This document defines and provides examples of relative clauses. Relative clauses join two sentences together by using a relative pronoun like who, which, that or where. They modify and provide essential information about a noun. Defining relative clauses are not set off by commas and identify a specific noun. Who refers to people, which refers to animals and things, and that can replace who and which. The relative pronoun can be the subject or object of the relative clause.

1. DEFINING
RELATIVE
CLAUSES

2. Relative
Clauses are - “Peter is the student”+ “He
formed by comes from Glasgow”:
“Peter is the student WHO
joining 2 comes from Glasgow”.
sentences: - “The books are on the table” +
“They are mine”:
“The books WHICH are on the
table are mine”.
- “I’ve just met Tom” + “Tom
seems to be a nice guy”: “I’ve
just met Tom, WHO seems to
be a nice guy”
- “I’d love to visit London”+ “It is
a beautiful city”:
- “I’d love to visit London,
WHICH is a beatiful city”

3. Remember:
When we join 2
sentences with a
Relative Pronoun or
Adverb, we have to omit
the noun/ pronoun/
possessive that the
Relative replaces (In the
previous sentences: He/
They/Tom /it)
Relative Clauses go
RIGHT AFTER the Noun
they modify.

4. Defining Relative Clauses
They define, give us essential
information about a general
term or expression. Defining
Relative Clauses are not put
in commas:
- I talked to the man who gave
you the news.
- I read the letter which came
this morning.
(Which man ? The one who
gave you the news.)
(Which letter? the one that
arrived this morning.)

5. Remember:
Use WHO to refer to people
and WHICH to refer to
animals, things, …
“THAT” can replace WHO and
WHICH in Defining Relative
Clauses :
Did you know the girl
WHO/THAT came to the
party yesterday?
The book WHICH/THAT I’m
reading is very interesting.

6. OMISSION OF
WHO, WHICH and THAT
WHO, WHICH can be the Subject of the
Relative Clause:
AND THAT:
- I’ve talked to the man
WHO sold me his car.
(Who replaces The man
and is the Subject of the
Clause “sold me his car”)
- The dog WHICH barks
every night is my
neighbour’s. (Which is the
Subject of the clause
“barks every night”)

7. They can also be the
Object :
- I loved the film (WHICH/
THAT) we saw last night.
- The man (WHO/THAT/
WHO) you mentioned is a
writer.
When The Relative is
the Object, it can be
(and it is usually)
omitted in Defining
Relative Clauses.

8. OTHER WHERE
refers to Places:
RELATIVES -This is the hotel + We
are staying at the hotel
next weekend:
This is the hotel WHERE
we are staying next
weekend.
- The city is interesting +
my sister is living in the
city:
The city WHERE my
sister is living is
interesting.

9. REWRITE THESE SENTENCES USING:
WHO, WHICH, THAT or WHERE
I bought a house. It was advertised in the local paper.
I bought a house that/which was
advertised in the local newspaper
Venice is a wonderful place. We
spent our last holiday there.
Venice is a wonderful place
where we spent our last holiday
This is the boy. I met him yesterday.
This is the boy that/who I met
yesterday.

10. REWRITE THESE SENTENCES USING:
WHO, WHICH, THAT or WHERE
He showed us how to create a computer-
based game. It was very interesting.
He showed us how to create a
computer-based game that/which
was very interesting.
That's the boy. I told you about him
last night
That's the boy that/who I told
you about him last night.

11. REWRITE THESE SENTENCES USING:
WHO, WHICH, THAT or WHERE
They've sold the house. They lived there.
They've sold the house where they lived.
I've just finished reading Harry Potter
and the Philosopher's Stone. It is an
amazing book.
I've just finished reading Harry
Potter and the Philosopher's
Stone that/which is an amazing
book.