Prayer: what it is, types, examples, exercises

a) The client's documents, which were sent yesterday, were sealed.

Subordinate adjective clause explanatory, because it contains an explanation. It states that all the client's documents were sealed. It's like saying, "The customer's documents were sent yesterday. All were sealed." The explanatory subordinate clause is always separated by commas.

The meaning of the sentence changes without the use of a comma, as it restricts or makes a limitation, therefore, “The customer documents that were sent yesterday were sealed.” It is a restrictive subordinate clause. It means that only the customer documents that were sent yesterday were sealed, but the customer documents that were sent on another day were not sealed.

b) The documents you asked for are on your desk.

Restrictive subordinate clause, because it restricts, or reduces, the documents to just those you asked for, i.e. there are more documents, but only the requested ones were placed in the table.

c) The students who came to the exhibition were dazzled.

Restrictive adjective subordinate clause, because it restricts the information to a group of students, which are just those who came to the exhibition.

If we used a comma, this information would become an explanation and, thus, the sentence would be explanatory subordinate: “The students, who came to the exhibition, were dazzled.”. It would be the same as saying: All the students came to the exhibition and were amazed.

d) Citizens who are fulfilling their duties did not need to be here.

Restrictive subordinate adjective clause, because it restricts information to some citizens, who are only those who fulfill their duties.

e) Customers who are in default deserve the delay.

Restrictive subordinate clause, because it restricts the information to some customers, which are only those who are non-compliant.

If we used a comma, this information would become an explanation and, thus, the clause would be explanatory subordinate: “Customers, who are non-compliant, deserve the delay.”. It would be the same as saying: All customers are defaulters and therefore deserve the delay.

Alternative c) João's son, who lives abroad, was robbed yesterday.

The clause is subordinate adjectival explanatory, because it contains an explanation. Through it, we can see that João has only one son and that son lives abroad. It's the same as saying: "John's son was robbed yesterday. He lives abroad." The explanatory subordinate clause is always separated by commas.

The meaning of the sentence changes without the use of a comma, as it restricts or makes a limitation, therefore, "John's son who lives abroad was robbed yesterday." It is a restrictive subordinate clause. It means that João has more than one son, one of whom was robbed yesterday, and the one who was robbed lives abroad.

Alternative c) Susana, who was not feeling well, was in bed.

It is an adjective clause, because the subordinate clause (which didn't feel right) depends on the main clause (Susana was in bed) and modifies it.

This subordinate clause that modifies the main clause has the function of an adjective, as it characterizes the noun “Susana”, and for this reason it is classified as an adjectival subordinate clause.

Alternative e) I ended up with the coconut dessert.

This is a restrictive subordinate clause because it specifies which dessert I ended up with. That means there were other desserts, but the dessert I ended up with was coconut.

If we used a comma, this information would become an explanation and, thus, the clause would be subordinate explanatory: “I ended up with the dessert, which was coconut.”. It would be like saying: There was a dessert. She was coconut and I ended up with her.

Despite being similar, the adjective clauses above have different meanings, which happens because one contains a comma and the other does not:

“The kids who painted the living room wall were grounded.” it is classified as a restrictive adjective clause, as it restricts or makes a limitation. It means that only the children who painted the wall of the room were punished, but other children were not.

“The children, who painted the living room wall, were grounded.” is classified as an explanatory subordinate adjectival clause, because it contains an explanation. It informs that all the children painted the wall of the room, therefore, they were punished.

Alternative b) "Nevertheless, I hide from no one the feelings that I showed just now".

It is an adjective clause, because the subordinate clause (which I showed you just now) depends on the main clause (However, I hide my feelings from no one) and modifies it.

This subordinate clause that modifies the main clause has the function of an adjective, as it characterizes the noun “feelings”, and for this reason is classified as an adjectival subordinate clause.

a) People who are patient take advantage of opportunities more. --> Patient people take advantage of opportunities more.

b) Children who are overweight need medical follow-up. --> Obese children need medical follow-up.

c) It's hers, the convincing words... --> It's hers, the convincing words...

d) I am sorry, but these are attitudes that I cannot forgive. --> I'm sorry, but these are unforgivable attitudes.

e) I have friends who play sports. --> I have sporty friends.

f) Employees who have responsibility are busy. --> The responsible employees live busy.

g) Students who apply get good grades. --> Applied students get good grades.

h) The elderly lady crossed the street with difficulty. --> The old lady crossed the street with difficulty.

i) We stayed at his uncle's house, who knew how to welcome. --> We stayed at the cozy uncle's house.

j) The story that moved was written by a child. --> The heartwarming story was written by a child.

Alternative a) It was a coincidence, don't think I've been looking for words that start with the same letter...

It's an adjective clause, because the subordinate clause (which starts with the same letter...) depends on the main clause (don't think I've been looking for words) and modifies it.

This subordinate clause that modifies the main clause has the function of an adjective, as it characterizes the noun “words”, and for this reason is classified as an adjectival subordinate clause.

As for the remaining alternatives:

b) You have already told me three different things, that there is no death, that there is death, now tell me that death and life are the same.
This is a direct objective substantive clause because it complements the main clause. “You already told me three different things” with the same function as a direct object (What did you tell me? he said? That there is no death, that there is death...).

w)... I just had to answer a few questions, which people I met in Brazil (...), what relationships I created in Portugal since I've been here...
This is an indirect objective substantive clause, because it complements the main clause “I had just to answer some questions” with the same function as an indirect object (What questions did you have to to respond? What people I met, what relationships I created...).

d) Fernando Pessoa closed his eyes, rested his head on the back of the sofa, it seemed to Ricardo Reis that two tears were appearing between his eyelids.
This is a causal adverbial subordinate clause, because it complements the main clause “seemed to Ricardo Reis” with the same function as an adverb that indicates cause (Why did it seem to Ricardo Reis? Because of the two tears that appeared on her eyelids).

Alternative b) "The little dove, who was white without exaggeration, cooed, humiliated and offended by the delay."

It is an adjective subordinate clause, because the subordinate clause (which was white without exaggeration) depends on the main clause (The little dove cooed, humiliated and offended by the delay) and modifies it.

This subordinate clause that modifies the main clause has the function of an adjective, as it characterizes the noun “pombinha”, and for this reason is classified as an adjectival subordinate clause.

In addition, it is explanatory, whose complete classification is an explanatory subordinate clause, because it contains an explanation. It states that the dove was white.

It is a restrictive adjective subordinate clause, because the information it presents is restricting the type of influencers who do not conquer the public, that is, not all of them. This is the same as saying: Influencers who have inconsistent ideas do not win over the public, but those who have coherent ideas do.

We can turn this clause into an explanatory adjective subordinate clause if we separate the main clause from the subordinate clause with commas. Thus, “Influencers, whose ideas are inconsistent, do not win over the public.” it means that all influencers have incoherent ideas and, for this reason, do not win over the public.