relative clauses

Who,which,that

Who-is used for people

Which-is used for things

That-is often used instead of who/which in identifying clauses

Defining and non defining relative clauses

Some relative clauses identify or qualify. They tell us which person or thing we are talking about in more detail. They are called defining or identifying relative clauses. The information contained in these clauses is essential; when deleted, it's not clear who or what is being talked about. These clauses are NOT introduced by commas.

Other relative clauses do not identify or classify, they simply give us additional information about a person or thing. They are called non-defining or non-identifying relative clauses. The information contained in these clauses is not essential. When deleted, it's still clear who or what is being talked about. These clauses ARE introduced by commas.

When a non-identifying clause does not come at the end of a sentence, two commas are necessary.

Leaving out the relative pronoun

A relative pronoun can be the subject or the object of a relative clause.

When the relative pronoun is the object of a defining relative clause, it can be left out

Leaving out object pronouns

• We do not use object pronouns (her, him, them, ...) in relative clauses as they are replaced by the relative pronoun.

• This picture shows Bob's wife Lucy. He married her in 2018.

• This picture shows Bob's wife Lucy, who he married in 2018.

Other relative pronouns

when introduces relative clauses referring to a time.

where introduces relative clauses referring to a place.

Whose introduces a relative clause referring to a possession.