Relative Clauses

There are two types of relative clauses:

1. Defining relative clauses
2. Non-defining relative clauses
1. Defining Relative Clauses
These describe the preceding noun in such a way to distinguish it from other nouns of the same
class. A clause of this kind is essential to clear understanding of the noun.

e.g. The boy who was playing is my brother.

 Defining Relative Pronouns

Subject Object Possessive

For people Who Whom/Who Whose

That That

For things Which Which Whose

That That Of which

 A defining or restrictive clause contains important information about a person, thing etc.
which is inseparable from the subject. i.e. you cannot take out the information in the
relative clause and still make sense. No comma is used. The following relative pronouns
can be used:

People - that/who/whom

Owners - whose

Things - that/which

Places- where

- When the relative pronoun is an object, it can be omitted (except with ‘whose’ and
‘where’ )

1
  Defining Relative Clauses: people

A. Subject: who or that

Who is normally used: Example,

- The man who robbed you has been arrested.

- The girls who serve in the shop are the owner’s daughters.

But that is a possible alternative after all, everyone, everybody, no one, nobody and those:
Example,

- Everyone who/that knew him liked him.

- Nobody who/that watched the match will ever forget it.

B. Object of a verb: whom, who or that

The object form is whom, but it is considered very formal. In spoken English, we normally use
who or that (that being more usual than who), and it is still more common to omit the object
pronoun altogether: Example,

- The man whom I saw told me to come back today.

- The man who I saw told me to come back today.
- The man that I saw told me to come back today.
- The man I saw told me to come back today.

C. With a preposition: whom or that

In formal English, the preposition is placed before the relative pronoun, which must then be put
into the form whom:

e.g. The man to whom I spoke…

In informal speech, however, it is more usual to move the preposition to the end of the clause.
Whom then is often replaced by that, but it is still more common to omit the relative altogether:

- The man who/whom I spoke to…

- The man that I spoke to…

2
 - The man I spoke to…

D. Possessive
Whose is the only possible form:

e.g. - People whose rents have been raised can appeal.

- The film is about a spy whose wife betrays him.

 Defining Relative Clauses: things

A. Subject
Either which or that. Which is more formal.

- This is the picture which/that caused such a sensation.

- The stairs which/that lead to the cellar are rather slippery.

B. Object of a verb
Which or that or no relative at all.

- The car which/that I hired broke down.

- The car I hired broke down.

Which is hardly ever used after all, everything, little, much, none, no and compounds of no, or
after superlatives. Instead we use that, or omit the relative altogether, if it is the object of a verb:

- All the apples that fall are eaten by the pigs.

- This is the best hotel (that) I know.

C. Object of a preposition
The formal construction is preposition + which, but it is more usual to move the preposition to
the end of the clause, using which or that or omitting the relative altogether:

- The ladder on which I was standing began to slip.

- The ladder which/that I was standing on began to slip.
- The ladder I was standing on began to slip.

3
D. Possessive
Whose + a clause is possible but with + a phrase is more usual:

- a house whose walls were made of glass

- a house with glass walls

E. Relative adverbs: when, where, why

Note that when can replace in/on which (used of time):

- the year when (= in which) he was born

- the day when (= in which) they arrived

Where can replace in/at which (used of place):

the hotel where (= in/at which) they were staying

Why can replace for which:

- the reason why he refused is…

When, where and why used in this way are called relative adverbs.

2. Non-defining Relative Clauses

Non-defining relative clauses are placed after nouns which are definite already. They do not
therefore define the noun. But merely add something to it by giving some more information
about it. They are not essential in the sentence and can be omitted without causing confusion.
They are separated from their noun by commas. The pronoun can never be omitted in a non-
defining relative clause.

Subject Object Possessive

For people Who Whom/Who Whose

Which Which Whose

For things Of which

4
Non-Defining Relative Pronouns

 Relative clauses that are separated off by commas are called non-defining, because they
do not restrict or define the subject. We can separate the main clause from the relative
clause and the grammar of the sentence would still be correct. The following relative
pronouns can be used:
People - who/whom
Which –things

 Non-Defining Relative Clauses: people

A. Subject: who
No other pronoun is possible. Note the commas:
- My neighbor, who is very pessimistic, says there will be no apples this year.
- Peter, who had been driving all day, suggested stopping at the next town.

