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English Assignment Relative clauses in English
1. INTRODUCTION
Relative clause is an important matter in English grammar. We use
relative clauses to give additional information about something without
starting another sentence. By combining sentences with a relative clause, our
text becomes more fluent and we can avoid repeating certain words.
Relative clauses are mentioned in many of English grammar books.
However, most of them only discuss a part of relative clauses. Therefore,
learners become confused when they hear and read many types of relative
clause.
Nowaday, English becomes international language, writing and
speaking English grammatically is very necessary, especially when we use
relative clauses.
For all these reasons, I have chosen the topic “Relative clauses in
English ”.
The aims of this study are :
- To present and classify all the cases of relative pronoun in English.
- To suggest some sorts of exercises with the hope to prevent the
errors.
Student : Nguyen Trung Thanh Supervisor : Nguyen Quang Ngoan, M.A.
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English Assignment Relative clauses in English
2. DEVELOPMENT
2.1. Definition
- A relative clause is a dependent clause that modifies a noun or pronoun.
It decribes, identifies, or gives further information about noun or pronoun. It is a
subordinate clause that begins with a question word (e.g. who, which, where) or
the word that. A relative clause is also called an adjective clause.
E.g: The school where I taught is called Alboraya English Centre.
My sister, who lives near London, is coming to visit me soon.
2.2. Forms of relative clauses

2.2.1. Relative pronouns and relative adverbs
2.2.1.1 Relative Pronouns
We use the relative pronouns to refer to a noun mentioned before and
of which we are adding more information. As the relative pronouns relate to
another noun preceding it in the sentence, they connect a dependent clause to
an antecedent (a noun that precedes the pronoun.) Therefore, relative
pronouns acts as the subject or object of the dependent clause.
Subject and object pronouns cannot be distinguished by their forms -
who, which, that are used for subject and object pronouns. You can, however,
distinguish them as follows:
- If the relative pronoun is followed by a verb, the relative pronoun is a
subject pronoun. Subject pronouns must always be used.
- If the relative pronoun is not followed by a verb (but by a noun or
pronoun), the relative pronoun is an object pronoun. Object pronouns can be
dropped in defining relative clauses, which are then called Contact Clauses.
Student : Nguyen Trung Thanh Supervisor : Nguyen Quang Ngoan, M.A.
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English Assignment Relative clauses in English
For example:
- The chef who won the competition studied in Paris.
* Here, "who" relates back to (or is relative to) the noun "Chef". "Who" also
acts as the subject of the dependent clause and the verb "won".
- The shirt that Carl bought has a stain on the pocket.
* Here, "that" relates back to (or is relative to) the noun "shirt". "That" is also
the object of the verb "bought".
Relative
pronoun
Usage Example
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 relative clauses (in
defining relative clauses we
colloquially prefer who)
I was invited by the
professor whom I met at
the conference.
That
subject or object pronoun for people,
animals and things in defining relative
clauses (who or which are also possible)
I don’t like the table that
stands in the kitchen.
Student : Nguyen Trung Thanh Supervisor : Nguyen Quang Ngoan, M.A.

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English Assignment Relative clauses in English
2.2.1.2. Relative Adverbs
A relative adverb can be used instead of a relative pronoun plus
preposition. This often makes the sentence easier to understand.
E.g. This is the shop in which I bought my bike.
→ This is the shop where I bought my bike.
Relative
adverb
Meaning Usage Example
when
in/on
which
refers to a time expression
I’ll never forget the day
when I met you.
where in/at which refers to a place
The building where he live
is very old.
why for which refers to a reason
I don’t know the reason
why you didn’t go to
school yesterday.
In defining relative clauses why and when, unlike where can be omitted.
E.g: I'd like to know the reason (why) he decided not to come.
- February is the month (when) many of my colleagues take skiing
holidays.
- BUT! She always had wanted to go to a place where she could speak
her native tongue.
When, where and why are not omitted in non-defining relative clauses.

