English Language Study Notes: Relative Clauses

Hey everyone! 👋 Ever feel like your sentences are a bit too simple or repetitive? Want to add more interesting details to your writing and speaking? You're in the right place! In this chapter, we're going to learn about Relative Clauses. They are a super useful tool to make your sentences more descriptive and sound more advanced. Let's get started!


Part 1: The Building Blocks - What is a Relative Clause?

Don't let the name scare you! A relative clause is simply a part of a sentence that describes a noun (a person, place, or thing). Think of it like adding a descriptive sticker to something to give more information about it.

It usually starts with a special word called a relative pronoun (like who, which, or that). This special word connects the description to the noun.

Let's see it in action. Imagine we have two simple sentences:

- I saw a girl.
- The girl was riding a bike.

We can combine them using a relative clause to make one, smoother sentence:

- I saw a girl who was riding a bike.

The part in bold, "who was riding a bike", is the relative clause. It tells us more about "the girl". Simple, right?

Key Takeaway

A relative clause is a 'describing clause'. It adds extra information about a noun in the sentence.


Part 2: Meet the Relative Pronouns!

The special words that start a relative clause are called relative pronouns. Choosing the right one is easy once you know the rules. Let's meet the main ones!

Using 'who' for People

This is the easiest one! When you are describing a person, you use who.

  • The student who won the prize is in my class.
  • I want to thank the doctor who helped my grandmother.

Using 'which' for Things & Animals

When you are describing a thing (like a book or a phone) or an animal, you use which.

  • This is the phone which has the best camera.
  • The dog which lives next door barks a lot.

Using 'that' - The Flexible Friend

That is very useful because you can often use it instead of who or which. It works for both people and things.

  • The student that won the prize is in my class. (Same as 'who')
  • This is the phone that has the best camera. (Same as 'which')
Quick Review Box

It's this simple:

Person ➡️ who or that
Thing/Animal ➡️ which or that


Part 3: More Describing Words

Besides the "big three", there are a few other useful relative pronouns for special situations.

Using 'whose' for Possession

We use whose to show that something belongs to someone or something. Think of it as a replacement for 'his', 'her', or 'its'.

Analogy: 'Whose' is like the apostrophe 's' of relative clauses!

  • She is the artist whose paintings are famous. (The paintings belong to her).
  • That is the student whose phone was lost. (The phone belongs to the student).

Using 'where' for Places

This one is logical! We use where to give more information about a place.

  • The library is a place where you can borrow books.
  • This is the restaurant where we had dinner last night.

Using 'when' for Times

You guessed it! We use when to give more information about a time or a date.

  • I will never forget the day when I graduated.
  • Summer is the season when we go to the beach.
Key Takeaway

Possession (belongs to) ➡️ whose
Place ➡️ where
Time ➡️ when


Part 4: The Comma Question (Defining vs. Non-Defining)

Don't worry if this sounds tricky at first, we'll break it down. Sometimes relative clauses need commas, and sometimes they don't. It all depends on how important the information is.

Type 1: "Must-Have" Information (NO Commas)

This is called a defining relative clause. The information in the clause is essential. It tells us exactly *which* person or thing you are talking about. Without this clause, the sentence would be confusing.

Analogy: Think of it like a detective asking for a specific detail. "Which man are you talking about?" - "The man who was wearing a yellow coat." The description is a "must-have" to identify the man.

Example: The boy who sits next to me is my best friend.
(This tells us WHICH boy. There might be many boys in the room, but we are only talking about the one who sits next to me.)

Type 2: "Nice-to-Have" Information (USE Commas!)

This is called a non-defining relative clause. The information is just an extra, interesting fact. The sentence makes perfect sense without it. We already know exactly who or what we are talking about.

Analogy: Think of it as a "fun fact" you add in. We already know the main subject (e.g., "The Eiffel Tower"). The extra fact is just "nice to have".

Example: Mr. Chan, who is our science teacher, is very tall.
(We already know who Mr. Chan is. The fact that he is our science teacher is just extra information. Notice the commas around the clause!)

VERY Important Rule!

You CANNOT use the word that in a "nice-to-have" clause with commas. You must use who or which.

✔️ My favourite food, which is pizza, is not very healthy.
❌ My favourite food, that is pizza, is not very healthy.

Common Mistakes to Avoid
  • Mistake 1: Forgetting to use commas for "nice-to-have" extra information.
  • Mistake 2: Using 'that' right after a comma in a relative clause. Remember, commas and 'that' don't mix!
Did you know?

Using relative clauses correctly is one of the fastest ways to improve your writing. It shows that you can connect ideas and build more complex, interesting sentences—just like writers do in books and newspapers!


Chapter Summary: You're a Relative Clause Pro!

Great work! You've learned all the key ideas about relative clauses. Let's do a quick recap:

  • A relative clause is a powerful tool that describes a noun to make your sentences more detailed.
  • They start with relative pronouns like:
    • who/that for people
    • which/that for things
    • whose for possession
    • where for places
    • when for times
  • The Comma Rule is key:
    • If the information is essential ("must-have") to know which one ➡️ NO commas.
    • If the information is just an extra fact ("nice-to-have") ➡️ USE commas.

Keep practicing, and soon you'll be using relative clauses like an expert. You've got this!