Relative Clauses: Definition and Types

Study Notes

Relative Clauses: Definition and Types

Relative clauses are dependent clauses modifying nouns or pronouns. They start with relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that) or relative adverbs (where, when, why).
They add details about the noun or pronoun they modify.
They improve sentence clarity and detail.

Relative Pronouns

Who: Used for people, acting as the subject or object. Example: The man who is smiling is my uncle. (subject) / The man who I saw smiled at me. (object)
Whom: Used for people, acting as the object. Example: The person whom I spoke to was very helpful. (object of preposition)
Whose: Shows possession, for both people and things. Example: The dog whose tail wagged furiously was very excited.
Which: Used for things, acting as the subject or object. Example: The book which I borrowed is on the table.
That: Used for both people and things, a more concise alternative to who, whom, and which. Example: The car that's parked there is mine. / That man who is tall is my dad. Preferable in direct or short sentences.

Relative Adverbs

Where: Indicates place. Example: The house where I grew up is now a museum.
When: Indicates time. Example: The time when I met her was a very important moment.
Why: Indicates reason. Example: This is the reason why we are all here.

Types of Relative Clauses

Restrictive (defining) clauses: Essential to the sentence's meaning. Removing them changes the meaning. Example: The car that I drive is blue. (Without "that I drive," you don't know which car is meant). No commas.
Non-restrictive (non-defining) clauses: Provide extra information; removing them doesn't change core meaning. Example: My car, which is blue, was parked there. (Removing the clause still tells us about the car.) Commas surround the clause.

Relative Clause FAQs and Explanations

Choosing who, whom, which, or that: Rewriting can help — "Is the relative pronoun the subject or the object?" Subject = who or which; Object = whom or which
Non-restrictive commas: Omitting commas can cause confusion with non-restrictive clauses. Commas clarify extra information.

Example Sentences with Relative Clauses

Restrictive: The man who works at the library loves books. (no commas)
Non-restrictive: My sister, who is a doctor, works very hard. (commas)
Relative adverb: We went to the place where we had breakfast yesterday.
Whose: The dog whose tail wags furiously is very friendly.
Whom with preposition: The man to whom I spoke is my grandfather.

Practice Questions

The cat ________ caught the mouse is now sleeping. (which/that)
My friend, ________ lives next door, is a talented artist. (who)
The house ________ I grew up in was very small. (where)
The book _______ I borrowed from the library is quite interesting. (that/which)
My car, _______ is red, is parked near the house. (which)

Description

Explore the world of relative clauses through this quiz that covers their definitions and types. Learn how relative pronouns like who, whom, whose, and which enhance sentence clarity. Test your knowledge and improve your understanding of complex sentences.