Possessive Adjective Clauses
In addition to subject- and object-pattern adjectiveclauses, 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 Jonathan Kellerman. She likesthe author's books best. --->
The author whose books she likes best isJonathan Kellerman.
The sentence with whose has an adjectiveclause: whose books she likes best. In theclause, whose is the relative pronoun and isused with books. The clause modifies thesubject of the sentence: the author.
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The people will be glad to help you.The people's names are on this list. --->
The people whose names are on thislist will be glad to help you.
Here, the adjective clause is whosenames are on this list. The adjectiveclause modifies the subject of the mainsentence: the people.
2.
I enjoyed discussing the author. We hadjust read the author's latest book. --->
I enjoyed discussing the author whoselatest book we had just rea d.
Again, the sentence with whose has anadjective clause: whose latest book wehad just read. The clause modifies theobject of the main sentence: the author.
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I've contacted all the people. The people'snames are on this list. --->
I've contacted all the people whose namesare on this list.
Here, the adjective clause is whose namesare on this list. The clause modifies theobject of the main sentence: the people.
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Special Notes
1.
Do not use a subject relative pronounand a "regular" possessive "pronoun inan adjective clause:
wrong:*The author who / that his books shelikes best is Jonathan Kellerman.
wrong:*The people who / that their names areon this list will be glad to help you.
wrong:*I enjoyed discussing the author who / thathis latest book we had just read.
wrong:*I've contacted all the people who / thattheir names are on this list.
wrong:*She just bought a computer that / whichits processor speed is 450 mhz.
2.
Whose clauses for Things
There is a problem when you want tomake a possessive adjective clause forthings--because English does not havea special relative pronoun for this situation:
She just bought a computer. The computer'sprocessor speed is 450 mhz. --->
She just bought a computer ??? processorspeed is 450 mhz.
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Important: Because English does nothave a possessive relative pronoun thatrefers to things, whose must be used:
She just bought a computer whoseprocessor speed is 450 mhz.
Bill has a car whose color is blue.
Sentences with adjective clauses like theabove are awkward because whose seemsmore appropriate for people than for things.You can avoid this problem by rephrasingthe adjective clause:
She just bought a computer which / thathas a processor speed of 450 mhz.
Bill has a blue car.
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