Identify the Adjective Clause in the given sentence:-
The king ordered that the monster that was terrorising the village be put in the dungeons.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → that was terrorising the village
An adjective is a word that describes a noun or a pronoun, for example a tall tree, the food is tasty.
Adjective clause (relative clause):
- An adjective clause is a group of words that:
- has its own subject and verb.
- describes a noun or pronoun.
- begins with a relative pronoun such as who, which or that.
- This sentence: "that was terrorising the village" follows the noun "the monster" and tells us which monster is meant. "That" is its subject and "was terrorising" its verb.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: terrorising the village — Incorrect. It is a participle phrase cut out of the clause. Without "that was" it has no subject or finite verb.
Option 3: put in dungeons — Incorrect. It is part of the verb phrase "be put in the dungeons". It describes no noun.
Option 4: the king ordered that — Incorrect. This is the main clause. "That" here introduces the noun clause, the order itself.
Contrast: an adjective clause has its own subject and verb ("that was terrorising the village"). A participle phrase does not ("terrorising the village").