RELATIVE
CLAUSES
Angelina Dávila
teacher: keren
Naranjo
What Are Relative
Clauses?
Relative clauses are subordinate clauses that
provide additional information about a noun (a
person, place, thing, or idea) in the main
sentence. These clauses are introduced by
relative pronouns (such as who, which, that,
whom, whose) and allow you to combine two
sentences into one, making the discourse more
fluid and detailed.
What Are Relative
Clauses Used For?
Relative clauses are used to:
1. Identify or define someone or something
(defining relative clauses).
2. Provide additional information that is not
essential about someone or something (non-
defining relative clauses).
Types of Relative Clauses
There are two main types of relative
clauses:
1. Defining Relative Clauses:
• Purpose: Provide essential information to understand which
person or thing is being referred to.
• Structure: No commas; uses pronouns like who, which, that.
• Example: “The book that you gave me is very interesting.”
2. Non-defining Relative Clauses:
• Purpose: Add extra, non-essential information.
• Structure: Set off by commas; uses pronouns like who, which
(never “that”).
• Example: “My mother, who is 60 years old, loves gardening.”
Relative Pronouns and
When to Use Them
Who: Used for people (subject).
• Example: “The girl who is singing is my sister.”
Whom: Used for people (object of a verb or preposition; more
formal).
• Example: “The man whom you met yesterday is my uncle.”
Whose: Indicates possession and is used for people and things.
• Example: “The student whose book was lost is here.”
Which: Used for things and animals.
• Example: “The car which is parked outside is mine.”
That: Can be used for people, things, and animals in defining
relative clauses. It is not used in non-defining relative clauses.
• Example: “The movie that I watched was fantastic.”
Structure of Relative
Clause
1. Relative Pronoun + subject (optional) + • In defining relative clauses, you can omit
verb + complement. the relative pronoun if it is the object of
• “The book which (subject) you gave the clause.
(verb) me (object) is interesting.” • Example: “The book you gave me is
2. Relative Pronoun + verb + interesting.” (instead of “The book that
complement. you gave me is interesting.”)
• “The person who (relative pronoun) • In non-defining relative clauses, the
called (verb) yesterday (complement) is relative pronoun is never omitted, and the
my friend.” clause is always set off by commas.
visit.” • Example: “My brother, who lives in
Canada, is coming to visit.”
thanks
