Relative Clauses

In today's blog we will look at how we use relative clauses in writing and speaking. Relative clauses are a great way to add information to nouns. In the IELTS written paper, they can be very useful for the task 1 question on processes. Moreover, using relative clauses in IELTS writing task 2 can increase your grammatical range.

What are Relative Clauses

Relative clauses are parts of sentences which add information to a noun in the sentence.

The relative clause can be either the subject or the object of the clause.

The are connected to the noun with a relative pronoun e.g. who, which, that.

What are Relative Pronouns

There are two types of relative clauses:

- A defining relative clause

- A non-defining relative clause

Defining relative clauses add information after the noun to identify the noun more clearly.

The man who has the red hat on stole your wallet.

Without these relative clauses, it is not clear who, where or what is being referred to.

The man stole your wallet.

.... which man?

Non – defining relative clauses add extra but non-essential information to something.

The burglars got through the window, which was left open.

Non-defining relative clauses are more common in written language than in spoken language. Therefore, they can be used in a very descriptive way in writing.

Compare the following ...

I applied to the university which is located in the city centre.

I applied to the university, which is located in the city centre.

Defining Relative Clauses

Defining relative clauses give information after a noun to identify the noun clearly.

Find someone who can pick you up from the airport.

Store away any objects that could become damaging missiles if it gets windy.

Without these relative clauses it is unclear which person, place or thing we are referring to.

Store away any objects if it gets windy.

(We do not know the types of objects this statement is referring to.)

Non-defining Relative Clauses

Non-defining relative clauses add extra, non-essential information about something. Compare:

I always use the local butchers, which is in the city centre, because the staff are very friendly.

There is only one butchers, so the location is added information – not defining it from another.

I always use the local butchers which is in the city centre because the staff are very friendly.

There are more than one local butchers, so the location is clarifying which butchers its is exactly – defining it.

We do not use the relative pronoun 'that':

The burglars got through the window, which the owners had forgotten to shut.

NOT – The burglars got through the window, that the owners had forgotten to shut.

Use of commas:

We cannot leave out the relative pronoun:

My new apartment, which is located further outside the city, is much larger.

NOT – My new apartment, is located further outside the city, is much larger.

Used for single noun phrase and whole clauses:

Summary of difference between a Defining relative clause and a Non-defining Relative Clause

Relative clauses in Sentence structures

Practice Activity

There is a mistake with relative clauses in each of the email extracts below. Find the mistakes and correct them.

1. I wonder if you can help me. I want to get in touch with the woman which we met at the meeting last week. Do you know the one I mean?

2. I'm sending tis email to ask for more information about the language course which I saw them advertised in the Daily Star yesterday.

3. How are you getting on with your new job? I'm finding my new job exhausting, that is not surprising considering I have to travel so much.

4. I really enjoyed the lecture which you gave it on Wednesday, and am thinking about doing my assignment on the same topic.

5. I'm just emailing you to find out if you want to go to the cinema on Thursday. I've got todays newspaper which has a list of films. If you're free, let me know.

6. Can you pick up some shopping on your way home? I want some of those bread rolls what we had last week. Will you be able to stop at the shop?

7. You are clearly a person who life is full and busy, and that is why we think you would like our Personal Organizer. For just €15.99 you ....

Answer Key

1. I wonder if you can help me. I want to get in touch with the woman who we met at the meeting last week. Do you know the one I mean?

2. I'm sending tis email to ask for more information about the language course which I saw advertised in the Daily Star yesterday.

3. How are you getting on with your new job? I'm finding my new job exhausting, which is not surprising considering I have to travel so much.

4. I really enjoyed the lecture which you gave on Wednesday, and am thinking about doing my assignment on the same topic.

5. I'm just emailing you to find out if you want to go to the cinema on Thursday. I've got todays newspaper, which has a list of films. If you're free, let me know.

6. Can you pick up some shopping on your way home? I want some of those bread rolls that we had last week. Will you be able to stop at the shop?

7. You are clearly a person whose life is full and busy, and that is why we think you would like our Personal Organizer. For just €15.99 you ....

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