At Relative Clauses are relative clauses in English that act as adjectives. For this reason, they are also called adjectives clauses.
They are used with the purpose of informing about a person or a certain thing.
In this way, they function as complements to a noun or a pronoun. In relative sentences, the so-called relative pronouns (relative pronouns) are used:
| Relative Pronouns | Translation | Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| who | who, what, what | used for people |
| Whom | who, from whom, to whom | used for people |
| whose | whose, whose, whose, whose | used for people, things and indicates ownership |
| Which | what, what, what | used for things or animals |
| that | what | used for people and things |
| Onde | where, in what, in what, in which, in which, in which, in which | makes reference to places |
| when | when, in which, in which, in which, in which, in which | makes reference to time |
| what | what, which | used for people and things |
Read too: Relative Pronouns.
Classification
Depending on the function that the relative pronouns play in the sentence (subject, object or possession), relative clauses are classified in two ways:
Defining relative clauses (restrictive clauses): used to define who or what we are talking about.
They are not preceded by a comma and the relative pronouns used are: who, who, which, whose, where, when and that:
Examples:
that's the man who I saw in the bank. (This is the man I saw at the bank)
this is my friend whom I just told you about. (This is my friend I just told you about)
These are principles which we all believe in. (These are principles we all believe in)
The story was about a man whose family came from Brazil. (The story was about a man whose family came from Brazil)
I know Onde the keys are. (I know where the keys are)
I drive with caution when it rains. (I drive carefully when it rains)
I feel that my English improved a lot. (I think my English has improved a lot)
Non-defining relative clauses (explanatory clauses): different from defining relative clauses, they do not provide essential background information in the sentence.
In this case, the added information usually appears between commas. The most used pronouns are: who, who, whose and which.
my brother, who's only just 17, he has already passed his driving test. (My brother, who is only 17 years old, has already passed the driving test)
There are 10 girls in my class, a few of whom are my friends. (There are 10 girls in my class, some of whom are my friends)
Yesterday I met a woman named Rosana, whose husband works in London. (Yesterday I met a woman named Rosana, whose husband works in London)
the book, which includes a map, gives you all the information you need about Venice. (The book, which includes a map, gives you all the information you need about Venice)
See too:
- Conditional sentences
- English prepositions
- Countable and Uncountable Nouns
Exercises
1. (FMU-SP) He is the man ____________ sings very well
a) whom
b) how
c) which
d) who
e) what
Alternative d: who
2. (UFSCar) Go and find the ________ driver arrived here yesterday.
Oh yes
b) who
c) whose
d) what
e) whom
Alternative b: who
3. (UECE) In the sentences "We are rearing a generation of kids who are more equitable and more understanding about the existence of language variety...” and “… Some are academic but many are for the general inquisitive reader, including By Hook or by Crook: A Journey in Search of English and Shakespeare's Words, which was co-authored by his son, Ben.” one finds relative clauses that should be respectively classified as
a) defining and non-defining.
b) defining and defining.
c) non-defining and defining.
d) non-defining and non-defining.
Alternative to: defining and non-defining.
