Table of Contents
1. What are Relative Clauses?
A relative clause is a type of dependent clause that provides additional information about a noun in a sentence. It is introduced by a relative pronoun (such as “who,” “whom,” “whose,” “which,” or “that”) or a relative adverb (such as “where,” “when,” or “why”).
2. Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns are used to introduce relative clauses and connect them to the noun they modify. They include:
- “Who” and “whom” refer to people.
- “Whose” shows possession.
- “Which” refers to things or animals.
- “That” can refer to people, things, or animals.
3. Relative Adverbs
Relative adverbs are used to introduce relative clauses that provide information about time, place, or reason. The most common relative adverbs are:
- “Where” refers to a place.
- “When” refers to a time.
- “Why” refers to a reason.
4. Forming Relative Clauses
To form a relative clause, you need to combine two sentences. The first sentence contains the noun you want to modify, and the second sentence provides additional information. Let’s look at some examples:
The girl is my sister. She is studying medicine. Relative clause: The girl who is studying medicine is my sister.
I have a dog. Its name is Max. Relative clause: I have a dog whose name is Max.
5. Types of Relative Clauses
There are two types of relative clauses: defining and non-defining.
Defining relative clauses provide essential information about the noun. They cannot be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence. Example: The book that I borrowed from the library is excellent.
Non-defining relative clauses provide additional, non-essential information about the noun. They are set off by commas and can be removed without altering the main meaning of the sentence. Example: My sister, who lives in London, is a doctor.
6. Omitting Relative Pronouns
In some cases, we can omit the relative pronoun in a defining relative clause. This happens when the pronoun is the object of the clause and the verb is not a linking verb. Example: The car I bought yesterday is red.
7. Using “Where,” “When,” and “Why”
Relative adverbs can be used to introduce relative clauses that provide information about time, place, or reason.
- Time: This is the day when we met.
- Place: This is the house where she was born.
- Reason: That is the reason why I’m upset.
8. Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Dangling modifiers: Make sure the relative clause clearly refers to the noun it modifies.
- Using “that” and “which” interchangeably: “That” is used in defining clauses, while “which” is used in non-defining clauses.
9. FAQs about Relative Clauses
Absolutely! Relative clauses are commonly used in both written and spoken English to provide additional information about nouns.
There are some less common relative pronouns, such as “what,” “whichever,” and “whoever,” but the ones mentioned earlier are the most frequently used.
Yes, relative clauses require a subject and a verb to form a complete sentence.
No, relative adverbs are used to introduce non-defining relative clauses.
Yes, it is possible to start a sentence with a relative clause, but make sure it is clear what the clause is referring to.
Non-defining relative clauses are always separated from the main clause by commas.
