Relative Clauses - Grammar
I like going to museums which have interesting exhibitions.
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I like going to museums when it is quiet.
Relative Clauses are used to give additional information about something or someone previously mentioned.
Step 1
Start with a sentence.
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I like going to museums.
Step 2
Add more information to a something or someone. Here, we have picked museums.
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I like going to museums.
Step 3
Add a relative pronoun directly after the something or someone.
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I like going to museums which
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I like going to museums when
Step 4
Add the extra information about the something or someone.
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I like going to museums which have interesting exhibitions.
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I like going to museums when it is quiet.
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...which have interesting exhibitions
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...when it is quiet
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Are both relative clauses because:
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they start with a relative pronoun; and
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on their own, they do not make sense
What are 'relative pronouns'?
They are pronouns which relate to the clause to the main sentence. Here are the relative pronouns and how they are used:
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who - people
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which - general nouns
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that - general nouns
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whose - possessive
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where - place
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when - time
Who...
1. I saw Paul yesterday.
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2. I saw Paul yesterday.
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3. I saw Paul yesterday who
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4. I saw Paul yesterday who told me he was getting married.
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Is 'who told me he was getting married' a relative clause? Yes
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it starts with a relative pronoun (who); and
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on its own, it does not make sense
Which / That...('which' is more formal)
1. My mum has a expensive watch.
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2. My mum has a expensive watch.
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3. My mum has a expensive watch which / that
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4. My mum has a expensive watch which / that she bought in Switzerland.
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Is 'which / that she bought in Switzerland' a relative clause? Yes
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it starts with a relative pronoun (which / that); and
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on its own, it does not make sense
Whose...
1. That dog is cute.
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2. That dog is cute.
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3. That dog, whose ___, is cute.
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4. That dog, whose collar is blue, is cute.
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Is 'whose collar is blue' a relative clause? Yes
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it starts with a relative pronoun (whose); and
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on its own, it does not make sense
NOTE: Relative clauses can go in the middle of sentences. They are separated by commas (,).
Where...
1. Her flat is very small.
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2. Her flat is very small.
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3. Her flat, where ___, is very small.
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4. Her flat, where she's lived for about 10 years, is very small.
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Is 'where she's lived for about 10 years' a relative clause? Yes
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it starts with a relative pronoun (where); and
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on its own, it does not make sense
When...
1. I go on holiday a lot.
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2. I go on holiday a lot.
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3. I go on holiday a lot when
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4. I go on holiday a lot when I have enough money.
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Is 'when I have enough money' a relative clause? Yes
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it starts with a relative pronoun (when); and
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on its own, it does not make sense
Examples
I love beaches.
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We are going to make 'beaches' more detailed by adding a relative clause. Because 'beaches' is a general noun we will use 'which' or 'that' as our relative pronoun.
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I love beaches which have white sand.
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I love beaches that have crystal clear water.
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I love beaches which are quite.
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I love beaches that aren't dirty.
I go to restaurants.
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We are going to make 'restaurants' more detailed by adding a relative clause. Because 'restaurants' is a place (when we use the verb 'go') we will use 'where' as the relative pronoun.
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I go to restaurants where you can bring your own wine.
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I go to restaurants where the wine is cheap.
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I go to restaurants where the wine is expensive.
People are lucky.
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We are going to make 'people' more detailed by adding a relative clause. We will use 'who' as the relative pronoun. The subject of the sentence is the noun will will give more detail on.
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People, who like their jobs, are lucky.
They always eat ice cream.
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We are going to make the whole action 'eat ice cream' more detailed by adding a relative clause. We will use 'when' as the relative pronoun because we will expand on when ice cream is eaten.
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They always eat ice cream when it is hot.
My sister is arriving later.
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We are going to make 'my sister' more detailed by adding a relative clause. We will use 'whose' as the relative pronoun because we want to talk about something she possess.
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My sister, whose new boyfriend is a doctor, is arriving later.
What's the relative pronoun?
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I like books ___________ were written a long time ago.
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She listens to records ___________ she has the time.
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He never goes on holiday ___________ he's been before.
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That pub, ___________ we went last week, was great.
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I can't cook ___________ it's too hot.
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The film, ___________ cast is amazing, was surprisingly not very good.
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The Great Fire of London, ___________ was in 1666, was devastating.
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That dog, ___________ belongs to my neighbour, will not be quiet.
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Louise, ___________ works with me, is single.
which / that
Answer
when
Answer
where
Answer
where
Answer
when
Answer
whose
Answer
which / that
Answer
which / that
Answer
who