Learn to Use the Relative Clause


Grammar

Langoo teaches you when and how to use the Relative Clause

Infography

A relative clause is a part of a sentence. It can begin with which, who, that or whose.

We use WHO when we are talking about people. Example: Employees who feel their absence will not harm the business.

We use WHICH when we are talking about things. Example: A ‘Music Box’ which could store music.

We use THAT instead of who or which. Example: Technologies that caused the death of our Virgin Megastores

We use WHOSE instead of his/her/their. Example: A friend whose company did the same thing.

We use WHERE when we talk about place. Example: I can’t remember the name of the hotel where we stayed.

Important points of the Relative Clause that you need to know:

That is more usual than which in defining relative clauses.

We do not use what in relative clauses:

Example of the incorrect form of use: I’ve never eaten a pizza what that tastes so good!

The correct use of it is: What I wanted was out of stock. I can’t decide what to buy.

When who/that/which is the object of the verb, we can leave it out.

They didn’t have the shirt that I wanted to buy. / They didn’t have the shirt I wanted to buy.

In the above sentence, that (= the shirt) is the object of the verb wanted.

However, if who/that/which is the subject of the verb, we cannot leave it out.

Do you know the woman who is standing over there?

(NOT: Do you know the woman is standing over there?)

See now some examples:

The receptionist helps clients. The clients visit the company.

The receptionist helps clients who/that visit the company.

I saw the employee. The employee left the company.

I saw the employee who/that left the company.

Let’s go to that restaurant. We ate there yesterday.

Let’s go to that restaurant where we ate yesterday.

I sent you an email. Did you receive it?

Did you receive the email that/which I sent you?

His new laptop doesn’t work. He bought it yesterday.

The laptop that/which he bought yesterday doesn’t work.

I work in an office. The office doesn’t have air-conditioning.

The office where I work doesn’t have air-conditioning.

She is the woman. She started her own business.

She’s the woman who started her own business.

I know him and he is the most interesting person.

He’s the most interesting person that I know.

Did you get the e-mail. The one that I sent you?

Did you get the email that I sent you?

He is the man his laptop was stolen.

He’s the man whose laptop was stolen.

relative clause

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