Have you ever heard someone say, “The car that I bought yesterday is really cool”? Or maybe you’ve said something like, “I don’t know the woman who helped me find that book.”
These kinds of sentences are more common than you might think, and they involve something called relative clauses.
Relative clauses are a fascinating part of grammar, and if you’re looking to master your language skills, understanding how they work is a great place to start.
But, let’s be honest. Grammar can feel a little dry at times, right? Well, I’m here to make it fun and approachable.
In this blog post, I’ll walk you through what relative clauses are, why they’re important, and give you 15 clear examples that will show you how to use them effectively.
What Are Relative Clauses?
A relative clause is a part of a sentence that gives more information about a noun. Essentially, it acts like an adjective, describing or providing additional details about a noun in the main part of the sentence.
For example, in the sentence, “The girl who is wearing a red dress is my friend,” the relative clause “who is wearing a red dress” gives more information about “the girl.”
Relative clauses typically start with relative pronouns like who, which, that, whose, and where. They can add details that help clarify or specify which noun we’re talking about.
Why Should You Care About Relative Clauses?
Mastering relative clauses will not only make you sound more fluent in English but also help your writing flow more smoothly? They let you combine ideas and details in one sentence, keeping things concise without losing any important information. Plus, they’re used all the time in daily conversations and writing!
So, without further ado, let’s look at 15 examples of relative clauses in action.
15 Examples of Relative Clauses
1. The Person Who Called Me Yesterday Was My Cousin
This is a basic example of a relative clause. Here, the relative clause “who called me yesterday” gives us more information about the noun “person.” The relative pronoun who is used because we’re talking about a person.
2. The Book That I Borrowed Is Really Interesting
In this example, “that I borrowed” is the relative clause. It provides more detail about the book. That is used as the relative pronoun when the noun is a thing (in this case, the book).
3. The Place Where We Met Was Beautiful
This sentence uses the relative pronoun where to refer to a place. The relative clause “where we met” describes “the place.”
4. The Teacher Whose Class I Attend Is Amazing
Here, we have the relative pronoun whose, which shows possession. The clause “whose class I attend” gives us more information about “the teacher.” It tells us that the teacher is the one whose class the speaker attends.
5. I Know a Restaurant That Serves Great Sushi
This relative clause, “that serves great sushi,” tells us more about the noun “restaurant.” We’re using that because we’re referring to a thing (restaurant).
6. The Girl Who Sits Next to Me Is Very Friendly
In this example, the relative clause “who sits next to me” provides more information about “the girl.” The relative pronoun who is used again because we’re talking about a person.
7. The Movie Which We Watched Last Night Was Fantastic
Here, which is the relative pronoun that introduces the clause “which we watched last night.” The clause gives more details about the movie.
8. The Company Where My Brother Works Is Expanding
This sentence uses the relative pronoun where to give additional information about “the company.” “Where my brother works” tells us more about the company’s location or nature.
9. The House That We Just Bought Needs Some Renovation
In this case, the relative clause “that we just bought” describes “the house.” The relative pronoun that is used because we’re referring to a thing.
10. The Car Which I Drive Is Very Reliable
The relative clause “which I drive” tells us more about “the car.” The relative pronoun which is used for things, as seen here.
11. The Student Who Passed the Test with High Marks Was Very Happy
Here, “who passed the test with high marks” is the relative clause. It provides more detail about the noun “student.”
12. The City Where I Grew Up Is Full of History
The relative clause “where I grew up” provides more context about “the city.” Where is used here to refer to the location.
13. The Singer Whose Album I Bought Is on Tour
In this example, whose is the relative pronoun that shows possession. The relative clause “whose album I bought” tells us more about “the singer.”
14. The Article That I Read Was Very Informative
The relative clause “that I read” explains what article the speaker is referring to. We use that for things like articles.
15. The Actor Who Won the Award Is My Favorite
In this case, the relative clause “who won the award” adds more information about “the actor.” Who is used because we’re referring to a person.
How Relative Clauses Work: Key Points to Remember
Relative clauses are a bit tricky when you first start learning them, but here are some helpful tips:
1. Choose the Correct Relative Pronoun
As you’ve seen in the examples, different relative pronouns are used depending on the noun you’re talking about:
- Who: Refers to people.
- Which: Refers to things or animals.
- That: Can refer to people, animals, or things (often used informally or in restrictive clauses).
- Whose: Indicates possession.
- Where: Refers to places.
2. Decide Whether to Use a Restrictive or Non-Restrictive Clause
Relative clauses can be either restrictive or non-restrictive.
- Restrictive relative clauses give essential information and are not set off by commas. For example: “The car that I just bought is red.” Here, the relative clause restricts which car you’re talking about.
- Non-restrictive relative clauses give additional information that isn’t essential and are set off by commas. For example: “My car, which I bought last week, is red.” The relative clause here just adds extra information about the car but doesn’t limit the meaning of the sentence.
3. Omit the Relative Pronoun in Some Cases
In spoken and informal written English, you might drop the relative pronoun when it’s the object of the relative clause. For example:
- With pronoun: “The book that I borrowed is great.”
- Without pronoun: “The book I borrowed is great.”
This is common in everyday conversations but less formal in writing.
Key Pronouns and Usage
| Relative Pronoun | Used For | Example | Type |
| Who | People | The teacher who helped me is nice. | Restrictive |
| Which | Things or Animals | The dog which barked was loud. | Restrictive |
| That | People, Things, Animals | The car that I own is blue. | Restrictive |
| Whose | Possession | The woman whose car is red is my neighbor. | Non-restrictive |
| Where | Places | The place where I grew up is beautiful. | Restrictive |
Insights on Relative Clauses
When I first started learning relative clauses, I found them a bit confusing, especially when it came to using that and which.
The difference between restrictive and non-restrictive clauses threw me off too. But once I started practicing and seeing them in real-life sentences, it all started to click.
A fun tip I can offer try creating your own sentences using relative clauses to describe people, places, and things you care about. Not only will this improve your writing, but it’ll make your grammar practice more relevant and engaging.
Conclusion
Relative clauses are a powerful tool in English that allow you to provide more detailed, specific information about nouns. Whether you’re talking about a person, place, or thing, relative clauses help you convey your message more effectively.
From who and which to whose and where, each relative pronoun plays a key role in helping you build clear, complex sentences. By mastering relative clauses, you can make your writing and speaking sound more fluent and precise.
Key Takeaways:
- Relative clauses give additional information about a noun.
- There are different relative pronouns based on the type of noun.
- Practice using relative clauses in your own sentences to improve your grammar.
If you found this blog post helpful, feel free to share it with others who are learning English! Or, if you have any questions or additional examples to share, drop a comment below. I’d love to hear from you!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I use “that” instead of “who”?
Yes, in informal situations, that can be used instead of who to refer to people. For example: “The person that called me is my friend.”
2. When should I use commas with relative clauses?
Commas are used with non-restrictive clauses, which provide extra information. If the clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence, no commas are needed.
3. Can a relative clause be at the beginning of a sentence?
Yes! For example: “Whoever left the door open should close it.” In this case, the relative clause starts the sentence and modifies “whoever.”
I hope this post helps clarify relative clauses for you! If you have more questions or need further examples, feel free to ask. Happy learning!
