Relative Clauses

Relative Clauses

1. Defining

   • Uses
     • Defining relative clauses tell us the specific thing or person we are talking about in a sentence. Defining clauses are not separated by commas or brackets. Defining clauses provide important information about the noun we are talking about. The sentence’s meaning changes greatly if we remove a defining relative clause.
   • Examples
     • People who/that have tried Oohos say they are tasteless.
       • Oohos is a company that/which aims to reduce the use of plastic water bottles.
         • London is the city where this company is based.
           • London is the city where this company is based.
             • The day will come when we don’t use plastic anymore.
               • He’s the man whose idea it was.
                 • This is the product that is made out of seaweed.
                   • I know the people who made this product.
                     • The man who invented this product really cares about the environment.
                       • A dog whose owner lets it run loose may cause an accident.

2. Non-defining

   • Forms
     • The relative pronouns are ‘who’, ‘that’, ‘which’, ‘whose’, and ‘whom’. The relative adverbs are ‘when’ and ‘where’. We use ‘whom’ when it does not refer to the subject of the sentence but the object.
   • Uses
     • A non-defining clause provides more information about the noun we are talking about in the sentence. Unlike defining relative clauses, non-defining clauses are separated by commas or brackets. Non-defining clauses can be removed from a sentence without affecting the meaning because they simply give us extra details.
   • Examples
     • My grandmother, who is 90 years old, lives alone in the countryside.
       • My new car, which I bought myself, is compact and good on gas.
         • Jucinda, whom I just met, is coming to our house for dinner.
           • John's mother, who lives in Scotland, has 6 grandchildren.
             • My friend John, who went to the same school as me, has just written a best-selling novel.
               • My grandmother, who is dead now, came from the North of England.
                 • My neighbour, who is French, is very rich
                   • My teacher, who has been working at the same school for 5 years, is getting married on Saturday
                     • My sister, who works in a bank, is moving house next week
                       • The building, which is very old, costs a lot of money