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Relative Pronouns

This document discusses relative pronouns and relative clauses. It defines relative pronouns as pronouns that introduce a dependent clause modifying a noun. The document explains the most common relative pronouns who, whom, whose, which, that and when they are used. It also defines defining and non-defining relative clauses and provides examples.

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Mini Revindran
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85 views6 pages

Relative Pronouns

This document discusses relative pronouns and relative clauses. It defines relative pronouns as pronouns that introduce a dependent clause modifying a noun. The document explains the most common relative pronouns who, whom, whose, which, that and when they are used. It also defines defining and non-defining relative clauses and provides examples.

Uploaded by

Mini Revindran
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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which/that

01
RELATIVE PRONOUNS AND RELATIVE CLAUSES

Pronouns are words that take the place of a noun. Relative pronouns are used at the
beginning of an adjective clause (a dependent clause that modifies a noun). The
most common relative pronouns are who, whom, whose, which, that. The relative
pronoun we use depends on what we are referring to and the type of relative
clause.They are called a "relative" pronouns because they "relate" to the word that
the relative clause modifies.

Example: The person who phoned me last night is my teacher.


In the above example, "who"relates to "The person", and 'who'
introduces the relative clause "who phoned me last night"

02
They include who for people, that and which for
things, when for time, and whose to show
possession.

which/that

which
It is used for animals in general or things.
that
It can be used for people, animals or things.
02
Types of relative clauses
Relative clauses belong to one of two categories: defining
relative clauses and non-defining relative clauses.

1.Defining relative clause: A defining (restrictive) clause is


one that add essential information to a sentence.

Example: My house that has a blue door needs painting.

Defining clauses or phrases are not separated off with


commas. A restrictive clause or phrase is essential to the
meaning of the sentence. If we remove the clause, the
sentence does not make sense.
2. Non-defining clauses
Non-defining relative clauses add extra information to a
noun or noun phrase.
Example: My friend’s birthday, which was last weekend, was
great fun.

This extra information is not essential. If we remove the


clause, the sentence still makes sense. An important
difference, however, between both types of clause is the use
of punctuation. With non-defining relative clauses, we
separate the clause with commas. We cannot use that in
non-defining clauses.
02
IMPORTANT FACTS
Defining relative clauses give essential information to
define or identify the person or thing we are talking
about.
Commas are not used to separate defining relative
clauses from the rest of the sentence.
A non-defining or non-essential clause gives us more
information about the person or thing we are talking
about.
Non-defining relative clauses are always set off from the
rest of the sentence with commas.
“That” cannot be used as a relative pronoun in a non-
02
restrictive relative clause.

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