The dream behind the Web is of a common information
space in which we communicate by sharing information.
Its universality is essential.
— Tim Berners-Lee
online
interactions
Did you ever want to sell a birthday present that you didn’t
like? Or an old toy that is taking up space in your closet? In the
old days, buyers and sellers were limited to newspapers, garage
sales, and flea markets
1
in the area where they lived. But in the
early 1990s, when people started to use the Internet, Pierre
Omidyar had an idea. Omidyar, who was working as a computer
programmer, realized that sellers no longer had to be limited to
finding buyers who lived in their local area. He came up with
the idea of eBay, which he started as a hobby. He didn’t charge
money at first because he wasn’t sure eBay would work. Buying
online requires you to trust sellers whom you’ve never met.
But people liked eBay. Soon there was so much activity on eBay
that his Internet service provider upgraded his site to a business
account, which was no longer free. So Omidyar started to charge
the sellers a small fee for each sale. Before long, this hobby grew
into a big business.
By 1998, eBay had become so big that Omidyar needed a
business expert. He brought in Meg Whitman, whose knowledge
of business helped make eBay a success. She changed eBay from
a company that sold used things in several categories to a large
marketplace of seventy-eight million items, both new and used, in
fifty thousand categories.
Many companies that start out well on the Internet later fail.
When Whitman left the company, it started to decline. In 2008,
John Donahoe was brought in as the new CEO.
2
He fired many
people who had been working there for years. He understood
that smartphones and tablets were changing the way that people
shopped; people no longer had to shop from their home computers.
He created an eBay app so that people could shop 24/7 and could
pay with one click. eBay, which was about to follow other Internet
businesses into decline, was brought back to life.
By the time Omidyar was 31, he was worth more than $7 billion.
The money that he has earned is much more than he needs. He
and his wife signed a promise, the Giving Pledge, to give away the
majority of their wealth during their lifetime to help others.
Pierre omidyar
1
flea market:a market where used items are sold
2
CEO:Chief Executive Officer; the highest executive in charge of a company
or organization
and
eBay
Read the following article. Pay special attention to the words
in bold.
CD 2
TR 2
182 Lesson 7
Comprehension CheCk
Based on the reading, tell if the statement is true (T) or false (F).
1. Omidyar did not start out with the intention of making money.
2. Because of John Donahoe, eBay was starting to fail.
3. Omidyar believes in sharing his wealth.
7.1 Adjective Clauses — Introduction
Examples Explanation
I received a birthday present that I didn’t like.
You have to trust sellers whom you’ve never met.
Omidyar changed to a business account, which was
not free.
The adjective clause identifies which present.
An adjective clause is a group of words that contains
a subject and verb. It describes or identifies the noun
before it. It is a dependent clause. In these examples,
the adjective clauses describe the nouns: present,
sellers, and account.
Language Notes:
1. The following words mark the beginning of an adjective clause: who, whom, that, which,
whose, where, when.
2. Sometimes an adjective clause begins with no marker.
I received a birthday present I didn’t like.
3. Some adjective clauses are set apart from the rest of the sentence by commas.
John Donahoe saved eBay, which was declining.
4. An adjective clause can follow any noun in a sentence.
The company hired Meg Whitman, who knew a lot about business.
Meg Whitman, who left the company to go into politics, helped make eBay a success.
exerCise 1
Listen to each sentence and fill in the word that marks the beginning of the adjective clause.
1. Amazon was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos,
who
predicted that the Internet offered an
opportunity to make money.
2. Amazon,
is now the largest online retailer, began by selling books.
3. First Bezos made a list of about 20 products
could be sold online. He eventually
decided on selling books.
4. Bezos wanted a name
began with “A.” He decided on Amazon, because it is a place
is “exotic and different.”
5. But a good company name is not enough. Bezos needed to hire people
talents
would improve the company.
continued
CD 2
TR 3
Adjective Clauses, Descriptive Phrases 183
6. Since many big Internet companies started in a garage, Bezos decided to buy a house
had a garage.
7. Bezos needed money to start his company. He went to his parents,
first response was
“What’s the Internet?”
8. Some people thought that his parents would lose all the money
they invested.
9. His parents,
invested $300,000 in his business, believed in their son's project.
10. The 1990s was a time
people were just beginning to use the Internet.
11. Bezos created a place
customers could make recommendations to other users.
12. Bezos and his parents were never unhappy about the decision
he made in 1994.
exerCise 2
Underline the adjective clause in each of these sentences.
1. Amazon was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos, who predicted that the Internet offered an opportunity to
make money.
2. Amazon, which is now the largest online retailer, began by selling books.
3. First he made a list of about twenty products that could be sold online. He eventually decided on selling
books.
4. Bezos wanted a name that began with “A.” He decided on Amazon, because it is a place that is “exotic
and different.”
5. But a good company name is not enough. He needed to hire people whose talents would improve the
company.
6. Since many big Internet companies started in a garage, he decided to buy a house that had a garage.
7. He needed money to start his company. He went to his parents, whose first response was “What’s the
Internet?”
8. Some people thought that his parents would lose all the money that they invested.
9. The 1990s was a time when people were just beginning to use the Internet.
10. Bezos created a place where customers could make recommendations to other users.
11. He and his parents were never unhappy about the decision that he made in 1994.
184 Lesson 7
7.2 Relative Pronoun as Subject
The relative pronouns who, that, and which can be the subject of the adjective clause.
