Relative clausesgive us more information about someone or something. We can use relativeclauses to combine clauses without repeating information.
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Using a relative clause means that there is no need to repeat ‘their daughter’. | |
We can use relative clauses to give focus to something or someone.
| We’re reading this book at the moment. |
| I was talking about the woman. |
Types of relative clause
There are two types of relative clause: one type refers to a noun or noun phrase (these are defining and non-defining relative clauses) and the other type refers to a whole sentence or clause, especially in speaking.
Defining and non-defining relative clauses
Defining and non-defining relative clauses define or describe the noun (or noun phrase) that comes before them(In the examples, the relative clause is inbold, and the person or thing that is referred to isunderlined.):
He’s going to show youthe roomsthat are available.(that are availabledefinesthe rooms; it tells us which rooms)
Dodingson, 22,who boxed in two Olympics, will be managed by his close friend Colin McFarllan.(who boxed in two OlympicsdescribesDodingson; it is extra information about him)
See also:
Relative clauses: defining and non-defining
Punctuation
Relative clauses referring to a whole sentence
The other type of relative clause refers to a whole sentence or stretch of language (they are sometimes called sentential relative clauses). This type of relative clause is always introduced withwhich. In writing we usually put a comma beforewhich:
But I thinkSean was a bit upset about that,which is understandable.(which is understandablerefers to the whole clause before it [underlined]: that Sean was upset about something)
She goes to Canada and stays with her daughter, and then her daughter comes here the next year. Every other year they change places you know.Which is nice.(Which is nicerefers to the whole stretch of text before it [underlined]. This is common in speaking but not in writing.)
See also:
Relative clauses referring to a whole sentence