Relative clauses
Definition
A relative clause adds information about a noun or noun phrase. It is commonly introduced by who, which, that, whose, where or when.
Examples
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The woman who called earlier left a message.
The clause identifies or describes the woman.
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This is the book that I mentioned.
The clause gives information about the book.
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We visited the town where my father grew up.
Where links the place noun with the following clause.
Defining vs. non-defining relative clauses
The students who finished can leave.
The clause identifies which students can leave.
Mara, who finished early, can leave.
The clause adds extra information about an already identified person.
A defining clause is necessary to identify the noun. A non-defining clause is supplementary and is separated by commas.
The relative word can sometimes be omitted
In a defining relative clause, who, which or that may be omitted when it functions as the object. It cannot normally be omitted when it is the subject.
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The film we watched was excellent.
The omitted relative word would be the object of watched.
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The person who answered was helpful.
Who is the subject of answered, so it remains.
Common mistakes
The man which lives next door is a doctor.
The man who lives next door is a doctor.
Who is normally used for people.
My laptop, that I bought last year, is broken.
My laptop, which I bought last year, is broken.
That is not normally used in a non-defining clause.
Quick check
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly uses a relative pronoun for a person?
Who introduces a relative clause referring to a person and functions as its subject.Which non-defining relative clause is correct?
The supplementary clause uses commas and which, without an extra subject pronoun.Which sentence correctly omits an object relative pronoun?
The omitted word is the object of ordered, so omission is possible.Nice work — you've completed the quick check.
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