I want to sell an old toy. The toy is in my closet.
I want to sell an old toy
that
is in my closet.
The person………………….........……………lives in another state.
The person bought the toy.
The person
who
bought the toy lives in another state.
Language Notes:
1. Use the relative pronouns who and that for people. Use the relative pronouns that and
which for things.
2. A present-tense verb in the adjective clause must agree in number with its subject.
People who buy things online like the convenience.
A person who buys things online likes the convenience.
exerCise 3
Fill in the blanks with who or that + the correct form of the verb, using the tense given
to complete the adjective clauses.
1. I have a friend
who buys
present: buy
all her books online.
2. People
present: buy
books online can write reviews and give a book 1-5 stars.
3. A person
present: read
the reviews can be influenced by the opinions of others.
4. There are many neighborhood bookstores
past: lose
business and had to close because
of online competition.
5. There are people
present perfect: create
successful businesses on the Internet.
6. Omidyar and Bezos are two people
past: understand
the potential of the Internet.
7. Jeff Bezos is lucky to have parents
past: believe
in his idea.
8. Friendster and MySpace were two Internet companies
past: become
successful and
then failed.
continued
Subject
which
Subject
that
Adjective Clauses, Descriptive Phrases 185
9. When you buy something online, you often see this: “People
past: buy
this product
also bought….”
10. You are encouraged to buy products
present: be
similar to your purchase.
11. Pierre Omidyar gives a lot of his money to organizations
present: help
people in need.
exerCise 4
Work with a partner. Write a complete sentence, using the noun + the adjective clause
given as the subject or object of your sentence. Write about computers, the Internet, or technology
in general.
1. a computer that has little memory
A computer that has little memory is not useful today. OR
No one wants a computer that has little memory.
2. students who don’t have a computer
3. children who spend all their time playing computer games
4. e-mail that comes from an unknown sender
5. websites that offer music downloads
6. people who don’t know anything about computers
7. kids who are born into today’s world
8. a flash drive that has 10 MB of memory
186 Lesson 7
7.3 Relative Pronoun as Object
The relative pronouns who(m), that, and which can be the object of the adjective clause.
I sold the lamp. My aunt gave me the lamp.
I sold the lamp Ø my aunt gave me.
I bought a laptop from a seller. I have never met the seller.
I bought a laptop from a seller Ø I have never met.
Language Notes:
1. The relative pronoun is usually omitted in conversation when it is the object of the
adjective clause.
I sold the lamp that my aunt gave me.
I bought a laptop from a seller whom I’ve never met.
2. Whom is considered more formal than who when used as the object of the adjective clause.
However, as seen in the note above, the relative pronoun is usually omitted altogether in
conversation.
Pierre Omidyar is a man whom I greatly admire. (formal)
Pierre Omidyar is a man who or that I greatly admire. (less formal)
Pierre Omidyar is a man I greatly admire. (informal)
3. When there is no new subject after the relative pronoun, the relative pronoun is the subject
of the adjective clause and cannot be omitted.
My neighborhood has a bookstore that has a reading hour for children.
4. When a new subject is introduced in the adjective clause, the relative pronoun is the object
of the adjective clause and can be omitted.
My neighborhood has a bookstore (that) the children love.
exerCise 5
In the conversations below, use the underlined words and other context clues to help
you fill in the blanks with adjective clauses. Answers may vary.
1. A: I just bought a new computer.
B: But didn’t you just buy one a year ago?
A: You’re right. But the one
(that) I bought
last year is old already.
continued
Object
that
which
Object
who(m)
that
Adjective Clauses, Descriptive Phrases 187
2. A: I’m so tired of all the spam
a.
.
B: What’s spam? That’s a word
b.
.
A: You don’t know the word “spam”? It’s junk e-mail. Everyone gets it.
B: I don’t get much spam. I have an e-mail address
c.
just for shopping online.
I don’t use it for anything else. I often buy shoes online.
A: How do you know if they’re going to fit?
B: The shoes
d.
are always the same, so I don’t have to worry about the size.
Besides, if I don’t want the item, I can return it.
A: Don’t you have to pay to send things back?
B: That depends on the company
e.
. If you use certain companies, they
offer free returns. You should try online shopping. You can save a lot of time.
A: You prefer that method. But that’s not for me. The method
f.
is driving to
a mall, getting exercise by walking into the store, trying on the shoes, and walking back to my car.
B: I don’t need exercise walking into a store. I get all the exercise
g.
with
my new running shoes.
3. A: Do you want to see a picture of my new girlfriend, Nina?
B: I didn’t know you had a new girlfriend. What happened to the last girlfriend
a.
? Carla, right?
A: Yeah, Carla. She thought I spent too much time taking pictures, texting, and using the Internet.
So she broke up with me.
B: I see you still have some pictures of Carla on your phone.
A: Oh, right. I’d better delete the pictures
b.
of Carla before Nina sees them.
B: Let me give you some advice. You’d better put down your phone and spend more time with Nina.
A: I hope I can follow the advice
c.
me. If not, I’ll lose Nina.
188 Lesson 7
4. A: Can I see your new phone? Wow. Look at all the apps
a.
.
B: I know I’ve got a lot of apps.
A: You must spend a lot of money on new apps.
B: Not really. Most of the apps
b.
are free.
A: I see you’ve got a new phone case. It’s not as cool as the last one
c.