B. Object: whom, who

The pronoun cannot be omitted. Whom is the correct form, though who is sometimes used in
conversation:
- Peter, whom everyone suspected, turned out to be innocent..

C. Object of a preposition: whom

The pronoun cannot be omitted. The preposition is normally placed before whom:
- Mr. Jones, for whom I was working, was very generous about overtime payments.
It is however possible to move the preposition to the end of the clause. This is commonly done in
conversation, and who then usually takes the place of whom:
- Mr. Jones, who I was working for, was very generous about overtime payments.

If the clause contains an expression of time or place, this will remain at the end:
- Peter, with whom I played tennis on Sundays, was fitter than me.
could become:
- Peter, who/whom I played tennis with on Sundays, was fitter than me.

D. Possessive: whose
- Ann, whose children are at school all day, is trying to get a job.

5
- This is George, whose class you will be taking.

 Non-Defining Relative Clauses: things

A. Subject: which
That is not used here:
- That block, which cost £5 million to build, has been empty for years.
- The 8.15 train, which is usually very punctual, was late today.

B. Object: which
That is not used here, and the which can never be omitted.
- She gave me this jumper, which she had knitted herself.
- These books, which you can get at any bookshop, will give you all the information
you need.

C. Object of a preposition
The preposition comes before which, or (more informally) at the end of the clause:
- Ashdown Forest, through which we’ll be driving, isn’t a forest any longer.
- Ashdown Forest, which we’ll be driving through, isn’t a forest any longer.
- His house, for which he paid £10,000, is now worth £50,000.
- His house, which he paid £10,000 for, is now worth £50,000.

D. Possessive: whose or of which

Whose is generally used both for animals and things. Of which is possible for things, but it is
unusual except in very formal English.

- His house, whose windows are all broken, was a depressing sight.
- The car, whose handbrake wasn’t very reliable, began to slide backwards.

Three things about Non-defining Relative Clauses.

6
1. The relative clause is closed off by commas and is quite similar to information in brackets.
2. Non-defining relative clauses are NOT used in spoken English. It would sound unnatural.
3. The relative pronoun can never be omitted.

Exercise-1

Instruction: Combine the TWO sentences to ONE, using a relative pronoun.

1. That is the man. I spoke to him the other day.

_________________________________________________________________________

2. They elected a new mayor. His aim is to help the poor.

_________________________________________________________________________

3. I really like the car. I bought it last year.

_________________________________________________________________________

4. Mr Black took over the company. His wife died last year.
______________________________________________________________________________

5. The restaurant is the best in town. We usually eat there.

______________________________________________________________________________

6. The film is about a woman. Her son mysteriously disappears.

______________________________________________________________________________

7. That is the place. I grew up there.

______________________________________________________________________________

8. I met a woman. Her husband is a famous producer.

______________________________________________________________________________

9. The man was arrested yesterday. He escaped from prison a week ago.
______________________________________________________________________________

7
 10. The bag is heavy. It contains a lot of presents.
______________________________________________________________________________

Exercise -2

Instruction: Combine the sentences using non-defining relative pronouns.

1 Valencia is a great place. Valencia is due east of Madrid.

__________________________________________________________________________

2 Jimbo is living in Thailand now. Jimbo got divorced last year.

__________________________________________________________________________

3 Clare is a good teacher. I don't like Clare very much.

_________________________________________________________________________

4 Almeria is very dry. The beaches of Almeria are wonderful.

___________________________________________________________________________

5 The school was built in 1907. The school has about 800 students.

___________________________________________________________________________

6 Samantha is coming to the party. Samantha's mother is mayoress of this town.

________________________________________________________________________

Exercise -3

Instruction: Choose the best answer to complete each sentence.

1. The festival, ______________ lasted all day, ended with a banquet.

A. That

8
B. Who
C. Which
D. What
2. I am looking for someone __________ can watch my dog while I go on vacation.
A. Which
B. Who
C. Whom
D. Whoever
3. The police needed details _____________ could help identify the robber.
A. Who
B. Whatever
C. That
D. What
4. I’d like to take you to a café _______________ serves excellent coffee.
A. What
B. Whatever
C. Which
D. Whichever
5. You can choose one person, __________ you like, to share the cruise with you.
A. Whomever
B. That
C. Which
D. Whom