Relative Clauses

Front

What is a relative clause?

Back

A relative clause is a dependent clause that modifies a noun and usually begins with a relative pronoun such as 'who', 'whom', 'which', or 'that'.

Front

What is the function of the relative pronoun 'who'?

Back

The relative pronoun 'who' is used to refer to people and is the subject of the relative clause.

Front

What is the function of the relative pronoun 'whom'?

Back

The relative pronoun 'whom' is used to refer to people and is the object of the relative clause.

Front

What is the function of the relative pronoun 'which'?

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The relative pronoun 'which' is used to refer to animals and things.

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What is the function of the relative pronoun 'that'?

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The relative pronoun 'that' can refer to people, animals, or things and is often used in defining relative clauses.

Front

What is a defining relative clause?

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A defining relative clause provides essential information about the noun it modifies and is not set off by commas.

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What is a non-defining relative clause?

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A non-defining relative clause adds extra information about a noun but is not essential to the meaning of the sentence and is set off by commas.

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Example of a defining relative clause: 'The book that I borrowed was interesting.'

Back

In this sentence, 'that I borrowed' is a defining relative clause that specifies which book.

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Example of a non-defining relative clause: 'My brother, who lives in New York, is visiting.'

Back

In this sentence, 'who lives in New York' is a non-defining relative clause that adds extra information about 'my brother'.

Front

How do you punctuate non-defining relative clauses?

Back

Non-defining relative clauses are punctuated with commas before and after the clause.