Relative Clauses

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 2

Relative Clauses

Writing in English

Noun

a word (other than a pronoun) used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things (common noun), or to name a particular one of these (proper noun).

Zelfstandig naamwoord

Relative clause

A relative clause is a clause that starts with a word like who, which, that, why, where, when, and whose, and we use them to describe nouns. 

Example 1

This meal reminds me of another meal. My grandmother used to make a meal just like this.

Example 1

This meal reminds me of another meal. My grandmother used to make a meal just like this.

Becomes:

This meal reminds me of another meal that my grandmother used to make.

Examples

- I’m looking for the student whose mother called yesterday.

- The novel, which he wrote in two months, quickly became popular.

- Did I tell you about the customer who gave us a bad review?

Examples

- I’m looking for the student whose mother called yesterday.

- The novel, which he wrote in two months, quickly became popular.

- Did I tell you about the customer who gave us a bad review?

Defining or non-defining clause?

If you take out the relative clause, does the meaning or structure change?

Defining: Yes

Non-defining: No

Defining or non defining?
I’m looking for the student.

1. Defining clause
2. Non-defining clause

Defining or non-defining?
The novel quickly became popular.

1. Defining clause
2. Non-defining clause

Defining or non-defining?
Did I tell you about the customer?

1. Defining clause
2. Non-defining clause

Punctuation

Keep in mind that when you write with a non-defining relative clause, you have to separate it from the rest of the sentence with commas.

For example

• The novel, which he wrote in two months, quickly became popular.

• We laughed so much that day, which we had never done before.

• Istanbul, where my cousin lives, is known for its beautiful mosques.

Writing practice

Combine the two sentences together using a relative clause. 

My best friend lives in Michigan. She has ten siblings.

The man cooked all of this food. He’s standing in the back of the room.

The family travels nine months out of the year. This is their house.

She never showed up to her own party. It shocked us all.

Let’s go somewhere for the weekend. This place should be cheap and close by.