. Why did
you change?
B: This was a gift from my grandmother. It was the present
d.
me for my
birthday. Idon’t want her to feel hurt. I just wish she’d give me a gift card and let me pick out my
own present.
A: I’m sure she meant well.
5. A: I found a great site for planning a trip. Owners rent out their houses to vacationers. Look. I’ll show it
to you.
B: Wow! I see that’s a beautiful house with a swimming pool. Does it really look like that?
A: The pictures
a.
here are pretty accurate. This is the house
b.
last summer and it was great. The house
c.
next year is even more beautiful.
B: Why don’t you just get a hotel room? What’s the advantage of renting a home?
A: The hotel rooms
d.
in the past were small. By renting a home, we have
a kitchen, so we can cook and save money that way.
B: How much does it cost?
A: This one costs $1,500 for the week, plus a security deposit.
B: Wow! $1,500 sounds like a lot of money.
A: We split the money between the number of people in our group. And the more friends
e.
to go with us, the cheaper it’ll be.
B: If you can’t find anyone else, I’ll go with you!
Adjective Clauses, Descriptive Phrases 189
7.4 Relative Pronoun as Object of Preposition
The relative pronoun can be the object of a preposition (to, about, with, of, etc.).
I sold my computer to a person.
The person Ø I sold my computer to paid me $200. (Informal)
The person to whom I sold my computer paid me $200. (Formal)
Bezos started the business with this money.
The money Ø Bezos started his business with came from his parents.
The money with which Bezos started his business came from his parents.
Language Notes:
1. The relative pronouns can be the object of a preposition (to, about, with, of, etc.).
2. Informally, most native speakers put the preposition at the end of the adjective clause.
The relative pronoun is usually omitted.
The person I sold my computer to paid me $200.
Do you know the person you bought your laptop from?
3. In formal English, the preposition comes before the relative pronoun, and only whom and
which may be used. That is not used directly after a preposition.
The person to whom I sold my computer paid me $200. (: to who or to that)
The money with which Bezos started his business came from his parents. (: to that)
exerCise 6
Make these sentences more informal by taking out the relative pronoun and putting
the preposition at the end of the adjective clause.
1. There are several travel websites in which I am interested.
There are several travel websites I’m interested in.
2. There is a new website about which everyone is talking.
3. The link on which you click will take you to that site.
4. The information for which you are looking can be found on that site.
Prep. Object
who(m)
that
Prep. Object
that
which
190 Lesson 7
5. Vacation Rentals is not a website with which I’m familiar.
6. Finding a vacation home online is not a method to which I’m accustomed.
7. The house on which we decided is in the mountains.
8. The owner to whom I spoke was very helpful.
9. There’s one thing about which I’m sure: renting a vacation home is a good deal.
exerCise 7
Combine the two sentences to make one. Write each sentence in the formal and
informal way starting with the words given.
1. This site has vacation rentals. I’m interested in these vacation rentals.
This site
has vacation rentals (which/that) I’m interested in.
This site
has vacation rentals in which I’m interested.
2. I’m interested in a house. The house has three bedrooms.
The house
The house
3. I’m taking a vacation with some friends. These friends want to rent a house.
The friends
The friends
4. I got a lot of information from a person. I spoke to the person.
I got a lot of information from the person
I got a lot of information from the person
5. We are responsible for only one thing. We are responsible for cleaning the house.
The only thing
The only thing
Adjective Clauses, Descriptive Phrases 191
Read the following article. Pay special attention to
the words in bold.
CD 2
TR 4
Do you have an old computer that you
don’t need anymore? Or are you trying to find
an extra TV but don’t want to spend money?
Then The Freecycle Network is for you. The
name combines the word “free” and the word
“recycle.” The Freecycle Network is an online
community whose members help each other
get what they need—for free! Unlike eBay,
Freecycle is a geographical community. You
join in the area where you live.
Americans generate almost five pounds
of garbage per person per day. About 55
percent of this garbage is buried in what is
called “landfill.” Buried garbage can cause
environmental problems. This garbage often
contains useful items that other people
may need.
The Freecycle Network was created in
2003 by Deron Beal, whose idea was to protect
the environment by keeping usable goods
out of landfill. He also wanted to encourage
neighbors to help each other. He started his
network in Tucson, Arizona, where he lives. He
sent an e-mail to about thirty or forty friends
to see if they wanted to join. His Freecycle
community grew quickly. Today there are
more than seven million members in over five
thousand groups around the world. The Freecycle Network reports that its members are
keeping five hundred tons of goods out of landfill each day.
How do members deliver or receive the item? The person whose offered item you
want will let you know the place where you can pick it up. Very often, the item will be
left in front of the giver’s house for the receiver. The giver will specify a time when the
receiver can pick up the item. Sometimes the giver and receiver will meet.
It’s always important to be polite. You should always send a thank-you e-mail to the
person whose item you received.
The F reecycle
Network
™
Artist Mike Stilkey uses discarded books to create art pieces.
192 Lesson 7
Comprehension CheCk
Based on the reading, tell if the statement is true (T) or false (F).
1. Users of Freecycle sometimes have to send packages to other cities.
2. Unwanted items are often buried in landfill.
3. Freecycle is similar to eBay.
7.5 Place and Time in Adjective Clauses
Examples Explanation
The city where I live has a recycling group.
The city in which I live has a recycling group.
