Which of the following sentences has an adjective clause?

Question

Accepted Answer

Here's a detailed explanation for the given question:

An **adjective clause** (also known as a relative clause) is a dependent clause that functions like an adjective, modifying a noun or pronoun. It typically begins with a relative pronoun (such as *who, whom, whose, which, that*) or a relative adverb (such as *where, when, why*) and contains both a subject and a verb.

Let's analyze each option:

**Option 4: I bought a chain which was beautiful.**
*   **Explanation:** This sentence contains the clause "which was beautiful."
    *   "Which" is a relative pronoun that refers back to the noun "chain."
    *   "Was beautiful" is the predicate of the clause, with "which" acting as the subject.
    *   The entire clause "which was beautiful" describes the noun "chain," telling us more about it, just as an adjective would. Therefore, it functions as an adjective clause.

**Why the other options are incorrect:**

**Option 1: I bought a chain because it was beautiful.**
*   **Explanation:** This sentence contains the clause "because it was beautiful."
    *   "Because" is a subordinating conjunction that introduces an adverbial clause of reason.
    *   This clause explains *why* the chain was bought, not *what kind* of chain it was. It modifies the verb "bought," making it an adverbial clause, not an adjective clause.

**Option 2: I bought a chain and it was beautiful.**
*   **Explanation:** This sentence consists of two independent clauses: "I bought a chain" and "it was beautiful," joined by the coordinating conjunction "and."
    *   Each part can stand alone as a complete sentence.
    *   While "it was beautiful" describes the chain, it is an independent clause, not a dependent adjective clause introduced by a relative pronoun. This is a compound sentence.

**Option 3: I bought a beautiful chain.**
*   **Explanation:** In this sentence, "beautiful" is a single word, an adjective, directly modifying the noun "chain."
    *   It is not a clause because it does not contain both a subject and a verb. It is simply an adjective, not an adjective clause.

Therefore, Option 4 is the only sentence that contains a dependent clause functioning as an adjective, introduced by a relative pronoun, and modifying a noun.