Adjective Clauses Nonidentifying clause

Question

Now, Is it Ok?

They told me that my son, who was taking a flying instruction course, died when his plane down

Thanks

Yes you got it May - ian-hill, Mar 15, 2011

You have one son N D R C - ian-hill, Mar 15, 2011

thanks Jan-hill - maylegoas, Mar 16, 2011

Answer 1

Hola, Maylegoas:

Here is everything I know about identifying and nonidentifying adjective clauses:

 

Identifying adjective clauses give important information which identifies a place, thing or person. Commas are not used with identifying adjective clauses.

 

Nonidentifying adjective clauses give additional information which is not necessary to identify the place, thing or person. Commas are used with nonidentifying adjective clauses.

 

As I understand your question(s), you are trying to compose a sentence using a nonidentifying adjective clause. You have suggested:
“They told me that my son, who was taking a flying instruction course, died when his plane down.”

 

First, let me correct your sentence in the following way:
“They told me that my son, who was taking a flying instruction course, died when his plane went down.”
All I have done is to add the word “went” at the end of your sentence.

 

Now it is fair to say that ”who was taking a flying instruction course” meets the requirements to be a nonidentifying adjective clause. Consider this:
• in order to be a clause, “who was taking a flying instruction course” must contain both a subject, (in this clause, “who”), and a verb, (in this clause, “taking”).
• even if the clause is removed, there would still be a complete sentence as follows “They told me that my son died when his plane went down”

 

I suggest that if you add the word “went” to the end of your sentence, you will have written a sentence that includes a nonidentifying adjective clause.

 

Muchos saludos/Best regards

Moe

thanks Moe, this is a great help. Thanks a lot you are a good teacher - maylegoas, Mar 15, 2011

Great explanation and illustration, Moe. - hhmdirocco, Mar 15, 2011

Answer 2

My son, who lives in Manchester, is a doctor. = one son. NDRC

My son who lives in Manchester is a teacher. = more than one son. DRC

Answer 3

It depends on if you have 2 sons or if you have one son.

If you have one son, the commas are right. (Non defining relative clause)

If you have two sons and only one was taking a flying course and this was the method by which you identified him in the sentence, then the commas are wrong. (defining relative clause)

Why, where is the difference? - maylegoas, Mar 15, 2011

See my post below May - ian-hill, Mar 15, 2011

Answer 4

. . .when his plane went down. I believe this is an adverbial clause, not an adjective clause.

Indeed. The difference is that it modifies "died" (as would "yesterday") it says nothing about him (my son). It merely describes when his plane went down.

Answer 5

. . .when his plane went down.

I believe this is an adverbial clause, not an adjective clause.

why is the difference? - maylegoas, Mar 15, 2011

Sabor, could be .......when his plane crash? - maylegoas, Mar 15, 2011