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Five Rules about Embedded Sentences

in Adjective Clauses

Rule #1: The relative pronoun cannot be omitted if it stands for the subject of the embedded

sentence.

One of my favorite movies is Close Encounters of the Third Kind, a science fiction film which was made by Steven Spielberg in 1977.

Main Sentence:

One of my favorite movies is Close Encounters of the Third Kind, a science fiction film.

Embedded Sentence:

This science fiction film was made by Steven Spielberg in 1977.

Rule #2: The relative pronoun can be omitted if it stands for an object in the embedded sentence.

One thing I like about this movie is the acting.

Main Sentence:

One thing is the acting.

Embedded Sentence:

I like one thing about this movie.

Rule #3: Use whose as the relative pronoun to replace a possessive in the embedded sentence.

The main character is an ordinary man whose name is Roy

Main Sentence:

The main character is an ordinary man.

Embedded Sentence:

His name is Roy/

Rule #4: Use where as a relative pronoun when there is a preposition of place in the embedded

sentence.

The movie has scenes that take place in a lot of different places in different parts of the world where a team of scientists travel to

investigate messages from a spaceship.

Main Sentence:

The movie has scenes that take place in a lot of different places in different parts of the world.

Embedded Sentence:

A team of scientists travel to different parts of the world to investigate messages from a spaceship.

Rule #5: Use when as a relative pronoun when there is a preposition of time in the embedded

sentence.

In the end, when the spaceship finally lands on a mesa in Colorado, it turns out that the visitors from outer space are friendly

ambassadors.

Main Sentence:

In the end, it turns out that the visitors from outer space are friendly ambassadors.

Embedded Sentence:

At that time, the spaceship finally lands on a mesa in Colorado.