Relative Clauses

Relative clauses are a type of clause that joins two thoughts or two sentences together. We give additional information about something without starting another sentence. We use who, that, which, where and whose to make our relative clause.

For example the two thoughts: A man lives next door to me. and The man is from Australia. can be joined together like this: The man who lives next door to me is from Australia. This tells the listener or reader who we are talking about.

Or the two thoughts: Australia is a country. and Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere. Can be joined together like this: Australia is a country, which is located in the Southern Hemisphere.  This time the clause gives us extra information about Australia.

use example who which whose whom that subject or object pronoun for people I told you about the woman who lives next door. which subject or object pronoun for animals and things Do you see the cat which is lying on the roof? whose possession for people animals and things Do you know the boy whose mother is a nurse? whom object pronoun for people, especially in non-defining relative clauses (in defining relative clauses we colloquially prefer who) I was invited by the professor whom I met at the conference. that subject or object pronoun for people, animals and things in relative clauses (who or which are also possible) I don’t like the table that stands in the kitchen.

use example when where why refers to a time expression the day when we met him where refers to a place the place where we met him why refers to a reason the reason why we met him

"I know an old lady who swallowed a fly." Examples: "I know an old lady. “ “The old lady swallowed a fly." "I know an old lady who swallowed a fly."

There's the boy who broke the window. There is the boy. He broke the window. There's the boy who broke the window.

What's the name of the lady? She was wearing the blue dress. What's the name of the lady who was wearing the blue dress?

Here are the letters. They arrived this morning. Here are the letters which arrived this morning.

That's the house. I was born in it. That's the house where I was born.

Fill in with where, why or when That's the restaurant __________we met for the first time. I remember the day __________ we first met. Tell me the reason __________ you were late home. where when why

4) There was a very hot summer the year  __________ he was born. 5) Do you know the reason __________ Isabel isn't in class today? 6) My entire family now worships in the church ___________my great grandfather used to be minister. when why where

Now, Let’s Practise!