English Grammar: Relative Clauses
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Questions and Answers

A relative clause is a type of dependent clause that provides additional information about a ______ in the main clause.

noun

Relative clauses function as ______, modifying the noun they refer to.

adjectives

The relative pronoun ______ refers to people.

who

In some cases, the relative pronoun can be omitted if it is not the subject of the ______ clause.

<p>relative</p> Signup and view all the answers

Relative clauses can sometimes be reduced to ______ or single words.

<p>phrases</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Definition and Function

  • A relative clause is a type of dependent clause that provides additional information about a noun in the main clause.
  • It begins with a relative pronoun (e.g. who, which, that, whom, whose) and contains a subject and a predicate.
  • Relative clauses function as adjectives, modifying the noun they refer to.

Types of Relative Clauses

  • Restrictive relative clauses: provide essential information about the noun and are essential to the sentence's meaning.
    • Example: The book that is on the table is mine.
  • Non-restrictive relative clauses: provide additional, non-essential information about the noun and are set off with commas.
    • Example: The book, which is on the table, is mine.

Relative Pronouns

  • Who: refers to people
    • Example: The student who is sitting in the front row is my friend.
  • Which: refers to animals, objects, and ideas
    • Example: The book, which is on the table, is mine.
  • That: can refer to people, animals, objects, and ideas
    • Example: The book that is on the table is mine.
  • Whom: refers to the object of a verb or preposition (people)
    • Example: The student whom I met yesterday is very friendly.
  • Whose: shows possession (people, animals, objects)
    • Example: The student whose book is on the table is my friend.

Omitting the Relative Pronoun

  • In some cases, the relative pronoun can be omitted if it is not the subject of the relative clause.
    • Example: The book I read yesterday is mine.
  • However, it is often necessary to include the relative pronoun to ensure clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Reducing Relative Clauses

  • Relative clauses can sometimes be reduced to phrases or single words.
    • Example: The book on the table is mine. (reduced from "The book that is on the table is mine.")

Definition and Function

  • A relative clause is a type of dependent clause that provides additional information about a noun in the main clause.
  • It begins with a relative pronoun (e.g. who, which, that, whom, whose) and contains a subject and a predicate.
  • Relative clauses function as adjectives, modifying the noun they refer to.

Types of Relative Clauses

  • Restrictive relative clauses provide essential information about the noun and are essential to the sentence's meaning, e.g. "The book that is on the table is mine."
  • Non-restrictive relative clauses provide additional, non-essential information about the noun and are set off with commas, e.g. "The book, which is on the table, is mine."

Relative Pronouns

  • Who refers to people, e.g. "The student who is sitting in the front row is my friend."
  • Which refers to animals, objects, and ideas, e.g. "The book, which is on the table, is mine."
  • That can refer to people, animals, objects, and ideas, e.g. "The book that is on the table is mine."
  • Whom refers to the object of a verb or preposition (people), e.g. "The student whom I met yesterday is very friendly."
  • Whose shows possession (people, animals, objects), e.g. "The student whose book is on the table is my friend."

Omitting the Relative Pronoun

  • In some cases, the relative pronoun can be omitted if it is not the subject of the relative clause, e.g. "The book I read yesterday is mine."
  • However, it is often necessary to include the relative pronoun to ensure clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Reducing Relative Clauses

  • Relative clauses can sometimes be reduced to phrases or single words, e.g. "The book on the table is mine" (reduced from "The book that is on the table is mine.").

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Test your understanding of relative clauses, including their function and types, such as restrictive relative clauses. Learn about their role in modifying nouns and providing essential information in a sentence.

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