrong address finally arrived.
9. Rooms that are cleaned daily cost extra.
10. The painting which was stolen in March was found in a barn.

Reported Speech Sentences with Adjective Clauses

Repeating what someone said, the sentence contains an adjective clause, as in “who owned the farm”, “that she had lost”, and “whom he had met”.

1. She said that she knew the man who owned the farm.
2. He told us about an island where birds had no fear of people.
3. Mum asked me whether I had seen the scarf that she had lost.
4. The teacher explained that students who submit late would lose marks.
5. They announced that the road that leads to the harbour would close.
6. Ali replied that the woman whom he had met was a doctor.
7. The guide mentioned a cave where hermits had once lived.
8. My neighbour said that the noise that came from the workshop had stopped.

Context Sentences with Adjective Clauses

The eight settings are homes, classrooms, offices, stations, newsrooms, stories, stadiums, and clinics.

Adjective Clause Examples for Home Life

At home, the sentences describe furniture, neighbours, and family routines, as in “where she saves coins”, “whose dog barks all night”, and “which had dripped for weeks”.

1. The sofa that my parents bought in spring is already stained.
2. My grandmother keeps a jar where she saves coins.
3. The neighbour whose dog barks all night came to apologise.
4. We painted the room that gets the most sunlight yellow.
5. Dad fixed the tap which had dripped for weeks.
6. The cousin who stays with us every summer teaches me chess.

Adjective Clause Examples for School Life

In the classroom, the sentences describe teachers, pupils, and libraries, as in “who marked my essay”, “where we study”, and “who coaches the debate team”.

1. The teacher who marked my essay praised the introduction.
2. Pupils whose homework is late stay behind after class.
3. The library where we study opens at seven.
4. The exam that worried everyone turned out to be easy.
5. Mr Alves, who coaches the debate team, was proud of us.
6. The pupil whom the class elected gave a short speech.

Adjective Clause Examples for Work

At work, the sentences describe colleagues, clients, and offices, as in “who covered my shift”, “where the windows open”, and “which employs forty people”.

1. The colleague who covered my shift received a thank-you note.
2. The client whose contract expires in June called a meeting.
3. We moved to an office where the windows open.
4. The report that the manager requested is nearly finished.
5. The firm, which employs forty people, plans to expand.
6. Applicants who submit a portfolio are interviewed first.

Adjective Clause Examples for Travel

On the road, the sentences describe hotels, trains, and passengers, as in “where we stayed”, “that leaves at six”, and “whom we hired”.

1. The hotel where we stayed overlooked a quiet bay.
2. Passengers who miss the connection can rebook at the desk.
3. The train that leaves at six arrives before lunch.
4. We found a market where farmers sell cheese.
5. The guide whom we hired knew every village.
6. The island, which has no roads, can be reached only by boat.

Adjective Clause Examples for News Reports

In the news, the sentences describe mayors, residents, and reports, as in “who opened the clinic”, “that the council released”, and “who had stolen the van”.

1. The mayor who opened the clinic thanked the volunteers.
2. Residents whose homes flooded were moved to a shelter.
3. The report that the council released shows a drop in crime.
4. The bridge, which collapsed in the storm, will be rebuilt.
5. Police arrested the man who had stolen the van.
6. The village where the earthquake struck received medical aid.

Adjective Clause Examples for Stories

Across stories, the sentences describe captains, diaries, and forests, as in “who sails the ghost ship”, “where the children hide”, and “whom everyone fears”.

1. The captain who sails the ghost ship never speaks.
2. Alina finds a diary that reveals her family’s secret.
3. The forest where the children hide is full of mist.
4. The king, whose daughter has vanished, offers a reward.
5. The stranger whom everyone fears turns out to be a healer.
6. The letter that Mira never sent is read at the end.

Adjective Clause Examples for Sports

On the pitch, the sentences describe strikers, players, and stadiums, as in “who scored twice”, “where the final took place”, and “who arrived early”.

1. The striker who scored twice was carried off the pitch.
2. Players whose passes miss the target train extra hours.
3. The stadium where the final took place was full.
4. The team, which had lost five games, finally won.
5. Fans who arrived early got free caps.
6. The coach whom the players trust keeps practice short.

Adjective Clause Examples for Health

At the clinic, the sentences describe patients, medicine, and clinics, as in “who drink enough water”, “where Ahmed works”, and “which had lasted three weeks”.

1. Patients who drink enough water recover faster.
2. The medicine that the doctor prescribed must be taken with food.
3. The clinic where Ahmed works offers free check-ups.
4. Nurses whose shifts end at midnight receive a taxi voucher.
5. The cough, which had lasted three weeks, finally stopped.
6. People who sleep badly often feel anxious.

Kids and Student Sentences with Adjective Clauses

Levels range from short sentences for beginners to formal sentences for exam answers.

Adjective Clause Examples for Kids

For kids, short clauses contain everyday words, as in “that barks”, “that bounces”, and “that sings”.

1. I like the dog that barks.
2. Here is the boy who runs.
3. This is the cake I made.
4. She has a ball that bounces.
5. Mum likes the song we sing.
6. That is the girl who smiles.
7. I see a bird that sings.
8. We saw a house where owls live.
9. He found a coin that shines.
10. The boy whose kite flew away cried.

Adjective Clause Examples for Exams

Exam answers use formal wording, as in “who study climate change”, “whose forecasts failed”, and “which was repeated three times”.

1. Researchers who study climate change rely on decades of data.
2. The theory that the committee rejected was later proven correct.
3. The novel, which explores themes of migration, divides critics.
4. Economists whose forecasts failed revised their models.
5. The period when industrial production expanded changed urban life.
6. A policy that benefits one group may disadvantage another.
7. The experiment, which was repeated three times, produced consistent results.
8. Authors whom critics ignored sometimes gain readers after their death.
9. The conditions under which the study was conducted limit its conclusions.
10. The reason why the empire collapsed remains disputed.

FAQs

Related:

• Adverb Clause Examples
• Dependent Clause Examples
• Independent Clause Examples
• Participle Clause Examples
• Time Clause Examples
• Appositive Example Sentences