The city (that) I live in has a recycling group.
We can express place in an adjective clause with:
• where to mean “in that place.”
• a preposition + which. (formal)
• that/which or Ø + clause + preposition.
Please decide on a time period (when) you can pick
up the item.
Please decide on a time period during which you
can pick up the item.
We can express time in an adjective clause with:
• when or Ø.
• a preposition + which. (formal)
My front door is the place where I leave packages for
others.
My front door is the place that shows my address.
The 1990s was a time when the Internet was new.
The 1990s was a decade that I don’t remember well.
I was just a small child.
Where means in that place or there. (I leave packages
there.)
That refers to the noun that precedes it. (The place
shows my address.)
When means at that time or then. (The Internet was
new then.)
That refers to the noun that precedes it. (I don’t
remember that decade.)
exerCise 8
Circle the correct words to complete the conversation. In some cases, both choices are
correct, so circle both options.
A: Grandma, I can’t imagine a time
(when/where)
1.
there were no computers.
B: It wasn’t such a long time ago. When I was in high school, we had never seen a computer. We used
typewriters to write our papers. There was a special room in my school
(where/that)
2.
you could go and
use the typewriters.
A: You mean like a computer lab?
B: Something like that. Later I read a book about computers, and I wanted to know more. At the time
(Ø/when)
3.
I first became interested in computers, I didn’t know anyone who had one.
continued
Adjective Clauses, Descriptive Phrases 193
A: Did you buy your computer online?
B: Oh, no. I’m talking about a time
(when/about which)
4.
no one had even heard of the Internet. There were
very few stores
(Ø/where)
5.
you could buy computers. And they were so expensive.
A: More than $500?
B: More than $2,000!
A: Wow! It must have had a big memory.
B: Absolutely not. I’m talking about a time
(when/that)
6.
100 kilobytes was considered a big memory. The
computer tower was very big. I had to find a place under my desk
(that/where)
7.
I could put the tower.
A: Who taught you to use it?
B: I had to find a time
(which/when)
8.
I could study on my own because I had no one to help me. Later
Istarted taking a class at a community college near my house. Did you know that there was a time
(Ø/when)
9.
most computer students were guys? I was the only woman in the class.
A: Grandma. I’m so proud of you. What happened to your first computer?
B: For many years, it was in my garage. Then I decided to put it on a website
(where/that)
10.
people go in
order to buy old computers.
A: Why would anyone want such an old computer?
B: There are collectors who consider my first computer a collector’s item.
A: Cool. So, Grandma, you were ahead of your time.
B: I guess I was. But now, when I have a computer question, I have to ask my grandchildren. It’s just hard to
find a time
(when/where)
11.
you’re not too busy to give your old grandma some help.
exerCise 9
About You
Write the name of three websites you use frequently. Tell what a person
can find on these websites. Share your answers with a partner.
1.
Weather.com is a site where you can find out the weather in your area.
2.
CCC.edu is a site that has a listing of college courses in Chicago.
3.
194 Lesson 7
4.
5.
exerCise 10
About You
Write three years or time periods. Tell what happened at that time. Share
your answers with a partner.
1.
2012 was the year (when) I got married.
2.
December 22 through January 5 were the weeks during which we had our winter break.
3.
4.
5.
7.6 Whose in Adjective Clauses
Whose is the possessive form of who. It stands for his, her, its, their, or the possessive
form of the noun.
Whose + noun can be the subject of the adjective clause.
Freecycle is an online community. Its members help each other.
Freecycle is an online community whose members help each other.
People can offer their kids’ old clothes. Their children are growing.
People whose children are growing can offer their kids’ old clothes.
Whose + noun can be the object of the adjective clause.
You should always thank the person. You received her item.
You should always thank the person whose item you received.
You want a person’s item. The person will suggest a way for you to get it.
The person whose item you want will suggest a way for you to get it.
Subject
Subject
Object
Object
Adjective Clauses, Descriptive Phrases 195
e x e r C i s e 11
Suppose you find these sentences on a recycling site. Write one sentence using
whose to tell what each person needs or offers to give away.
1. “My basement was flooded. I need new furniture.”
A person whose basement was flooded needs new furniture.
2. “My radio broke. I need a new one.”
3. “My daughter needs a violin. She’s in the school orchestra.”
4. “My bicycle was stolen. I need one to get to work.
5. “My new apartment is small. I want to give away a lot of books.”
6. “My laptop doesn’t work anymore. I need a new one.”
7. “My children are grown now. I want to give away their toys.”
8. “My kids are starting school. I need two backpacks.”
196 Lesson 7
exerCis e 12
Use the sentence given to form an adjective with whose.
1. The person
whose tablet I bought
I bought this person’s tablet.
wanted to get the latest model.
2. The person
I found this person’s vacation rental online.
was very helpful.
3. The person
I bought this person’s computer online.
didn’t charge me for shipping.
4. I have a friend on a social media site
I don’t like this person’s profile picture.
.
5. The person
I received her picture by e-mail.
is an old friend of mine.
6. I need to re-enter the e-mail addresses of people
I accidentally deleted their names.
.
7. The person
You see his picture on my page.
is my best friend.
8. The teacher
We’re taking this teacher’s class.
has a course website.
7.7 Adjective Clauses after Indefinite Pronouns
Examples Explanation
Everyone who sells on eBay has to pay a fee.
I know someone who always shops online.
