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Sentence patterns: Relative clauses

A relative clause is a subordinate clause that begins with a question word (e.g. who, which,where) or the word that. You can use it to modify a noun or pronoun (i.e. to identify or give

more information about it).

Students who can develop independent learning skills often achieve good academic

results. There is a new bookthat investigates the controversy over political reforms in

Hong Kong.

A university is a place where people pursue advanced knowledge in specific

academic disciplines.

The lecture theatre in which the inauguration ceremony will be held is now being

cleaned.

1. Relative pronouns

Words like who, that and when are often referred to as relative pronouns when they are usedto introduce relative clauses. You use:

who for people, which for things, and that for both people and things.

whom as the object of a relative clause (in more formal English), though it is

increasingly common to replace it with who. whose to indicate possession, as a determiner before nouns.

For example:

Whats the name of the person who/that first landed on the moon?

This is Dr. Perkins, whom we met at a conference in Canada last year.

All students whose registration numbers begin with 374 should immediately go to the

library for a tour.

2. Types of relative clause

There are two types of relative clause: defining and non-defining. You use a defining (orrestrictive) relative clause to identify or restrict the reference of a noun. You do notseparate it from the rest of the sentence by commas (in text) or pauses (in speech).

The student who achieves the highest GPA score in this department will be

awarded a prize of $20,000. Computer games that involve fighting and shooting apparently have a negative

effect on young people.

You use a non-defining (or non-restrictive) relative clause to supply additional informationabout the noun, whose identity or reference is already established. You can also use it to

comment on the whole situation described in a main clause.

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Albert Einstein, who put forward the theory of relativity, is considered by many as

the most intelligent person in human history. The ELC, which provides language support to PolyU students, is located in the AG

wing.

You should not use the relative pronoun that in non-defining relative clauses.

3. Reduction of relative clauses

You can sometimes reduce a defining relative clause to create a more concise style. Youcannot reduce a non-defining clause.

Half of the training sessions (that are) arranged for the athletes have been cancelled

due to bad weather. The foreigner (who/whom) you saw at the party last night is Giorgio Armani!

In the following questions the relative pronouns are missing. Edit the sentences, putting in

suitable relative pronouns and any missing commas. After you finish them, click the 'Check

All Answers' button to see the answers and feedback.

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