In this lesson, we will explore relative clauses in English. We will learn the different types, the relative pronouns used, and how to use them correctly in sentences with examples.
What are Relative Clauses?
A relative clause is a type of subordinate clause that gives more information about a noun. It is introduced by a relative pronoun such as who, which, that, whom, or whose.
- The woman who lives next door is a doctor.
- The book that I bought yesterday was expensive.
Types of Relative Clauses
1. Defining Relative Clauses
A defining relative clause gives essential information about the noun. Without it, the sentence loses its meaning. We do not use commas.
- The student who studies hard will pass the exam.
- The car that he bought was very expensive.
- The city where I was born is beautiful.
2. Non-Defining Relative Clauses
A non-defining relative clause gives extra information about the noun. The sentence still makes sense without it. We use commas to separate it.
- My mother, who is a teacher, lives in London.
- Paris, which is the capital of France, is a beautiful city.
Relative Pronouns
| Pronoun | Used for |
|---|---|
| who | people (subject) |
| whom | people (object) |
| which | things/animals |
| that | people or things (defining only) |
| whose | possession |
| where | places |
| when | time |
Rules of Relative Clauses
Using Who and Whom
Use who when referring to people as the subject of the clause.
- The teacher who taught me English was very kind.
Use whom when referring to people as the object of the clause.
- The man whom I met yesterday was very friendly.
Using Which
Use which for things or animals.
- The house, which was built in 1900, is now a museum.
Using That
Use that in defining relative clauses for both people and things.
- The movie that we watched last night was amazing.
Using Whose
Use whose to show possession.
- The student whose bag was stolen reported it to the teacher.
Using Where and When
Use where for places and when for time.
- The school where I studied is very old.
- I remember the day when we first met.
Common Mistakes
❌ The woman which works here is my friend.
✅ The woman who works here is my friend.
❌ The book who I read was interesting.
✅ The book that/which I read was interesting.
Practice Exercise
Now practice what you have learned!
⇔ Take an exercise on Relative Clauses