The relative pronoun after an indefinite pronoun
(someone, something, everyone, everything, no one,
nothing, anything) can be the subject of the adjective
clause. The relative pronoun cannot be omitted.
No one wanted anything (that) I posted online.
Almost everyone (that/who/whom) I know has
posted a photo online.
The relative pronoun after an indefinite pronoun can
be the object of the adjective clause. In this case, it is
usually omitted.
exe rC ise 13
Fill in the blanks with an adjective clause. Use the underlined verb to help you.
Use the correct verb tense.
1. A: I know you’ve gotten a lot of things online. How has that worked out for you?
B: I’m happy with everything
(that) I have gotten
online.
2. A: Do you need to buy anything for your new apartment?
B: Not anymore. I found almost everything
for free on Freecycle..
3. A: I heard you’ve bought a lot of things online.
B: So far, everything
has been great.
continued
Adjective Clauses, Descriptive Phrases 197
4. A: My mother still uses a flip phone. Can you believe it?
B: I don’t know anyone
a.
a flip phone anymore. Everyone
b.
uses a smartphone.
A: I know one person who doesn’t use a cell phone at all—my grandpa.
5. A: I sent you an e-mail about vacation rentals. Did you get it?
B: I didn’t see anything
me about vacation rentals. Oh, wait.
Now I seeit.
6. A: Something
me about this shopping website was very important,
but I forgot it.
B: I told you that this site offers free shipping.
7. A: I saw the beautiful pictures of your vacation rental online. Were the pictures accurate?
B: The house was exactly like everything
in the pictures. Maybe the house
was even prettier.
8. A: I heard you can rent a vacation home online. Do you have to pay a security deposit?
B: Yes. Everyone
this house has to pay a security deposit.
9. A: Do you want to spend money on a new bicycle or get a used one for free?
B: I don’t know anyone
to spend money when you can get something for free.
10. A: Grandma. You should have a social media account. You can communicate with all your friends that way
B: I don't know anyone my age
a social media account. People my age prefer
to pick up the phone and talk.
198 Lesson 7
Amazon, Google, eBay … it was not so long ago
that these websites did not exist. These sites, which
are common names for us today, were made possible
because of the vision of one person: Tim Berners-
Lee. Berners-Lee is not famous like Bill Gates, who
created Microsoft, or Steve Jobs, whose name is easily
associated with Apple computers. Berners-Lee is the
creator of the World Wide Web.
Berners-Lee was born in England in 1955, when the
computer was still a new invention. His parents, whom
he credits with giving him his love of learning, helped
design the first commercially available computer.
In 1980, Berners-Lee was working as a software
engineer at a physics laboratory in Switzerland, where
he worked with scientists from around the world. He
thought it was important for these scientists to continue
sharing their knowledge once they returned home. He
found a way to make this possible through the Web.
In 1990, Berners-Lee introduced the first Web page
and the first browser.
3
With the Web he said, “any
person could share information with anyone else,
anywhere.” He made the Web available for free.
Many people confuse the Web with the Internet,
which was designed in the 1970s and was already
being used to send information. The Internet connects
computers with cables. The Web connects information with links. According to Berners-Lee,
“The Web made the net useful because people are really interested in information (not to mention
knowledge and wisdom!) and don't really want to have to know about computers and cables.”
As people started to discover how easy it was to find information through these links, the
number of Internet users started to grow quickly. Soon businesses found ways of making money
by using Web technology.
In 1999, Berners-Lee published a book called Weaving the Web, in which he answers
questions he is often asked: “What were you thinking when you invented the Web?” “What do
you think of it now?” “Where is the Web going to take us in the future?” A lot of people want to
know if he’s sorry that he made the Web free and didn’t profit from it; his answer is no.
The Web has been such an important creation that some people compare Berners-
Lee to Johann Gutenberg, who made books possible by inventing moveable type in the
fifteenth century.
Read the following article. Pay special attention to
the words in bold.
3
browser:a computer program that provides access to websites on the Internet
tim BERNERS-LEE
CD 2
TR 5
Adjective Clauses, Descriptive Phrases 199
Comprehension CheCk
Based on the reading, tell if the statement is true (T) or false (F).
1. Berners-Lee made a lot of money from creating the Web.
2. The Internet and the Web are the same.
3. Berners-Lee learned a lot about computers from his parents.
7.8 Nonessential Adjective Clauses
Examples Explanation
Berners-Lee is not famous like Bill Gates, who
created Microsoft.
His parents, whom he admired, designed computers.
The Internet, which was designed in the 1970s,
connected computers.
Berners-Lee worked in Switzerland, where he shared
ideas with other scientists.
In 1990, when many people had never heard of the
Internet, Berners-Lee created the first Web page.
Most people have heard of Steve Jobs, whose name is
easily associated with Apple computers.
Some adjective clauses are not essential to the
meaning of the sentence. A nonessential adjective
clause adds extra information. The sentence is
complete without it.
A nonessential adjective clause is separated by
commas from the main part of the sentence.
A nonessential adjective clause begins with who,
whom, which, where, when, or whose. That is not used
in a nonessential adjective clause.
ex e rC i se 14
Put commas in the following sentences to separate the nonessential adjective clause
from the main clause.
1. The first modern computer
,
which was called ENIAC
,
took up a lot of space.
