RELATIVE CLAUSE NOTE & EXERCISE

We use relative clauses to describe or give extra information about something we have
already mentioned. We often use relative pronouns (e.g. who, where, that, which, whose)
to introduce relative clauses.

A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb. Relative clauses are a way
of giving more information about a person, thing, place, event, etc. We often use them to
avoid repeating information.

1. 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:
EXAMPLE:
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.
The islanders pick the tall reeds that grow at the sides of the lake and use them to make the
islands.
NOTE: The underlined part is the relative clause. The bold part is relative pronoun.
Subject or object
The relative pronoun can define the subject or the object of the verb:
a. They’re the people who/that bought our house. (The people bought our house. The people
is the subject.)
b. They’re the people who/that she met at Jon’s party. (She met the people. The people is
the object.)
c. Here are some cells which/that show abnormality. (Some cells show abnormality. Some
cells is the subject.)
d. 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.

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.
Relative Pronouns 

relative
use example
pronoun

who subject or object pronoun for people I told you about the
woman who lives next door.

which subject or object pronoun for animals and things Do you see the cat which is lying
on the roof?

which referring to a whole sentence He couldn’t read, which surprised

me.

whose possession for people animals and things Do you know the
boy whose mother is a nurse?

whom object pronoun for people, especially in non-defining I was invited by the
relative clauses (in defining relative clauses we professor whom I met at the
colloquially prefer who) conference.

that subject or object pronoun for people, animals and I don’t like the table that stands in
things in defining relative clauses (who or which are the kitchen.
also possible)

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.)
EXAMPLE:
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.
Note:
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.

Relative Adverbs 

A relative adverb can be used instead of a relative pronoun plus preposition. This often
makes the sentence easier to understand.

This is the shop in which I bought my bike.

→ This is the shop where I bought my bike.

relative
meaning use example
adverb

when in/on refers to a time expression the day when we met him

which

where in/at which refers to a place the place where we met him

why for which refers to a reason

How to Shorten Relative Clauses? 

Relative clauses with who, which, that as subject pronoun can be replaced with

a participle. This makes the sentence shorter and easier to understand.

I told you about the woman who lives next door. – I told you about the
woman living next door.

Do you see the cat which is lying on the roof? – Do you see the cat lying on the roof?

All books which were written by him were best selling.

= All books written by him were best selling.

EXERCISES (MIXED)
 I. Relative Pronouns (who / which / whose)

Choose the correct relative pronoun (who, which, whose).

1. This is the bank   was robbed yesterday.

2. A boy   sister is in my class was in the bank at that time.

3. The man   robbed the bank had two pistols.

4. He wore a mask   made him look like Mickey Mouse.

5. He came with a friend   waited outside in the car.

6. The woman   gave him the money was young.

7. The bag   contained the money was yellow.

8. The people   were in the bank were very frightened.

9. A man   mobile was ringing did not know what to do.

10. A woman   daughter was crying tried to calm her.

11. The car   the bank robbers escaped in was orange.

12. The robber   mask was obviously too big didn't drive.

13. The man   drove the car was nervous.

14. He didn't wait at the traffic lights   were red.

15. A police officer   car was parked at the next corner stopped and arrested
them.

II. Subject Pronouns or Object Pronouns?

Decide whether the relative pronoun is a subject pronoun or an object pronoun.

1. Do you know the girl who I danced with? - 

2. Do you know the girl who danced with me? - 

3. The apples that are lying on the table are bad. - 

4. The apples that we bought in the shop are bad. - 

5. We will stay at a hotel which is not far from the beach. - 

6. We will stay at a hotel which my friend has recommended to us. 

7. That is a museum which I like very much. - 

8. That is a museum which lies in the heart of the town. 

9. This is the man who Barbara visited in Scotland. 

10. This is the man who lives in Scotland. 

III. Relative Pronouns - necessary or not?

Decide whether the relative pronouns must be used or not.

1. A calendar is something which tells you the date.

 relative pronoun is necessary
 relative pronoun is not necessary
2. Strikers are soccer players who try to score goals for their team.
 relative pronoun is necessary
 relative pronoun is not necessary
3. Jane is a person who everybody likes.
 relative pronoun is necessary
 relative pronoun is not necessary
4. A stamp is something which you put on a letter if you want to send it.
 relative pronoun is necessary
 relative pronoun is not necessary
5. The Thames is a river which runs through London.
 relative pronoun is necessary
 relative pronoun is not necessary
6. Cheese is food which mice like eating.
 relative pronoun is necessary
 relative pronoun is not necessary
7. A racket is something which you use to hit a ball when you play tennis or badminton.
 relative pronoun is necessary
 relative pronoun is not necessary
8. Socks are things which you wear on your feet.
 relative pronoun is necessary
 relative pronoun is not necessary
9. A guide is a person who shows tourists around around a place.
 relative pronoun is necessary
 relative pronoun is not necessary
10. Love is a feeling which nobody can describe.
 relative pronoun is necessary
 relative pronoun is not necessary

IV. Relative Adverbs

Choose the correct relative adverb.

1. This is the station   Emily met James.

2. July and August are the months   most people go on holiday.

3. Do you know the reason   so many people in the world learn English?

4. This is the church   Sue and Peter got married.

5. Edinburgh is the town   Alexander Graham Bell was born.

6. 25 December is the day   children in Great Britain get their Christmas

presents.

7. A famine was the reason   so many Irish people emigrated to the USA in
the 19th century.

8. A greengrocer's is a shop   you can buy vegetables.

9. The day   I arrived was very nice.

10. A horror film was the reason   I couldn't sleep last night.
 V. Combine the sentences using a relative clauses without a relative pronouns.
1. I watched a film last night. The film was interesting.

The film 
2. Carly helps a man. The man is my teacher.

The man 
3. We ate chicken at the restaurant. It was delicious.

The chicken 
4. The boy is very nice. I know him from school.

The boy 
5. The shoes are too big. My grandma bought them for me.
The shoes 
6. We bought a car last week. The car is blue.

The car 
7. The girl is a singer. We met her at the party.

The girl 
8. The bananas are on the table. George bought them.

The bananas 
9. We watched a film last night. It was really scary.

The film 
10. I have to learn new words. They are very difficult.
The new words