Relative Clauses - Definition, Types, How to Use Them, Examples, Exercises

In simple words, a relative clause provides extra information about the noun or pronoun it refers to. Whether you're speaking or writing, it can be used easily. By using relative pronouns like who, which, that, or whose before relative clauses, you can make your sentences more interesting and informative.

For Example:

• The teacher who motivated me to become an aeronautical engineer is someone I will always remember.
• (This example is helpful for students preparing for the IELTS exam. It can be used in the IELTS Speaking section when you're asked to talk about your motivation.)
• The economic reforms which were introduced by the Government of India are the main reason behind the rapid growth of the country.
• (This example will help you in the IELTS writing or speaking section when the topic is to talk about economic reforms in India.)

Relative Clauses Definition

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, “Relative clauses give us more information about someone or something. We can use relative clauses to combine clauses without repeating information.”

There are two types of Relative Clauses: Defining Relative Clauses and Non-Defining Relative Clauses.

Defining Relative Clauses:

Defining Relative Clauses are used to provide specific information about a noun (person or thing) mentioned in the sentence. A defining relative clause usually comes immediately after the noun it describes. These clauses are an essential part of the sentence. Without them, the sentence may be unclear or incomplete.

For Example:

• Students who do not study hard often struggle to pass exams.
• The car which I bought yesterday was gifted to my father.

In both sentences, “Who do not study hard” and “Which I bought yesterday” are essential to define the noun here.

Non-Defining Relative Clauses

As the name suggests, Non-Defining Relative Clauses add information about a person or thing mentioned in the sentence. However, it is non-essential, which can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence.

For example:

• The movie, which I watched last night, was amazing.
• The Eiffel Tower, which is located in Paris, is one of the most famous landmarks in the world.

In these sentences “Which I watched last night” and “Which is located in Paris” are examples of Non-Defining Relative Clauses, providing extra information about the nouns they describe.

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It is natural to make mistakes while learning new things. The most important is identifying these common mistakes and trying to avoid them. This small act of proactivity will bring a big change and boost the chances of securing a good score. Here we have mentioned a few common mistakes while using Relative Clauses which you should avoid.

Wrong Relative Pronouns:

• The cycle which I was riding yesterday has been stolen. (Correct Sentence)
• The cycle who I was riding yesterday has been stolen. (Incorrect sentence)

Explanation: Usually, “Which” is used for non-living things like Cycle, and “Who” is used for living things like a person.

Confusing "who" and "whom"

• The teacher who inspired me is retiring this year. (Correct Sentence)
• The teacher whom inspired me is retiring this year. (Incorrect Sentence)

Explanation: "Who" is used as the subject of a relative clause when any living thing is doing an action. "Whom" is used as the object of the relative clause when any living thing is receiving the action.

Not Using Commas in Non-Defining Relative Clauses

• The movie, which I watched last night, was amazing. (Correct Sentence)
• The movie which I watched last night, was amazing. (Incorrect Sentence)

An important thing you should keep in mind while using Non-Defining Clauses is to always use commas. This is to show that the information is additional and not necessary for understanding the sentence.

Related Grammar Articles:

Below is a Fill-in-the-Blanks exercise using who, whom, whose, and that. After each sentence, select the correct relative pronoun to fill the gap.

Complete the following sentences by filling in the blanks with the correct relative pronoun.