2. ENIAC was created in 1942 when the U.S. was involved in World War II.
3. Personal computers which were introduced in the 1970s were smaller and faster than previous computers.
4. Berners-Lee whose name is not widely recognized made a great contribution to the world.
5. Bill Gates went to Harvard University where he developed the programming language BASIC.
6. Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard to work with Paul Allen who was his old high school friend.
7. Bill Gates and his wife Melinda set up the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which helps people in need
all over theworld.
8. Jeff Bezos got money from his parents who lent him $300,000 to start Amazon.
200 Lesson 7
7.9 Essential vs. Nonessential Adjective Clauses
Examples Explanation
Berners-Lee, whose parents helped design the first
computer, loved mathematics.
Berners-Lee works at MIT, where he is a professor
ofengineering.
In these examples the adjective clause is
nonessential because, without it, we can still
identify the noun in the main clause. Try reading
the sentences without the adjective clause. The
sentences are complete. The adjective clause adds
extra information to the sentence.
Smartphones changed the way (that) people shop.
Jeff Bezos wanted a company name that began
withA.
People who want quick information can use the Web.
In these examples the adjective clause is essential
,
because, without it, we can’t identify the noun. If we
take the adjective clause out, the noun isn’t properly
identified and the idea isn’t complete.
(a) Berners-Lee, who invented the Web, is very
creative and intelligent.
b) The computer, which was invented in the 1940s,
has become part of our everyday lives.
(c) The computer that I bought two years ago is slow
compared to today’s computers.
In example (a), Berners-Lee is unique and does not
need to be identified. The clause is nonessential.
Example (b) refers to the whole class of computers as
an invention. The clause is nonessential.
Example (c) refers to only one computer, which
is identified by the adjective clause. The clause is
essential.
The computer (that) she just bought has a lot of
memory.
The Web, which Berners-Lee created, is a useful
tool.
In an essential adjective clause, the relative pronoun
that can be used or omitted.
In a nonessential adjective clause, the relative
pronoun that cannot be used. The relative pronoun
cannot be omitted.
Language Notes:
Here are some questions to help you decide if the adjective clause needs commas. If the
answer to any of these questions is yes, then the adjective clause is set off by commas.
• Can I put the adjective clause in parentheses?
Google (which is a popular search engine) was created in 1998.
• Can I write the adjective clause as a separate sentence?
Google is a popular search engine. It was created in 1998.
• If the adjective clause is deleted, does the sentence still make sense?
Google is a popular search engine.
• Is the noun a unique person, place, or thing?
Berners-Lee, who works at MIT, invented the Web.
• If the noun is plural, am I including all members of a group?
Personal computers, which became popular in the 1990s, have changed the way we get
information. (all personal computers)
Adjective Clauses, Descriptive Phrases 201
exerCi se 15
Decide which of the following sentences contain a nonessential adjective clause. Put
commas in those sentences. If the sentence doesn’t need commas, write NC.
1. People who text use abbreviations. NC
2. My father
,
who texted me a few minutes ago
,
is sick.
3. Kids who spend a lot of time on the computer don’t get much exercise.
4. The Freecycle Network™ which was created in 2003 helps keep things out of landfills.
5. People usually have a lot of things they don’t need.
6. Berners-Lee whose parents were very educated loves learning new things.
7. At first Amazon was a company that only sold books.
8. Meg Whitman who ran eBay for ten years left the company in 2008.
9. Berners-Lee worked in Switzerland where a physics laboratory is located.
10. The Windows operating system which was developed by Microsoft came out in 1985.
11. Did you like the story that we read about Berners-Lee?
12. The computer that I bought three years ago doesn’t have enough memory.
13. The Web which is one of the most important inventions of the twentieth century has changed the
way people get information.
14. Bill Gates who created Microsoft with his friend became a billionaire.
15. Steve Jobs who died in 2011 helped create the Apple computer.
16. It’s hard to remember a time when computers were not part of our everyday lives.
17. Do you remember the year when you bought your first computer?
exerCise 16
Combine the two sentences into one. The sentence in parentheses ( ) is not essential
to the main idea of the sentence. It adds extra information.
1. eBay is now a large corporation. (It was started in Pierre Omidyar’s house.)
eBay, which was started in Pierre Omidyar’s house, is now a large corporation.
2. Tim Berners-Lee works at MIT. (He does research on artificial intelligence there.)
3. Pierre Omidyar started eBay as a hobby. (His wife became part of the company.)
4. eBay hired Meg Whitman in 1998. (More expert business knowledge was needed at that time to run
the company.)
5. In 2008, eBay hired John Donahoe. (He fired a lot of people.)
202 Lesson 7
6. E-mail did not become popular until the 1990s. (It was first created in 1972.)
7. Pierre Omidyar had to charge money for each sale. (His idea started to become popular.)
8. Berners-Lee created the Web at a laboratory in Switzerland. (He was working there in the 1980s.)
9. Berners-Lee wrote a book called Weaving the Web. (He answers questions about his project in this book.)
7.10 Descriptive Phrases
Examples Explanation
(a) There are millions of items that are listed
oneBay.
(b) There are millions of items listed on eBay.
Compare sentence (a) with an adjective clause to
sentence (b) with a descriptive phrase. This descriptive
phrase begins with a past participle.
(a) I sold some things that were taking up space in
my closet.
(b) I sold some things taking up space in my closet.
Compare sentence (a) with an adjective clause to
sentence (b) with a descriptive phrase. This descriptive
phrase begins with a present participle (verb -ing).
