5. RELATIVE CLAUSES
Relative clause (adjective clause)
• Dependent clause that modifies (describes) a noun or pronoun.
• Way of joining two sentences
• Sometimes called an “adjective clause” because it functions like an adjective—it
gives more information about a noun
• It begins with an adjective clause marker (relative pronoun), which substitutes for
a noun, a noun phrase, or a pronoun when sentences are combined.
• It has a subject and verb, but can’t stand alone as a sentence
Relative pronoun as subject (in red):
• I like the person. The person was nice
to me.
I like the person who was nice to me.
• I hate the dog. The dog bit me.
I hate the dog that bit me.
Relative pronoun as object (in red):
• I like the bike. My father gave me the
bike.
I like the bike that my father gave me.
6. RELATIVE CLAUSES
Example:
• The painting was very expensive. Ms Wallace bought it
The painting which Ms Wallace bought was very expensive
• This is a topic. It interests me.
This is a topic that interests me.
The relative pronoun in the joined sentence replaced “it”, the object of the verb
bought. In the joined sentence, the relative clause keeps the subject -Ms. Wallace- that
it had in the original sentence.
Notice that
The inclusion of the pronoun “it” in the joined sentences above would be an
error
Incorrect:
The painting which Ms. Wallace bought it was very expensive.
This is a topic which it interests me.
