Mastering Relative Clauses

Mastering Relative Clauses: Exercises for English Proficiency

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Relative clauses are essential for adding detail and complexity to your sentences in English. They allow you to provide additional information about nouns, making your writing and speaking more precise and engaging.

Understanding and using relative clauses correctly can significantly improve your overall English proficiency. This article provides a comprehensive guide to relative clauses, including definitions, examples, usage rules, common mistakes, and practice exercises.

Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this resource will help you master the art of using relative clauses effectively.

This guide is designed for English language learners of all levels, from beginners who are just starting to learn about sentence structure to advanced learners who want to refine their grammar skills and use more complex sentence constructions. Native English speakers who want to refresh their knowledge of grammar rules may also find this article helpful.

Table of Contents

Definition of Relative Clauses

A relative clause is a type of subordinate clause that modifies a noun or noun phrase. It provides additional information about the noun it modifies, helping to identify or describe it more specifically. Relative clauses are introduced by relative pronouns (who, whom, which, that) or relative adverbs (when, where, why).

In essence, a relative clause acts like an adjective, providing descriptive details about the noun it refers to. This noun is called the antecedent. Understanding the relationship between the relative clause and its antecedent is crucial for using relative clauses correctly.

For example, in the sentence “The book that I borrowed from the library is very interesting,” the relative clause “that I borrowed from the library” modifies the noun “book.” It tells us which specific book is being referred to.

Structural Breakdown of Relative Clauses

Relative clauses typically follow a specific structure. They begin with a relative pronoun or adverb, followed by a subject and verb, or just a verb if the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause.

The basic structure is:

Relative Pronoun/Adverb + Subject + Verb (+ Object/Complement)

Let’s break down the structure with some examples:

  • who + I + saw (The man who I saw yesterday is my neighbor.)
  • which + is (The car which is parked outside is mine.)
  • where + I + live (The city where I live is very beautiful.)

Sometimes, the relative pronoun can be omitted, especially in defining relative clauses when it is not the subject of the clause. This is more common in informal English.

For example: “The book I borrowed is very interesting” (omitting “that”).

Types of Relative Clauses

There are two main types of relative clauses: defining (or restrictive) and non-defining (or non-restrictive).

Defining Relative Clauses

Defining relative clauses are essential to the meaning of the sentence. They identify the specific noun being referred to.

Without the defining relative clause, the sentence would be unclear or incomplete. These clauses are not set off by commas.

For example: “The student who studies hard will succeed.” Without the clause “who studies hard,” we wouldn’t know which student is being referred to.

Non-Defining Relative Clauses

Non-defining relative clauses provide extra information about a noun that has already been identified. This information is not essential to the meaning of the sentence.

The sentence would still make sense without the non-defining relative clause. These clauses are always set off by commas.

For example: “My sister, who lives in London, is a doctor.” The fact that my sister is a doctor is extra information. We already know who “my sister” is.

Relative Pronouns and Adverbs

Relative pronouns and adverbs introduce relative clauses and connect them to the main clause. Here’s a breakdown of the most common ones:

  • Who: Used for people (subject of the relative clause). Example: “The woman who helped me is very kind.”
  • Whom: Used for people (object of the relative clause). Example: “The man whom I saw was very tall.”
  • Which: Used for things or animals. Example: “The car which I bought is very fast.”
  • That: Used for people, things, or animals (can often replace who, whom, which in defining relative clauses). Example: “The book that I read was fascinating.”
  • Whose: Used to show possession. Example: “The student whose book was stolen is upset.”
  • When: Used to refer to a time. Example: “The day when I met her was unforgettable.”
  • Where: Used to refer to a place. Example: “The city where I live is very lively.”
  • Why: Used to refer to a reason. Example: “The reason why I’m late is because of the traffic.”

Examples of Relative Clauses

Here are some examples of relative clauses, organized by type and the relative pronoun/adverb used.

Defining Relative Clause Examples

The following table shows examples of defining relative clauses using different relative pronouns. These clauses are essential for identifying the noun they modify.