(a) Pierre Omidyar, who is the founder of eBay, is
one of the richest men in the world.
(b) Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay, is one of
the richest men in the world.
Compare sentence (a) with an adjective clause to
sentence (b) with a descriptive phrase. This descriptive
phrase is a noun (phrase). It gives a definition or more
information about the preceding noun. This kind of
descriptive phrase is called an appositive.
(a) Pierre Omidyar, who is from France, created
eBay.
(b) Pierre Omidyar, from France, created eBay.
Compare sentence (a) with an adjective clause
to sentence (b) with a descriptive phrase. This
descriptive phrase begins with a preposition (with, in,
from, of, etc.).
Language Notes:
1. We can only shorten an adjective clause to a descriptive phrase if the relative pronoun is
followed by the verb be.
I often use the computers that are
in the library.
2. A descriptive phrase can be essential or nonessential. A nonessential phrase is set off by
commas.
I have two computers. The computer in my bedroom is newer. (Essential)
The Amazon office, in Seattle, has over 100,000 employees. (Nonessential)
3. An appositive is always nonessential.
Amazon, an online store, is a very popular website.
Adjective Clauses, Descriptive Phrases 203
exe r C ise 17
Shorten the adjective clause to a descriptive phrase by crossing out the
unnecessary words.
1. On eBay, people who are living in California can easily sell to people who are living in New York.
2. Google, which is a popular search engine, is used by millions of people.
3. Bill Gates, who is the founder of Microsoft, has set up a foundation to help others.
4. eBay takes a percentage of each sale that is made on its website.
5. Tim Berners-Lee, who is from England, now works at MIT.
6. MIT, which is located in Massachusetts, is an excellent university.
7. Berners-Lee developed the idea for the Web when he was working at CERN, which is a physics lab in Switzerland.
8. Berners-Lee’s parents worked on the first computer that was sold commercially.
9. People who are interested in reading newspapers from other cities can find them on the Web.
10. The World Wide Web, which is abbreviated WWW, was first introduced on the Internet in 1991.
11. The Internet, which was designed in the 1970s, didn’t attract casual users until Berners-Lee created the Web.
12. Some wealthy people signed a Giving Pledge, which is a promise to give away most of their money in their lifetime.
13. Pierre Omidyar, who is a billionaire, signed the Giving Pledge.
14. Computers that are sold today have much more memory and speed than computers that were sold ten years ago.
15. Deron Beal, who is from Arizona, created The Freecycle Network™.
exerCise 18
Combine the two sentences into one sentence. Use the second sentence as the
adjective clause or descriptive phrase. (The second sentence adds nonessential information.)
1. Pierre Omidyar came to the U.S. when he was a child. His father was a professor.
Pierre Omidyar, whose father was a professor, came to the U.S. when he was a child.
2. Pierre Omidyar wrote his first computer program at age 14. He is from France.
3. He lived in California. He started his business there.
4. Pierre Omidyar saw a good use for computer technology. He started eBay as a hobby in his home.
5. BusinessWeek named Meg Whitman among the 25 most powerful business managers. BusinessWeek is a popular
business magazine.
6. Meg Whitman resigned from eBay in 2008. She decided to go into politics at that time.
204 Lesson 7
7. John Donahoe got the company out of decline. Pierre Omidyar hired him in 2008.
8. Bill Gates started Microsoft at the age of 19. He dropped out of Harvard during his second year.
9. Amazon began by selling books. It is now the largest online retailer.
10. Jeff Bezos's parents invested money in Amazon. They had never heard of the Internet.
11. Tim Berners-Lee is sometimes compared to Johann Gutenberg. Gutenberg made books possible in the
fifteenth century.
12. Berners-Lee was interested in using the Internet to share information. His parents designed computers.
exerCise 19
About You
Fill in the blanks. Discuss your answers with a partner.
1.
is one thing I don’t like about computers.
2.
is a website I recommend because
.
3.
, a website young people use a lot, is not so popular with
older people.
4. In this lesson, I especially liked the story we read about
because
.
5. The story we read about Tim Berners-Lee surprised me because
.
Adjective Clauses, Descriptive Phrases 205
Essential Adjective Clauses Nonessential Adjective Clauses
Pronoun as subject
People who/that sell on eBay have to
pay a fee.
Amazon is a website that/which sells a
lot of different things.
Berners-Lee, who created the Web, didn’t
make money from it.
Pierre Omidyar created eBay, which helps
people buy and sell items online.
Pronoun as object
The people (who/whom) Omidyar hired
helped him build his company.
The first computer (that/which) I
bought didn’t have much memory.
Pierre Omidyar, who(m) I admire, believes
in donating money to help others.
I’m very happy with my present computer,
which I bought online.
Pronoun as object of
preposition
I: The person (who/that) I sold
my computer to paid me $200.
F: The person to whom I sold my
computer paid me $200.
I: Berners-Lee, who(m) we read
about, is very creative.
F: Berners-Lee, about whom we read,
is very creative.
Where
I want to go to a college where I can
study computer science.
Berners-Lee worked in Switzerland, where
he met other scientists.
When
My grandparents grew up at a time when
there were no personal computers.
The Web was created in 1991, when most
people did not have personal computers.
Whose + noun as
subject
Freecycle is a community whose
members help each other.
