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RELATIVE

CLAUSES

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Arelative clause is a subordinate sentence whichfunctions like an adjective, that is, it always modifiesa noun.

It always comes immediately after the noun orsentence it modifies.

A relative clause is always introduced by a relativepronoun. This pronoun can sometimes be omitted.

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As it is a complete sentence, it has the same parts asa sentence:

The relative pronoun has a function in the sentence:

it can be the subject, the direct object, the indirectobject or the adverbial.

relative pronoun + subject + verb + objects + adv.

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There are two main types of relative clauses:

DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

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The relative pronouns used both for defining andnon-defining relative clauses are:

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DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

A defining relative clause gives essential

information about the noun it modifies.

Commas are never used.

When the relative pronoun functions as theobject of the clause, it can be omitted.

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I hate neighbours who make a lot of noise.

The man ( whom ) you met yesterday is my uncle.

Is that the film which won 7 Oscars?

Thats the company ( which ) I work for.

We stopped to help a man whose car broke downon the road.

Thats the shop where they sell Indian food.

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NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

A non-defining relative clause gives extrainformation about the noun it modifies.

The relative clause is not necessary tounderstand and define the noun.

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The pronoun THAT can never be used.

The relative pronoun can never be omitted.

Commas are used to separate the mainclause from the relative clause.

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My mother, who is 65, has just retired.

The house, which has a large garden, was just whatthey wanted.

Buckingham Palace, where the Queen lives, is nowopen to the public.

Mrs Black, whose daughter goes to my school, hasjust won the lottery.

Peter, whom you have never met, is my brother.

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