Understanding Adjective Clauses

The question asks us to complete the sentence "The Sun ____ made the traveller thirsty" by adding an adjective clause. An adjective clause is a type of dependent clause that functions like an adjective; it modifies a noun or pronoun. It usually begins with a relative pronoun (such as which, who, whom, whose, or that) or a relative adverb (such as where, when, or why).

In the given sentence, the noun being modified is "The Sun". We need a clause that describes "The Sun" and explains the condition that led to the traveller becoming thirsty. The action of the Sun causing thirst is related to its heat, especially "at mid day".

Analyzing the Options for Completing the Sentence

Let's examine each option to see which one correctly forms an adjective clause that fits the sentence and modifies "The Sun".

• Option 1: Which at mid day was heat
• This option uses the relative pronoun "Which", which is appropriate for referring to "The Sun". However, "was heat" uses the noun "heat". We need an adjective to describe the state of the Sun, not name the state itself. Saying "The Sun was heat" is grammatically incorrect; it should be "The Sun was hot".
• Option 2: Which at mid day was hot
• This option also uses the relative pronoun "Which" to refer to "The Sun". It then uses "at mid day" to specify the time. Crucially, it uses the adjective "hot" to describe the state of the Sun. "The Sun was hot" is grammatically correct. The clause "Which at mid day was hot" correctly modifies "The Sun" and explains its condition that caused thirst.
• Option 3: Where at mid day was hot
• This option uses the relative adverb "Where". "Where" is used to refer to places. "The Sun" is not a place. Therefore, using "Where" to introduce a clause modifying "The Sun" is incorrect.
• Option 4: When at mid day was hot
• This option uses the relative adverb "When". "When" is used to refer to time. While the clause includes the time phrase "at mid day", the relative adverb "when" is typically used to modify a noun related to time (like 'day', 'time', 'moment', 'year'). It is not the correct relative adverb to modify the noun "The Sun". The relative pronoun "Which" is appropriate for modifying a non-human noun like "The Sun".

Identifying the Correct Adjective Clause

Based on the analysis, Option 2 provides the only grammatically correct and meaningful adjective clause that can complete the sentence and modify "The Sun" appropriately. The completed sentence would be: "The Sun, which at mid day was hot, made the traveller thirsty." (Note: Commas are typically used for non-restrictive clauses, which this would be in this context, but the options don't show punctuation placement, so we focus on the clause itself). The clause "which at mid day was hot" tells us *what kind* of Sun (or what condition the Sun was in) made the traveller thirsty.

Therefore, the correct option is "Which at mid day was hot".

Revision Table: Adjective Clause Basics

Additional Information on Completing Sentences with Clauses

Choosing the correct clause to complete a sentence requires understanding the function of different clause types (noun clauses, adjective clauses, adverb clauses) and how they connect to the main sentence. For adjective clauses, selecting the right relative pronoun or adverb is crucial, depending on the noun being modified (person, thing, place, time, reason) and the role the relative word plays within the clause itself (subject, object, possessive, or modifying a location/time/reason).

In this specific question, modifying "The Sun" (a non-human noun/thing) points towards using relative pronouns like "which" or "that". The clause describes a state ("was hot"), making "which" the appropriate choice as it can act as the subject of the clause ("which was hot"). Relative adverbs like "where" or "when" would only be used if "The Sun" were being treated as a place or a specific point in time related to the main clause's action, which is not the case here.