Berners-Lee, whose parents worked on
computers, learned a lot about technology
when he was young.
Whose + noun as
object
I sent a thank-you e-mail to the person
whose radio I received through
Freecycle.
Meg Whitman, whose business expertise
Omidyar needed, started to work at eBay in
1998.
Adjective clause after
indefinite compound
I don’t know anyone who doesn’t have a
cell phone.
Everything (that/which) I’ve learned
about the Internet is fascinating.
Descriptive phrase
Computers made in the 1980s had a
very small memory.
Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, never
finished college.
summary of Lesson 7
206 Lesson 7
test / review
part 1 Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. Ø means no word is necessary. In some
cases, more than one answer is possible. If so, circle all possible answers.
1. What is a computer virus? A virus is a computer code (that/who/whose/which) attaches itself to other programs
and causes harm to programs, data, or hardware.
2. Who is Deron Beal? Deron Beal is the man (who/whom/which/that) created the Freecycle Network.
3. Tim Berners-Lee was born at a time (when/that/which/Ø) personal computers were not even in people’s
imaginations.
4. Tim Berners-Lee is a name (which/with which/that/Ø) people are not familiar.
5. Omidyar needed to bring in someone (who/whose/that/which) knowledge of business was greater than his own.
6. The Web is a tool (Ø/that/about which/which) most of us use every day.
7. The Web, (which/that/about which/about that) we read on page 199, is not the same as the Internet.
8. What is eBay? eBay is a website (that/where/whom/which) you can buy and sell items.
9. The people (Ø/which/whose/where) I’ve met in online recycling sites have been very helpful.
10. Do you save all the e-mails (that/where/whose/Ø) your friends have sent to you?
11. The computer lab is never open at a time (which/where/when/during which) I need it.
12. I always delete the spam (what/that/when/whose) I receive.
13. You can create an address book (when/that/where/in which) you can keep the e-mail addresses of your contacts.
14. Do you know anyone (Ø/who/whom/which) doesn’t own a computer?
15. The person (who/that/whose/Ø) computer I bought wanted a much more powerful computer.
16. Don’t believe everything (that/who/whom/Ø) you read on the Internet.
part 2 Some of the following sentences need commas. If they do, put them in. If the sentence
doesn’t need commas, write NC (no commas).
1. John Donahoe
,
who replaced Meg Whitman
,
saved eBay from decline.
2. In 2008 when John Donahoe came to work at eBay many top employees were fired.
3. Many online businesses that do well in the beginning later fail.
4. Amazon an online retailer was created by Jeff Bezos.
5. At first Amazon was a place where you could buy only books.
6. Now Amazon is a retailer that sells almost anything.
7. I can’t remember a time when there were no smartphones.
8. Berners-Lee is a name that most people don’t recognize.
9. Everything that we read in this lesson is related to the Internet.
10. Many people confuse the Web with the Internet which was created in the 1970s.
11. There are many websites where you can get travel information.
Adjective Clauses, Descriptive Phrases 207
Writing
part 1 Editing Advice
1. Never use what as a relative pronoun.
I bought a used computer from a person what lives in another state.
Everything what we learned about the Internet is interesting.
2. You can’t omit a relative pronoun that is the subject of the adjective clause.
I have a cousin doesn’t have a computer.
3. If the relative pronoun is the object of the adjective clause, don’t put an object after the verb.
The software that I bought it online was very useful.
4. Make sure you use subject-verb agreement in the adjective clause.
I have a friend who use e-mail a lot.
5. Put a noun before an adjective clause.
Who doesn’t know how to use a computer in today’s world is lost.
6. Don’t confuse whose with who’s.
The person who’s computer I bought didn’t charge for shipping.
7. Put the subject before the verb in an adjective clause.
The computer that uses my grandfather is very old.
8. Use whose, not his, her, or their to show possession in an adjective clause.
I have a friend who his knowledge of programming is very advanced.
part 2 Editing Practice
Some of the shaded words and phrases have mistakes. Find the mistakes and correct them. If the
shaded words are correct, write C.
Last semester I took a photo editing class that has helped me a lot. The teacher what taught the
class is an expert in photo editing. This teacher, whose name is Mark Ryan, is patient, helpful, and
fun. A lot of the photos I took were too dark. I learned how to lighten the parts needed lightening
without lightening the whole photo. I also learned to cut out parts I don’t want them. For example, I
have a family picture, but it has one person who’s not in the family. It’s a woman who live next door
to us. She came right at the time when was taking the picture my friend and she wanted to be in it.
who
that or Ø
who
s
A person who
whose
my grandfather uses
whose
C
1.
who
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. 8.
9.
208 Lesson 7
It’s a great photo, except for her. I tried scanning it and editing it at home, but I didn’t do a good job.
My teacher, who his scanner is much better than mine, scanned the photo and showed me how to
cut the neighbor out. I learned many things in this class. Everything what I learned is very helpful.
I started to take another photo class this semester. The teacher who’s class I’m taking now is not
as good as last semester’s teacher. Who wants to learn a lot about photo editing should take Mark
Ryan’s class.
part 3 Write About It
1. Write about the ways computers and the Internet have made life simpler.
2. Write about two websites or apps that you like. Explain how they are helpful or enjoyable for you.
part 4 Edit Your Writing
Reread the Summary of Lesson 7 and the editing advice. Edit your writing from Part 3.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Adjective Clauses, Descriptive Phrases 209
