Adjective Clauses and Sentence Structure Quiz

Which of the following sentences contains an adjective clause?

• She left the party early because she wasn’t feeling well.

• The man who painted this portrait became famous after his death.

• I stayed home until the rain stopped.

• We walked quietly so that we wouldn’t wake the baby.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'The man who painted this portrait became famous after his death.' because it contains the adjective clause 'who painted this portrait,' which describes 'the man.'

Which sentence contains an essential adjective clause?

• The classroom, which has thirty desks, is on the third floor.

• The colonies developed slave codes that defined the relationship between enslaved Africans and free people.

• The blanket, which was made by my grandmother, is very old.

• The dog, whose tail is wagging, is friendly.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'The colonies developed slave codes that defined the relationship between enslaved Africans and free people.' This sentence contains an essential adjective clause that specifies which slave codes are being discussed.

Which of the following is punctuated correctly?

• A candle still burns near the bed which is at the right.

• A candle still burns near the bed, which is at the right.

• A candle still burns, near the bed which is at the right.

• A candle still burns, near the bed, which is at the right.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'A candle still burns near the bed, which is at the right.' The comma before 'which' is necessary to indicate that the clause is non-restrictive, providing additional information about the bed.

In the sentence below, what type of clause is underlined? The soldiers marched until they reached the city walls.

• Adjective clause

• Adverb clause

• Independent clause

• Noun clause

Answer explanation

The underlined clause 'until they reached the city walls' is an adverb clause because it modifies the verb 'marched' by indicating the time when the soldiers marched. Adverb clauses often begin with subordinating conjunctions like 'until'.

Which word correctly introduces the adjective clause in the sentence? The student _______ locker was broken asked the teacher for help.

• what

• which

• whose

• whenever

Answer explanation

The correct word is 'whose' because it indicates possession, referring to the student. The sentence describes the locker that belongs to the student, making 'whose' the appropriate choice to introduce the adjective clause.

Which sentence contains an adverb clause of reason (answers why)?

• She was late because her car broke down.

• I'll wait until you are ready.

• The teacher spoke more loudly so the students could hear.

• He didn't know where the keys were.

Answer explanation

The sentence 'She was late because her car broke down.' contains an adverb clause of reason, explaining why she was late. The clause 'because her car broke down' answers the question of why her lateness occurred.

In the following sentence, what type of clause is italicized? *Those that left early missed the announcement.*

• Essential adjective clause

• Nonessential adjective clause

• Adverb clause

• Noun clause

Answer explanation

The clause 'that left early' is essential because it specifies which 'those' are being referred to. Without it, the meaning of the sentence would change, making it an essential adjective clause.

Which of the following sentences contains both an adjective clause and an adverb clause?

• The boy who lost his shoes ran home because he was embarrassed.

• The girl ran quickly so that she could catch the bus.

• The book that I borrowed is on the table.

• I stayed outside until the storm ended.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'The boy who lost his shoes ran home because he was embarrassed.' It contains an adjective clause ('who lost his shoes') and an adverb clause ('because he was embarrassed').

Which revision best improves the sentence by adding a nonessential adjective clause? *The Eiffel Tower is a famous landmark.*

• The Eiffel Tower, which is in Paris, is a famous landmark.

• The Eiffel Tower that is in Paris is a famous landmark.

• The Eiffel Tower is a famous landmark which is in Paris.

• The Eiffel Tower is a famous landmark because it is in Paris.

Answer explanation

The correct choice, 'The Eiffel Tower, which is in Paris, is a famous landmark,' adds a nonessential adjective clause that provides additional information about the Eiffel Tower without altering the main point of the sentence.

Which sentence uses an adverb clause to indicate time?

• If it rains tomorrow, the picnic will be canceled.

• She left the house after she finished breakfast.

• The student who studies the hardest often gets the highest grade.

• The blanket, which is very soft, is my favorite.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'She left the house after she finished breakfast.' because the adverb clause 'after she finished breakfast' indicates the time when she left the house.