What are relative clauses? Here are some examples.
RELATIVE CLAUSES – This makes speaking and writing more precise, descriptive, and engaging, and here are some types with examples.
What is a relative clause? This is a clause that usually modifies a noun or noun phrase and is introduced by a relative pronoun (which, that, who, whom, whose), a relative adverb (where, when, why), or a zero relative. This is also called an adjective clause, an adjectival clause, and a relative construction.
The relative pronouns are:
| Pronoun | Refers to | Uses |
| who | people | substitutes for subject nouns/pronouns (he, she, we, they) |
| whom | people | substitutes for object nouns/pronouns (him, her, us, them) |
| whose | people or things | substitutes for possessive nouns/pronouns (his, hers, ours, theirs) |
| that | people or things | can be used for either subject or object, and restrictive relative clauses |
| which | things | can be used for either subject or object, can only be used in restrictive relative clauses |
Examples:
- I know a teacher who always helps struggling students.
- This is the novel which I borrowed from the library.
- I like the paintings that hang in the lobby.
- Students who study hard will do well in my class.
- I’m looking for a secretary who can use a computer well.
Types of Relative Clauses
- DEFINING
This is telling which noun is being talked about.
Examples:
- The book that I borrowed from the library is due tomorrow.
- The phone that you left on the table belongs to me.
- The restaurant where we ate dinner serves Italian food.
- The car that broke down yesterday has been repaired.
- The man whom we met at the park is a famous writer.
- NON-DEFINING
This gives extra information about something, but this is not necessarily needed to understand the sentence.
Examples:
- My brother, who lives in Canada, is coming home next month.
- My boyfriend, who works on a ship, cheated on me.
- Our vacation, which we planned for months, was unforgettable.
- Last Monday, when we had a school event, it rained heavily.
- Last week I bought a new computer, which I don’t like now.