Relative Clauses

Clauses beginning with question words - such as who, which, where - are often used to modify
nouns and some pronouns, often to identify people and things or to give more information about
them. Clauses like this are called 'relative clauses'.

Do you know the boy who lives next door?

The people who left early missed out on the surprise.
There is a new movie out which you might enjoy.
He moved to a place where there is no cinema.

When who, whom and which introduce relative clauses, they are called 'relative pronouns'. Who(m)
refers to people and which to things.

What's the name of the girl who has ginger hair? NOT What's the name of the girl which
has ginger hair?
Don't eat the chocolate which has the blue label. It's for Sarah. NOT Don't eat the chocolate
who has the blue label.

Who and which can be subjects of verbs in relative clauses:

I like people who joke a lot. (who is the subject of smile)

This is the key which opens the back door. (which is the subject of opens)

Who(m) and which can also be objects of verbs in relative clauses (Whom is unusual in an informal
style).

Do you remember the guy who we met in the club last week? (who is the object of met)
I forget most of the films which I see. (which is the object of see)

We often use that instead of who or which, especially in and informal style.

I like people that smile a lot.

This is the key that opens the back door.
Do you remember the guy that we met in the club last week?
I forget most of the films that I see.

That is especially common after quantifiers like all, every(thing), some(thing), any(thing),
no(thing), none, little, few, much, only, and after superlatives.

Is this all that's left? sounds more natural than: Is this all which is left?
Have you got anything that belongs to me? more natural than: anything which.....
The only thing that matters is get home safe.
I hope the little that I've done has been useful.

What cannot be used in these cases.

All that you say is certainly true. NOT All what you say.......

As subjects or objects, who(m), which and that replace words like she, him or it: one subject or
object in a relative close is enough.
He's got a new girlfriend. She works in a garage.
He's got a new girlfriend who works in a garage. NOT ….who she works in a garage.
 This is Mr Rogers. You met him last year.
This is Mr Rogers, whom you met last year. NOT ….whom you met him last year.

Here's an article . It might interest you.

Here's an article which might interest you. NOT ….which it might interest you.

I've found the car keys. You were looking for them.
I've found the care keys that you were looking for. NOT ….that you were looking for them.

Whose is a possessive relative pronoun, used as a determiner before nouns. It replaces his/her/its.

I saw a girl whose hair came down to her waist. NOT...... whose her hair came down ….

Which can refer not only to a noun, but also to a whole of a previous clause. What cannot be used in
this way.

He got married again a year later, which surprised everybody. NOT ….what surprised
everybody.

When and where can introduce relative clauses after nouns referring to time and place. They are
used the same way as preposition + which. Why is used in a similar way after reason.

I'll never forget the day when I first met you. (=....the day on which....)
Do you know a shop where I can find boots? (= …. a shop at which...)
Do you know the reason why he didn't come? (=..... the reason for which...)

Some relative clauses identify or classify nouns: they tell us which person or thing, or which kind o
person or thing, is meant. These types of relative clauses are called identifying/defining/restrictive
relative clauses.

What's the name of the woman who just came in?

People who exercise live longer.
Who owns the car which is parked outside?

Other relative clauses do not identify or classify, they simply tell us more about a person or thing
that is already identified. These are called non-identifying/non-defining/non-restrictive relative
clauses.

This is Mr Rogers, who is joining the firm next week.

In 1908 Ford developed his Model T car, which sold for $500.

Identifying relative clauses usually follow immediately after the noun they modify, without a break
(no pauses or intonation breaks in speech or commas in writing). This is because the noun would
not be completer without the relative clause, and the sentence would make no sense or have a
different meaning. Non-difining clause are normally separated by pauses or intonation breaks and
commas.

The children who finished their exams left early.(only those children who finished their
exams left early, the others stayed)
The children, who finished their exams, left early. (all the children left early because they all
finished their exams)
Defining clauses cannot easily be left out.

The woman who does my hair has moved to another hairdresser's. - The woman has moved
to another hairdresser's. (which woman?)

That is common as a relative pronoun in defining clauses , but unusual in non-defining clauses.

Have you got a book which/that is easy to read?

I lent him '100 years of solitude', which is really easy to read. NOT ….'100 years of
solitude' , that is easy to read.

In identifying relative clause, we often leave out object pronouns, especially in informal style. In
non-identifying relative clauses this is not possible.

I feel sorry for the man she married.

She met my brother, whom she later married. NOT She met my brother, she later married.

What does not refer to a noun that comes before it. It acts as a noun+relative pronoun together and
means 'the thing(s) which'. Clauses beginning with what can act as subjects, objects or complements
after be.

What she said made me angry. ( subject of made)

I hope you're going to give me what I need. (object of give)
This is exactly what I wanted. (complement)

What is only used to mean 'the thing(s) which'. It cannot be used as an ordinary relative pronoun
after a noun or pronoun.

We haven't got everything that you ordered. NOT....everything what you ordered.
The only thing that keeps me awake is coffee. NOT The only thing what.....

What can also be used as a determiner with a noun.

What money he has comes from his family. (=the money that he has)
I'll give you what help I can. (=any help I can)