Definition of Relative Clauses
Relative clauses are subordinate clauses that provide additional information about a noun or pronoun in the main clause. They help specify which person or thing we are talking about or add extra details.
Relative clauses usually begin with relative pronouns such as who, which, or that.
The book that I bought is very interesting.
The book that I bought
The book I purchased is very interesting.
She is the teacher who helped me.
She is the teacher who helped me
She is the teacher that helped me.
Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns connect relative clauses to the main clause. The most common relative pronouns are:
| Relative Pronoun | Use |
|---|---|
| who / whom | People |
| which | Animals and things |
| that | People, animals, and things (informal) |
| whose | Possession |
| where | Places |
The man who called is my uncle.
The man who called
The man that called is my uncle.
This is the house where I grew up.
This is the house where I grew up
This is the house in which I grew up.
Defining Relative Clauses
Defining relative clauses give essential information about the noun they describe. Without this clause, the sentence would lose its meaning or become unclear.
They are not separated by commas.
People who speak two languages have an advantage.
People who speak two languages
People that speak two languages have an advantage.
The car that broke down is very old.
The car that broke down
The car which broke down is very old.
Non-defining Relative Clauses
Non-defining relative clauses add extra, non-essential information about the noun. The sentence would still make sense without this clause.
These clauses are always separated by commas.
My brother, who lives in Canada, is coming to visit.
My brother, who lives in Canada
My brother (by the way, he lives in Canada) is coming to visit.
London, which is the capital of England, is very busy.
London, which is the capital of England
London, and it is the capital of England, is very busy.
Omission of Relative Pronouns
In defining relative clauses, the relative pronoun can sometimes be omitted if it is the object of the clause.
This usually happens when the relative pronoun is that, which, or whom and is followed immediately by a verb.
The book you gave me is excellent.
The book you gave me
The book that you gave me is excellent.
The person I met yesterday was friendly.
The person I met yesterday
The person whom I met yesterday was friendly.
Punctuation in Relative Clauses
Use commas to separate non-defining relative clauses from the main sentence. Defining clauses do not use commas.
| Clause Type | Comma Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Defining | No commas | The man who called is my uncle. |
| Non-defining | Use commas | My uncle, who called, is coming. |
My friend, who loves music, is a great guitarist.
My friend, who loves music
My friend (extra info: he loves music) is a great guitarist.
Practice Examples
Identify whether the relative clauses in the following sentences are defining or non-defining. Also, note if the relative pronoun can be omitted.
The students who study hard usually get good grades.
The students who study hard
Defining relative clause; pronoun cannot be omitted.
Paris, which is known as the City of Light, is a popular tourist destination.
Paris, which is known as the City of Light
Non-defining relative clause; uses commas.
The movie you recommended was fantastic.
The movie you recommended
Defining relative clause; relative pronoun omitted.
My car, which I bought last year, has broken down.
My car, which I bought last year
Non-defining relative clause; pronoun cannot be omitted.
Tips for Remembering Rules
- Defining clauses are essential and never use commas.
- Non-defining clauses add extra information and are always set off by commas.
- Use who for people and which for things in formal writing.
- That can often replace who or which in defining clauses.
- If the relative pronoun is the object of the clause, you can usually omit it.
- Remember to use commas for extra information to avoid confusing the reader.