Sentence Relative Clause Relative Pronoun
The book that I borrowed from the library is overdue. that I borrowed from the library that
The man who lives next door is a doctor. who lives next door who
The car which I bought last year is very reliable. which I bought last year which
The student whose essay won the competition is very talented. whose essay won the competition whose
The movie that we watched last night was amazing. that we watched last night that
The woman who is wearing a red dress is my sister. who is wearing a red dress who
The dog that barked all night belongs to my neighbor. that barked all night that
The house which is located on the hill has a beautiful view. which is located on the hill which
The teacher who taught me English was very patient. who taught me English who
The song that I heard on the radio is stuck in my head. that I heard on the radio that
The restaurant that serves the best pizza is always crowded. that serves the best pizza that
The country which I want to visit is Japan. which I want to visit which
The person who answered the phone was very helpful. who answered the phone who
The problem that we need to solve is very complex. that we need to solve that
The company whose products are innovative is growing rapidly. whose products are innovative whose
The game that I played yesterday was very exciting. that I played yesterday that
The artist who painted this picture is very famous. who painted this picture who
The solution that we found was very effective. that we found that
The building which is located downtown is very modern. which is located downtown which
The employee who works the hardest deserves a promotion. who works the hardest who
The phone that I bought recently has a great camera. that I bought recently that
The plant which needs more sunlight is wilting. which needs more sunlight which
The child who is playing in the park is my son. who is playing in the park who
The website that I visit every day has useful information. that I visit every day that
The project whose deadline is approaching is very challenging. whose deadline is approaching whose
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Non-Defining Relative Clause Examples

The table below provides examples of non-defining relative clauses. Notice the use of commas to set off these clauses, as they provide additional, non-essential information.

Sentence Relative Clause Relative Pronoun
My sister, who lives in London, is a doctor. who lives in London who
The Eiffel Tower, which is a famous landmark, attracts many tourists. which is a famous landmark which
My car, which is very old, still runs well. which is very old which
John, whose father is a professor, is a brilliant student. whose father is a professor whose
Paris, which is known for its romantic atmosphere, is a popular destination. which is known for its romantic atmosphere which
My dog, who loves to play fetch, is very energetic. who loves to play fetch who
The book, which I found at a used bookstore, is a first edition. which I found at a used bookstore which
My neighbor, who is a retired teacher, is very knowledgeable. who is a retired teacher who
The company, which was founded in 1990, is now a global leader. which was founded in 1990 which
My hometown, which is a small village, is very peaceful. which is a small village which
My best friend, who I’ve known since childhood, is getting married. who I’ve known since childhood who
The museum, which houses a collection of ancient artifacts, is worth visiting. which houses a collection of ancient artifacts which
My uncle, who is a talented musician, plays the guitar. who is a talented musician who
The movie, which won several awards, is critically acclaimed. which won several awards which
My apartment, which is located near the park, is very convenient. which is located near the park which
My grandmother, who is 90 years old, is still very active. who is 90 years old who
The restaurant, which serves delicious seafood, is highly recommended. which serves delicious seafood which
My colleague, who is a software engineer, is very skilled. who is a software engineer who
The concert, which was held outdoors, was amazing. which was held outdoors which
My phone, which I just bought, already needs an update. which I just bought which

Relative Clauses with Prepositions

Sometimes, prepositions are used in relative clauses, often placed at the end of the clause or before the relative pronoun (in more formal English). The following table shows some examples:

Sentence Relative Clause
The house that I live in is very old. that I live in
The person whom I spoke to was very helpful. whom I spoke to
The project that I am working on is very challenging. that I am working on
The friend whom I went to the party with is very funny. whom I went to the party with
The company that I work for is very successful. that I work for
The idea that I came up with was very innovative. that I came up with
The problem that I am dealing with is very complex. that I am dealing with
The topic that I am interested in is very fascinating. that I am interested in
The tool that I used to fix it was very effective. that I used to fix it
The solution that I agreed to was very reasonable. that I agreed to
The person whom I rely on is my mother. whom I rely on
The book that I referred to was very informative. that I referred to
The reason that I am here is to help. that I am here
The team that I am a part of is very collaborative. that I am a part of
The experience that I learned from was invaluable. that I learned from
The place that I dreamt of visiting is Japan. that I dreamt of visiting
The song that I listened to was very moving. that I listened to
The teacher that I learned from was very inspiring. that I learned from
The event that I participated in was very rewarding. that I participated in
The challenge that I overcame was very difficult. that I overcame

Relative Clauses with Relative Adverbs

Relative adverbs (when, where, why) are used to introduce relative clauses that modify nouns related to time, place, or reason. Here are some examples:

