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Relative clauses – divide into 2 parts easy/hard

We use relative pronouns to include more details about a subject without starting a new
sentence i.e. the woman who lives next door has a dog. They specify what type of person or
thing we are talking about. A non-defining relative clause is one where the detail given is not
necessary to the understanding of the sentence e.g. I met a woman, who is 50, who lives near
me. It is similar to putting extra information in brackets.

When we use relative clauses we put prepositions at the end of the statement e.g. The house
that I grew up in. The people that I went to school with.

We use who for people, which for objects but we can use that for both indifferently. Whose is
used for possession.

Where, when and why are relative adverbs that can be used for place, time and reason.

The place where I went. The time when I broke my leg. The reason why I stopped driving.

If the relative pronoun represents the object of the first statement we can omit it. E.g. I used
the pen (that) you gave me. This is common in defining relative clauses but relative pronouns
cannot be omitted in non-defining relative clauses however we do omit repetition of the
subject pronoun after the clause. The dog she has, which is a Doberman, isn’t very old. The car
we bought, which is green, doesn’t work very well.
Defining relative clauses
We use defining relative clauses to give essential information about someone or something –
information that we need in order to understand what or who is being referred to. A defining
relative clause usually comes immediately after the noun it describes.
We usually use a relative pronoun (e.g. who, that, which, whose and whom) to introduce a
defining relative clause (In the examples, the relative clause is in bold, and the person or thing
being referred to is underlined.):
They’re the people who want to buy our house.
Here are some cells which have been affected.
They should give the money to somebody who they think needs the treatment
most.
[talking about an actress]
She’s now playing a woman whose son was killed in the First World War.
Spoken English:
In defining relative clauses we often use that instead of who, whom or which. This is very
common in informal speaking:
They’re the people that want to buy our house.
Here are some cells that have been affected.

Subject or object
The relative pronoun can define the subject or the object of the verb:
They’re the people who/that bought our house. (The people bought our house.
The people is the subject.)
They’re the people who/that she met at Jon’s party. (She met the people. The
people is the object.)
Here are some cells which/that show abnormality. (Some cells show abnormality.
Some cells is the subject.)
Here are some cells which/that the researcher has identified. (The researcher has
identified some cells. Some cells is the object.)

No relative pronoun
We often leave out the relative pronoun when it is the object of the verb:
They’re the people she met at Jon’s party.
Here are some cells the researcher has identified.
Punctuation
Warning:
In writing, we don’t use commas in defining relative clauses:
This is a man who takes his responsibilities seriously.
Not: This is a man, who takes his responsibilities seriously.
A panda eats shoots and leaves.
Nouns and pronouns in relative clauses
When the relative pronoun is the subject of the relative clause, we don’t use another personal
pronoun or noun in the relative clause because the subject (underlined) is the same:
She’s the lady who lent me her phone. (who is the subject of the relative clause, so
we don’t need the personal pronoun she)
Not: She’s the lady who she lent me her phone.
There are now only two schools in the area that actually teach Latin. (that is the
subject of the relative clause, so we don’t need the personal pronoun they)
Not: There are now only two schools in the area that they actually teach Latin.
When the relative pronoun is the object of the relative clause, we don’t use another personal
pronoun or noun in the relative clause because the object (underlined) is the same:
We had a lovely meal at the place which Phil recommended. (which is the object
of the relative clause, so we don’t need the personal pronoun it)
Not: We had a lovely meal at the place which Phil recommended it.

Non-defining relative clauses

We use non-defining relative clauses to give extra information about the person or thing. It is
not necessary information. We don’t need it to understand who or what is being referred to.
We always use a relative pronoun (who, which, whose or whom) to introduce a non-defining
relative clause (In the examples, the relative clause is in bold, and the person or thing being
referred to is underlined.)
Clare, who I work with, is doing the London marathon this year.
Not: Clare, I work with, is doing the London marathon this year.
Doctors use the testing kit for regular screening for lung and stomach cancers,
which account for 70% of cancers treated in the western world.
Alice, who has worked in Brussels and London ever since leaving Edinburgh, will be
starting a teaching course in the autumn.
Warning:
We don’t use that to introduce a non-defining relative clause:
 Allen, who scored three goals in the first game, was the only player to perform
well.
Not: Allen, that scored three goals in the first game, was the only player to
perform well.

