G. Relative Clauses
What is a Relative Clause?
A clause is a group of related words that has a subject and a verb. A relative clause provides additional information about a noun, pronoun, or an entire clause that is already in the sentence by telling which one, what kind of, how many, or more about the nature of something.
RELATIVE CLAUSES in 4 Steps. by Insights to English. License Terms: Standard YouTube License.
Rules for Using Relative Clauses
Relative clauses use a relative pronoun to refer to a pronoun or noun that appears earlier in the sentence. They are sometimes also referred to as adjective clauses, although that is a broader category of modifier, of which relative clauses are a part. Relative pronouns can only be used to refer to something earlier in that same sentence. To avoid confusion, a relative clause almost always appears immediately following the noun, pronoun, or clause it modifies. It must refer to something earlier in the same sentence. Sentences cannot begin with relative pronouns, which begin relative clauses.
Rule 1
Use the Correct Word
| Relative Pronoun | Refers To | Replaces | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| who | people | I, we, you, he, she, they (as subjects of the sentence) | Uncle Jeff, who is a sailor, has been everywhere.
(Uncle Jeff is a sailor. He has been everywhere.) |
| whom | people | me, us, you, her, him, them (as objects of verbs or prepositions) | Aunt Edna, whom you met last year, paints portraits.
(Aunt Edna paints portraits. You met her last year.) |
| whose | possessives | mine, our, your, his, her, their, its | Joe’s cat, whose tail is hairless, was mistaken for a rat.
(Joe’s cat was mistaken for a rat. Its tail was hairless.) |
| which | things | it, they, them | My new car, which cost a bundle, broke down on the bridge.
(My new car broke down on the bridge. It cost a bundle.) |
| that | people or things | I, we, you, he, she, it, they, me, us, him, her, them | Sarah wants to buy the sofa that is in the window of the department store.
(Sarah wants to buy the sofa. It is in the window of the department store.) Save the seat that is closest to the front for me. (Save the seat for me. It is closest to the front.) |
| when | time | then | Last week, when we were shopping, I bought lunch.
(Last week, I bought lunch. We were shopping then.) |
| where | place | there | We had a lovely hotel in Ixtapa, where we honeymooned.
(We had a lovely hotel in Ixtapa. We honeymooned there.) |
Rule 2
Correct: She wore an outfit for which she received many compliments.
Sort of okay: She wore an outfit that she received many compliments on.
Incorrect: She wore an outfit on which she received many compliments on.
Rule 3
Taken apart:
She wore a dress.
She received many compliments for it.
Together:
She wore an outfit for which she received many compliments.
Relative Clauses and Comma Usage
Whether a comma is needed before the relative pronoun depends on whether the relative clause is restrictive or nonrestrictive.
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