Sentence Relative Clause Relative Adverb
The day when I met her was unforgettable. when I met her when
The city where I live is very lively. where I live where
The reason why I’m late is because of the traffic. why I’m late why
The year when the Olympics were held was very exciting. when the Olympics were held when
The park where I play with my dog is very beautiful. where I play with my dog where
The reason why I chose this school is its excellent reputation. why I chose this school why
The time when I feel most relaxed is during my vacation. when I feel most relaxed when
The restaurant where I had dinner last night was amazing. where I had dinner last night where
The reason why I started learning English is to travel. why I started learning English why
The moment when I realized my dream was incredible. when I realized my dream when
The beach where I go swimming is very clean. where I go swimming where
The reason why I love this job is the people I work with. why I love this job why
The era when Shakespeare wrote his plays was fascinating. when Shakespeare wrote his plays when
The museum where I saw the Mona Lisa was crowded. where I saw the Mona Lisa where
The reason why I decided to move is for a fresh start. why I decided to move why
The summer when I graduated was a time of celebration. when I graduated when
The cafe where I meet my friends is very cozy. where I meet my friends where
The reason why I am studying hard is to pass the exam. why I am studying hard why
The period when I lived abroad was very enriching. when I lived abroad when
The garden where I grow flowers is very colorful. where I grow flowers where
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Usage Rules for Relative Clauses

Here are some key rules to keep in mind when using relative clauses:

  • Use who and whom for people, which for things or animals, and that for both (in defining clauses).
  • Use commas to set off non-defining relative clauses.
  • Do not use commas with defining relative clauses.
  • Whom is more formal than who and is used when the relative pronoun is the object of the clause.
  • In defining relative clauses, you can often omit the relative pronoun when it is not the subject of the clause. (e.g., “The book I read was interesting.”)
  • Use whose to show possession.
  • Use when, where, and why to refer to time, place, and reason, respectively.
  • In formal English, prepositions usually come before whom and which. In informal English, they often come at the end of the clause. (e.g., Formal: “The person to whom I spoke…”; Informal: “The person I spoke to…”)

Common Mistakes with Relative Clauses

Here are some common mistakes that English learners make when using relative clauses, along with corrections:

Incorrect Correct Explanation
The man which I saw was tall. The man who I saw was tall. Use who for people.
My sister who lives in London is a doctor. My sister, who lives in London, is a doctor. Use commas for non-defining relative clauses.
The book, that I borrowed, is interesting. The book that I borrowed is interesting. Do not use commas for defining relative clauses.
The reason I’m late is because the traffic. The reason why I’m late is because of the traffic. Use why with “reason.”
The house where I live it is very old. The house where I live is very old. Do not repeat the subject.
The girl whose I saw yesterday is my friend. The girl whom I saw yesterday is my friend. Use whom as the object of the verb saw.
The car, which I bought it last year, is red. The car, which I bought last year, is red. Do not include the extra pronoun.
The teacher that teaches math is friendly. The teacher who teaches math is friendly. Who is generally preferred for people in defining clauses.
My friend, that I met in college, is visiting. My friend, whom I met in college, is visiting. ‘That’ is not used in non-defining clauses.
The dog who’s tail is wagging is happy. The dog whose tail is wagging is happy. ‘Whose’ shows possession, ‘who’s’ means ‘who is’.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of relative clauses with these exercises.

Exercise 1: Identifying Relative Clauses

Identify the relative clause in each sentence and state whether it is defining or non-defining.

Question Answer
1. The cake that Mary made was delicious. Relative clause: that Mary made; Type: Defining
2. My brother, who is a lawyer, lives in New York. Relative clause: who is a lawyer; Type: Non-defining
3. The car which I bought last year is very reliable. Relative clause: which I bought last year; Type: Defining
4. The movie, which I watched last night, was very interesting. Relative clause: which I watched last night; Type: Non-defining
5. The student whose essay won the competition is very talented. Relative clause: whose essay won the competition; Type: Defining
6. The house where I grew up is still standing. Relative clause: where I grew up; Type: Defining
7. My aunt, who is a painter, lives in Paris. Relative clause: who is a painter; Type: Non-defining
8. The book that I am reading is very long. Relative clause: that I am reading; Type: Defining
9. The city, which is known for its history, attracts many tourists. Relative clause: which is known for its history; Type: Non-defining
10. The person who helped me was very kind. Relative clause: who helped me; Type: Defining

Exercise 2: Choosing the Correct Relative Pronoun

Fill in the blank with the correct relative pronoun (who, whom, which, that, whose).

Question Answer
1. The woman ______ I met yesterday is a doctor. whom
2. The car ______ is parked outside is mine. which/that
3. The student ______ essay was the best received an award. whose
4. The man ______ helped me carry my bags was very kind. who
5. The book ______ I borrowed from the library is overdue. that/which
6. She is the teacher ______ inspired me the most. who
7. The house ______ roof is red needs repairs. whose
8. The movie ______ we watched last night was scary. that/which
9. He is the person ______ I admire the most. whom
10. The cat ______ is sleeping on the sofa is mine. that/which
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Exercise 3: Combining Sentences with Relative Clauses

Combine the following pairs of sentences into one sentence using a relative clause.

