Adjective Subordinated Sentences (Restrictive and Explanatory)

At Adjective Subordinated Prayers are those that exercise the syntactic function of adjective.

They are usually introduced by relative pronouns (what, who, which, how much, where, whose, etc.), which exercise the function of adjunct adjunct of the antecedent term.

Note the equivalent sentences below:

• "I admire students scholars” (adjective)
• "I admire students who study” (subordinate adjectival clause. This is because it has the syntactic function of an adjective, which is to attribute quality to the name).

Classification of Adjective Subordinated Sentences

Adjective subordinate clauses can be explanatory or restrictive.

Subordinated Explanatory Adjectives

Separated by commas, explanatory subordinate clauses, as the name itself indicates, better explain or clarify the term to which they refer.

Examples:

The final exam, which was very difficult, made everyone apprehensive.

• main prayer: The final exam made everyone apprehensive.
• Subordinated Explanatory Adjective Prayer: that was very difficult.

João, who is the calmest of the class, surprised everyone.

• main prayer: John surprised everyone.
• Subordinated Explanatory Adjective Prayer: which is the calmest of the class.

Restrictive Adjective Subordinated Prayers

Unlike explanatory clauses, restrictive clauses restrict or delimit the meaning of their antecedent, and are not separated by commas.

Examples:

People who are racist deserve to be punished.

• main prayer: People deserve to be punished.
• Restrictive Adjective Subordinate Prayer: who are racist.

People who don't play sports tend to be sicker.

• main prayer: People tend to be sicker.
• Restrictive Adjective Subordinate Prayer: who do not play sports.

Developed and Reduced Prayers

Adjective subordinate clauses can be developed or shortened.

Subordinated Prayers Adjectives Developed

The prayers developed have the following characteristics:

1. They start with a relative pronoun.
2. They contain verbs in the indicative or subjunctive moods.

Subordinated Prayers Reduced Adjectives

Reduced prayers have the following characteristics:

1. Do not start with a relative pronoun.
2. They contain verbs in the infinitive, gerund or participle.
3. According to the nominal forms used, the clauses can be: reduced from infinitive, reduced from gerund or reduced from participle.

Examples:

Developed Prayers	reduced prayers
He was the first speaker that enchanted the audience.	He is always the first to enchantsr the audience. (reduced infinitive sentence)
I watched the performances of the old people who sing.	I watched the performances of the old people singing. (reduced gerund prayer)
tidy the room that the child messed up.	tidy the room messy by the child. (reduced participle clause)

Exercises

1. (UFPA) There is an adjective subordinate clause in the period:

a) He said he would buy the house.
b) Don't speak loudly, she can hear.
c) Let's go, the day is dawning.
d) In a team that wins, don't move.
e) It seems that the test is not difficult.

See Answer

Alternative d: In a team that wins, don't move.

This clause is classified as Restrictive Ajective Subordinate clause, because it restricts the team, that is, it is not just any team, but the team that wins.

2. (PUC-SP) Consider the word highlighted in this period:

“And there are shortsighted poets what think what is the afterglow”.

It introduces, respectively, clauses:

a) nominal complement substantive subordinate and direct objective substantive subordinate.
b) direct objective substantive subordinate and predicative substantive subordinate.
c) restrictive adjective subordinate and explanatory adjective subordinate.
d) predicative substantive subordinate and direct objective substantive subordinate.
e) restrictive adjective subordinate and direct objective substantive subordinate.

See Answer

Alternative e: restrictive adjective subordinate and direct objective noun subordinate.

"And there are shortsighted poets what think..."

This clause is classified as a subordinate restrictive adjective because it does not cover all poets, restricting some poets (those "who think...").

"what is the afterglow"

This clause is classified as a direct objective noun subordinate because it serves as a direct object ("they think it's the afterglow").

3. (PUC-SP)

“João loved Teresa who loved Raimundo
who loved Maria who loved Joaquim who loved Lili
that she didn't love anyone.
João went to the United States, Teresa to the convent,
Raimundo died of a disaster, Maria stayed with her aunt,
Joaquim committed suicide and Lili married J. Pinto Fernandes
that had not entered history”.

^{Carlos Drummond de Andrade}

The first part of the poem (verses 1 to 3) is syntactically marked by the presence of clauses ____________, whose introductory terms act as _______________.

a) subordinate restrictive adjectives – connectives – subjects.
b) explanatory syndetic coordinates – simple connectives.
c) comparative adverbial subordinates – simple connectives.
d) subordinate explanatory adjectives – connectives – subjects.
e) additive syndectic coordinates – simple connectives.

See Answer

Alternative to: subordinate restrictive adjectives – connectives – subjects.

The first verses are classified as restrictive ajective subordinate clauses because they restrict the people: Teresa who loves Raimundo (and not just any Teresa), Raimundo who loves Maria (and not just anyone Raimundo).
The pronoun "that" works as a connective, because it refers to the previous term, in addition to the subject function.

Keep studying about the topic:

• Subordinated prayers
• Substantive Subordinate Prayers
• Subordinate adjective clause exercises
• Adverbial Subordinated Prayers
• Coordinated and subordinate prayers