Punctuation
In writing, we use commas around non-defining relative clauses:
Etheridge, who is English-born with Irish parents, replaces Neil Francis, whose
injury forced him to withdraw last week.
Spoken English:
In speaking, we often pause at the beginning and end of the clause:
Unlike American firms – which typically supply all three big American car makers –
Japanese ones traditionally work exclusively with one maker. (formal)
And this woman – who I’d never met before – came up and spoke to me (informal)

Defining or non-defining relative clauses?

Sometimes defining and non-defining relative clauses can look very similar but have different
meanings.
Compare
non-defining defining

His brother, who works at

His brother who works at the
the supermarket, is a
supermarket is a friend of mine.
friend of mine.
He has more than one brother. The one I’m talking
He has only one brother, and that
about works at the supermarket.
brother works at the supermarket.

It’s hoped that we will

raise £10,000 for local It’s hoped that we will raise £10,000 for
charities, which help the local charities which help the homeless.
homeless.
The money is intended for local charities. Some of
The money is intended for local these local charities help the homeless. There are
charities. All these local charities help other local charities as well as these.
the homeless.

Warning:
The information in a defining relative clause is essential, so we can’t leave out the relative
clause. The information in a non-defining relative clause is extra information which isn’t
essential, so we can leave out the relative clause.
Compare
A defining relative clause which we
The soldier who had gold stripes on his
can’t leave out; without this
uniform seemed to be the most important
information we do not know which
one.
soldier the speaker is referring to.

The tour party was weakened when Gordon Non-defining relative clauses which
Hamilton, who played in the World Cup we can leave out:
team, withdrew yesterday because of a
The tour party was weakened when
back injury, which kept him out of the Five
Gordon Hamilton withdrew
Nations Championship.
yesterday because of a back injury.

Warning:
We can use that instead of who, whom or which in defining relative clauses, but not in non-
defining relative clauses:
I think anyone who speaks in public is nervous beforehand.
I think anyone that speaks in public is nervous beforehand.
Her car, which was very old, broke down after just five miles.
Not: Her car, that was very old, broke down after just five miles.
Grammar explanation
Relative clauses give us information about the person or thing mentioned.
Non-defining relative clauses give us extra information about someone or something. It isn't
essential for understanding who or what we are talking about.
My grandfather, who's 87, goes swimming every day.
The house, which was built in 1883, has just been opened to the public.
The award was given to Sara, whose short story impressed the judges.

We always use a relative pronoun or adverb to start a non-defining relative clause: who, which,
whose, when or where (but not that). We also use commas to separate the clause from the rest of the
sentence.

Who, which and whose

We can use who to talk about people, which to talk about things and whose to refer to the person or
thing that something belongs to.
Yesterday I met my new boss, who was very nice.
The house, which is very big, is also very cold!
My next-door neighbour, whose children go to school with ours, has just
bought a new car.
After the port there is a row of fisherman's houses, whose lights can be seen
from across the bay.

Places and times

We can use which with a preposition to talk about places and times. In these cases it's more common
to use where or when instead of which and the preposition.
City Park, which we used to go to, has been closed down.
City Park, where we used to go, has been closed down.
December, which Christmas is celebrated in, is a summer month for the
southern hemisphere.
December, when Christmas is celebrated, is a summer month for the
southern hemisphere.

However, when we use which without a preposition, we can't use where or when.
Centre Park, which we love, is always really busy on Saturdays.
February, which is my favourite month, lasts 29 days this year

1. The new school, has a pool, opened last week.

2. My cousin, you met last year, just got married.

3. We visited the museum, we all bought something.

4. She offered me a coffee, was just what I needed!

5. Yesterday, was a holiday, we visited my sister-in-law.

6. He works with his parents, company makes furniture.

7. The party's at the weekend, more people can come.

8. The hospital, local people depend on, is being closed down.