Question Answer
1. I saw a man. He was wearing a red hat. I saw a man who was wearing a red hat.
2. This is the book. I told you about it. This is the book that I told you about.
3. My friend is a teacher. She lives in London. My friend, who lives in London, is a teacher.
4. The car is very old. It still runs well. The car, which is very old, still runs well.
5. The student is very talented. His essay won the competition. The student whose essay won the competition is very talented.
6. I visited a city. It is known for its history. I visited a city that is known for its history.
7. The movie was amazing. I watched it last night. The movie that I watched last night was amazing.
8. My neighbor is a doctor. He is very kind. My neighbor, who is a doctor, is very kind.
9. The cat is sleeping on the sofa. It is very lazy. The cat that is sleeping on the sofa is very lazy.
10. I met a woman. She is a lawyer. I met a woman who is a lawyer.

Exercise 4: Correcting Errors in Relative Clauses

Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences.

Question Answer
1. The book which I read it was very interesting. The book which I read was very interesting. (Remove “it”)
2. My friend, that lives in Paris, is visiting me. My friend, who lives in Paris, is visiting me. (“That” should be “who” in non-defining clause)
3. The man what helped me was very kind. The man who helped me was very kind. (“What” should be “who”)
4. The car, that I bought last year, is red. The car that I bought last year is red. (No comma needed for defining clause)
5. The student whose he won the prize is happy. The student who won the prize is happy. (Remove “he”)
6. The reason what I’m late is because of the traffic. The reason why I’m late is because of the traffic. (“What” should be “why”)
7. The house where I live it is very old. The house where I live is very old. (Remove “it”)
8. My sister who lives in London, is a doctor. My sister, who lives in London, is a doctor. (Comma also required before ‘who’)
9. The person which I spoke to was very helpful. The person whom I spoke to was very helpful. (“Which” should be “whom”)
10. The movie that I saw it last night was amazing. The movie that I saw last night was amazing. (Remove “it”)

Advanced Topics in Relative Clauses

For advanced learners, here are some more complex aspects of relative clauses.

Reduced Relative Clauses

Reduced relative clauses are shortened forms of relative clauses where the relative pronoun and auxiliary verb are omitted. This is common in formal writing and speaking.

For example:

  • Original: “The book that was written by Hemingway is a classic.”
  • Reduced: “The book written by Hemingway is a classic.”

Reduced relative clauses often use participles (e.g., written, running, broken) to modify the noun.

Whoever and Whomever

Whoever and whomever are relative pronouns that combine the functions of a relative pronoun and an indefinite pronoun. Whoever acts as the subject of the clause, while whomever acts as the object.

  • Whoever wants to come is welcome. (Whoever is the subject of “wants”)
  • Give it to whomever you trust. (Whomever is the object of “trust”)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are some common questions about relative clauses:

  1. What is the difference between who and whom?

    Who is used when the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause, while whom is used when it is the object. For example, “The man who helped me was kind” (who is the subject of “helped”) vs. “The man whom I saw was tall” (whom is the object of “saw”). In informal English, who is often used in place of whom.

  2. Can I always use that instead of who or which?

    In defining relative clauses, that can often replace who or which. However, that is not used in non-defining relative clauses. For example, “The book that I read was interesting” is correct, but “My sister, that lives in London, is a doctor” is incorrect (use who instead).

  3. Why are commas important in non-defining relative clauses?

    Commas indicate that the information in the relative clause is extra and not essential to the meaning of the sentence. Omitting commas can change the meaning of the sentence or make it grammatically incorrect.

  4. When can I omit the relative pronoun?

    In defining relative clauses, you can omit the relative pronoun when it is not the subject of the clause. For example, “The book that I read was interesting” can be shortened to “The book I read was interesting.”

  5. What is a reduced relative clause?

    A reduced relative clause is a shortened form of a relative clause where the relative pronoun and auxiliary verb are omitted. For example, “The book that was written by Hemingway” can be reduced to “The book written by Hemingway.”

Conclusion

Mastering relative clauses is crucial for enhancing your English language skills. By understanding the structure, types, and usage rules of relative clauses, you can construct more complex and nuanced sentences.

This guide has provided you with a comprehensive overview, examples, and exercises to practice and improve your proficiency. Keep practicing, and you’ll find that using relative clauses becomes second nature, allowing you to express yourself more effectively and precisely in English.