What is a Relative Clause?

Understanding Relative Clauses

Relative clauses are used to provide additional information about a noun without starting a new sentence. There are two types: defining and non-defining relative clauses.

• Defining relative clauses: These give essential information about the noun. Without this clause, the sentence would lose its meaning. For example: "The man who called you is my brother." Here, "who called you" specifies which man is being referred to.

• Non-defining relative clauses: These add extra information that can be omitted without changing the sentence's meaning. For example: "My brother, who lives in New York, is visiting us." The clause "who lives in New York" provides additional information but isn't necessary to identify which brother is meant.

Examples:

• Defining: "The student who studied the hardest passed the exam."

• Non-defining: "My car, which I bought last year, has already broken down."

Relative Pronouns and Their Functions

Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses. They include who, whom, whose, which, and that.

• Who: Used for people. Example: "The teacher who helped me is kind."

• Whom: Used for people in a formal context or following a preposition. Example: "The student whom you met is my friend."

• Whose: Indicates possession. Example: "The artist whose work we admired is famous."

• Which: Used for things. Example: "The car which broke down is old."

• That: Used for people or things in defining clauses. Example: "The book that you lent me is great."

Additional Examples:

• Who: "The person who answered the phone was very polite."

• Whom: "The consultant whom we hired is very experienced."

• Whose: "The musician whose song you liked is performing tonight."

• Which: "The cake, which she baked herself, was delicious."

• That: "The computer that I bought is already outdated."

Constructing Sentences with Relative Clauses

To form sentences with relative clauses, follow these steps:

1. Identify the noun you want to add information to.

2. Choose the appropriate relative pronoun.

3. Add the additional information using the relative clause.

Example Sentences:

• "The movie that we watched was thrilling."

• "The woman who spoke at the conference is an expert."

• "The house, which was built in the 19th century, needs renovation."

• "The cat whose owner is away is very lonely."

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them:

• Using "who" for things: Incorrect: "The house who is big." Correct: "The house that is big."

• Misplacing the clause: Incorrect: "The book is on the table which I read." Correct: "The book, which I read, is on the table."

• Incorrect pronoun choice: Incorrect: "The company which CEO resigned." Correct: "The company whose CEO resigned."

Practice Sentences: Fill in the blanks:

1. The car, ___ is red, belongs to my neighbor. (which)

2. The scientist ___ discoveries changed the world is celebrated. (whose)

3. The athlete ___ won the race is my friend. (who)

4. The document ___ you requested is on the desk. (that)

Enhancing Your Writing with Relative Clauses

Relative clauses enrich your writing by providing more detail and making your sentences more varied.

Examples of Enhanced Sentences:

• Simple: "I met a man." Enhanced: "I met a man who speaks five languages."

• Simple: "She has a car." Enhanced: "She has a car that runs on electricity."

• Simple: "We visited a museum." Enhanced: "We visited a museum, which has an extensive art collection."

• Simple: "They found the keys." Enhanced: "They found the keys that had been lost for days."

Encourage practicing by rewriting simple sentences to include relative clauses. For example, transform "The girl is my neighbor" into "The girl who lives next door is my neighbor."

Practice Exercise: Rewrite the sentences using relative clauses:

1. The cake is delicious. She baked it herself.

2. The man is my uncle. He lives in Canada.

3. The phone is new. I bought it yesterday.

4. The book is on the table. You lent it to me.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Learners often make errors such as incorrect pronoun usage or misplaced clauses.

Common Errors:

• Incorrect: "The dog which barks loudly." Correct: "The dog that barks loudly."

• Incorrect: "The student whom homework is late." Correct: "The student whose homework is late."

• Incorrect: "The house that is big, which has a red door, is mine." Correct: "The house, which has a red door, is big and is mine."

Tips:

• Remember that "who" and "whom" are for people, "which" is for things, and "whose" shows possession.

• Ensure the clause is correctly placed to avoid confusion.

• Avoid overusing "that" in non-defining clauses. Use "which" instead for clarity.

Quiz: Identify the errors and correct the sentences:

1. The person which called you is waiting outside.

2. The team who won the match celebrated all night.

3. The movie that you recommended, which was fantastic, is now my favorite.

4. The artist whom paintings are in the gallery is very talented.

Related Articles

• Nonrestrictive clause
• Restrictive clause
  
• Defining and non defining relative clauses