Student : Nguyen Trung Thanh Supervisor : Nguyen Quang Ngoan, M.A.
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English Assignment Relative clauses in English
2.2.2. Defining Relative Clauses and Non-Defining Relative Clauses
2.2.2.1 Defining Relative Clauses
Defining relative clauses (also called identifying relative clauses or
restrictive relative clauses) give detailed information defining a general term
or expression. The purpose of a defining relative clause is to clearly define
who or what we are talking about. Without this information, it would be
difficult to know who or what is meant. Defining relative clauses are not put
in commas.
E.g: The team that wins will receive a cup and 1,000 €.
The woman who lives in apartment No. 34 has been arrested.
* Object pronouns in defining relative clauses can be dropped.
(Sentences with a relative clause without the relative pronoun are called
Contact Clauses.)
E.g: The boy (who/whom) we met yesterday is very nice.
Student : Nguyen Trung Thanh Supervisor : Nguyen Quang Ngoan, M.A.
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English Assignment Relative clauses in English
2.2.2.2 Non-Defining Relative Clauses
Non-defining relative clauses (also called non-identifying relative
clauses or non-restrictive relative clauses) give additional information on
something, but do not define it. In this type of relative clause, the information
is not essential; it could be deleted without making the sentence
ungrammatical and it would still be clear who or what we are talking about.
Correct punctuation is essential in non-defining relative clauses. If the non-
defining relative clause occurs in the middle of a sentence, a comma is put
before the relative pronoun and at the end of the clause. If the non-defining
relative clause occurs at the end of a sentence, a comma is put before the

relative pronoun.
E.g: - My parents, who are retired, come to Spain every year.
- I used to live in London, where I was born and went to school.
* Note: ‘That’ may not be used in non- defining relative clause.
* Object pronouns in non-defining relative clauses must be used.
E.g: Jim, who/whom we met yesterday, is very nice.
* Non-defining clauses can be introduced by expressions like "all of", "many
of" + relative pronoun:
Person Thing
all of + whom + which
any of + whom + which
few of + whom + which
both of + whom + which
each of + whom + which
Student : Nguyen Trung Thanh Supervisor : Nguyen Quang Ngoan, M.A.
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English Assignment Relative clauses in English
either of + whom + which
half of + whom + which
many of + whom + which
most of + whom + which
much of + whom + which
none of + whom + which
one of + whom + which
two of etc… + whom + which
For example:
− There were a lot of people at the party, many of whom I had known for
years.
− He was carrying his belongings, many of which were broken.
* Relative sentence :The relative pronoun "which" at the beginning of a

non-defining relative clause, can refer to all the information contained in the
previous part of the sentence, rather than to just one word.
For example:
• Chris did really well in his exams, which was a big surprise.
( the fact that he did well in his exams was a big surprise. )
• An elephant and a mouse fell in love, which is most unusual.
( the fact that they fell in love is unusual. )
2.3. SOME NOTES
Student : Nguyen Trung Thanh Supervisor : Nguyen Quang Ngoan, M.A.
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English Assignment Relative clauses in English
2.3.1. Reducing relative clauses to adjective phrases:
Relative clauses with who, which, that as subject pronoun can be
replaced with a participle. This makes the sentence shorter and easier to
understand.
- Relative clauses with active meaning can be reduced by present
participial phrase.
Eg: Those people who are taking photos over there come from Sweeden.


Those people taking photos over there come from Sweeden.
- Relative clauses with passive meaning can be reduced by past
participial phrase
Eg:1. The boy who was given a present is my son.

The boy given a present is my son.
2.3.2. Some cases must use “that”
It is preferable to use that (not which) after the following words: all,
any(thing), every (thing), few, little, many, much, no(thing), none,
some(thing), after superlatives and after the structure “ It is ….” . When using

the pronoun to refer to the object, that can be omitted.
E.g: - Answers all questions that I asked you
- There were only a few that really interested him.
- There's something that you should know.
- It was the best film that I've ever seen.
Student : Nguyen Trung Thanh Supervisor : Nguyen Quang Ngoan, M.A.
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English Assignment Relative clauses in English
- It is the teacher that decides what to read
2.3.3. Relative clauses and prepositions
If the relative pronoun is used as the object of a preposition, the
prepositions can come before the relative pronoun. In this case, only whom
and which may be used. A preposition is never immediately followed by that
or who. However, it much more common to place prepositions at the end of
the relative pronoun, especially in everyday usage.
Example:
- She is the woman about whom I told you. ( formal )
= She is the woman whom I told you about. (informal )
- The music to which we listened last night was good. ( formal )
= The music which we listened to last night was good. ( informal )
2.4 Some suggested exercises:
A. Complete the following sentences with WHO, WHICH, WHOSE,
WHOM, THAT or WHERE.
1. Whales and dolphins both make sounds……… in some ways are similar to
a language.
2. People…….work with dolphins are often surprised at how intelligent they
are.
3. One scientist……..has studied dolphins carefully is John Lilly.
Student : Nguyen Trung Thanh Supervisor : Nguyen Quang Ngoan, M.A.
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