Diskusi 8 Grammar Analysis

Adjective clauses with their various forms are considered to have misinterpretation in grasping the main point.

What makes the adjective clause ultimately come to a different interpretation?

Answer:

An adjective clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun or a pronoun (Praba et al, 2017). It usually follows the word it modifies. Adjective clause may be defining adjective clause and non-defining adjective clauses (Praba et al, 2017).

Praba et al (2017) stated that defining adjective clauses give information which necessary for the sense of the sentence, and non-defining adjective clauses have function to add extra information about the subject of the main clause. A defining adjective clause clearly identifies its antecedent whereas a non-defining adjective clause merely gives some information.

In writing, non-defining adjective clauses are always separated by commas. Praba et al (2017) emphasized that in placing an adjective clause, it should be placed as close as possible to the noun it refers to. Otherwise, the meaning may not be clear. It means that makes the adjective clause ultimately come to a different interpretation. We can see from the example from the following sentences:

That soccer game that I went to yesterday was really exciting.
That soccer game, that I went to yesterday, was really exciting.

These clauses are exactly the same, except for the commas, but they have slightly different meanings.

The first (essential) clause specifies that the soccer game we're talking about is the one we went to yesterday. Maybe we've been to more than one, and we have to make it clear which one we're talking about.

The second sentence already refers to one specific soccer game, and the (nonessential) clause adds the extra explanation that the game was yesterday.

Reference:

Praba, Utari dkk. 2017. Buku Materi Pokok MPBI 5202/3SKS/Modul 1-9: Grammar Analysis. Tangerang Selatan, Banten: Universitas Terbuka.