English Relative Clauses

Relative clauses are subordinate clauses in English used to provide additional information about a noun in the main clause, avoiding the need to start a new sentence. They are introduced by relative pronouns, which act as linkers: 'who' (for people), 'which' (for things/animals), 'that' (for people or things in informal speech), and 'whose' (to show possession). For example, in the phrase 'the man who lives next door,' the relative clause is 'who lives next door'.

There are two main types of relative clauses: defining (restrictive) and non-defining (non-restrictive). Defining clauses contain essential information needed to identify the noun. In these clauses, we do not use commas, and the pronoun 'that' can often replace 'who' or 'which'. Non-defining clauses provide extra, non-essential information and are always set off by commas. In non-defining clauses, you cannot use 'that', and the relative pronoun can never be omitted. Mastering these clauses is crucial for combining sentences and writing descriptive texts.