Relative Clauses
Defining Non-defining
Defining relative clauses give essential information
to say which noun we are talking about.
They can come after the subject or object of the
sentence.
The man who phoned just now is my
brother. (the relative clause comes after the
subject of the sentence)
We bought a house that is over 200 years
old. (The relative clause is the object of the
sentence.
Use the relative Pronouns:
who / that (to refer to people)
which / that (to refer to things)
The relative pronoun can be the subject or object of
the relative clause.
The people who live on the island are very
friendly. (who is the subject of the relative
clause)
John met a woman who I’d been to school
with. (who is the object of the relative
clause)
The relative pronoun can be omitted when it is the
object of the relative clause.
We went to the village (that) Lucy
recommended. (the relative pronoun can be
omitted)
Defining relative clauses are never separated from
the rest of the sentence by commas.
Defining relative clauses are used in writing and
speaking.
! The relative pronoun refers back to a person or thing mentioned previously. Be careful not add an extra
pronoun in the relative clause.
This is the painting that I liked it the best.
Give extra information about the noun we are
talking about.
They can come after the subject or object of the
sentence.
My aunt, who lives with us, knows a lot
about computers. (the relative clause comes
after the subject of the sentence)
Last week I bought a new computer, which
I don’t know how to use. (The relative
clause is the object of the sentence.
Use the relative Pronouns:
who (to refer to people)
which (to refer to things)
The relative pronoun that is never used.
The relative pronoun can be the subject or object of
the relative clause.
My friend Tom, who works for a software
company, earns good money. (who is the
subject of the relative clause)
The restaurant’s owner, who we’ve just
seen, enjoys talking to customers. (who is
the object of the relative clause)
The relative pronoun can NEVER be omitted.
This small café, which was opened three
years ago, has the best coffee in town. (the
relative pronoun cannot be omitted)
Non-defining relative clauses must be separated
from the rest of the sentence by commas.
Non-defining relative clauses are more common in
writing than speaking.
 Defining Non-defining

Both defining and non-defining relative clauses can use the relative pronouns:

whose (for possession)

whom (for people but ONLY if it is the OBJECT of the relative clause)

They are the people whose house was destroyed by the volcano.

My first boss, whom you met the other day, is a very rich woman.

Both defining and non-defining relative clauses can use the relative adverbs:

when (for a time)

where (for a place)

This house was built in 1923, when most of the land was farmland.
My family home, where I grew up, was built over 300 years ago.

A defining relative clause can begin with why after
the words the reason.
That victory was the reason why he became
a national hero.
Defining relative clauses often omit the words
when and why (but not where).
I’ll never forget the day (when) I met you.
That was the reason (why) he went there.
Non-defining relative clauses can start with a
number or pronoun such as all, some, none, each, a
few, neither etc. + of whom / + of which
My uncles stories, most of which I’d heard
before, were all extremely boring.
I was offered two rooms, neither of which
looked very clean.
There were two candidates for the job, both
of whom were highly qualified.

Prepositions in relative clauses

When there is a preposition attached to a relative pronoun:

we usually put the preposition at the end of the clause.

I had a friend (who/whom/that) I shared all my secrets with.

This is the type of music (which/that) I listen to.

In formal English we can put the preposition at the beginning of the clause followed by which for things
and whom for people.

Mr Jones, for whom my father worked, has become a government minister.

There may be a problem with the cable to which the printer is connected.

We can often use a preposition + which instead of where.

This is the house where John Lennon lived. = This is the house in which John Lennon lived.

This is box where I keep my tools. = This is the box in which I keep my tools.