Lesson: Relative Clauses
1. Definition
Relative clauses are clauses that give extra information about a noun. They usually begin
with relative pronouns such as who, whom, whose, which, that, where, when, and why.
Example: The student who is reading is my friend.
2. Types of Relative Clauses
1) Defining (Restrictive) Relative Clause – gives essential information about the noun.
Example: The girl who won the prize is my sister.
2) Non-Defining (Non-Restrictive) Relative Clause – gives extra information. It is separated
by commas.
Example: Abel, who is my cousin, lives in Addis Ababa.
3. Relative Pronouns and Their Uses
Who – used for people (subject)
Example: The boy who plays football is my friend.
Whom – used for people (object)
Example: The man whom I met yesterday is a teacher.
Whose – used for possession
Example: The student whose book is lost is worried.
Which – used for things or animals
Example: The car which is parked outside belongs to my uncle.
That – used for people, things, or animals
Example: The book that I bought is interesting.
4. Relative Adverbs
Where – used for place
Example: This is the house where I was born.
When – used for time
Example: I remember the day when we met.
Why – used for reason
Example: I know the reason why she left.
5. Subject and Object in Relative Clauses
Subject example: The teacher who teaches English is very kind.
Object example: The teacher whom I met yesterday is very kind.
In modern English, 'who' is often used instead of 'whom' in speaking.
6. Omission of Relative Pronouns
Sometimes the relative pronoun can be omitted when it is the object.
Example: The book (that) I bought yesterday is interesting.
Example: The man (who) I met is a teacher.
7. Reduced Relative Clauses
Relative clauses can sometimes be shortened.
Full: The man who is standing there is my teacher.
Reduced: The man standing there is my teacher.
8. Examples
The girl who studies hard will pass the exam.
The book that you gave me is very useful.
The town where I was born is very beautiful.
The day when we met was unforgettable.
9. Practice Exercise (Choose the correct answer)
1. The boy _____ won the competition is my brother. (who / which)
2. The book _____ I borrowed is interesting. (that / who)
3. The girl _____ father is a teacher is my friend. (whose / which)
4. This is the place _____ we met. (where / who)
5. I remember the day _____ we graduated. (when / where)
6. The car _____ is parked outside belongs to my uncle. (which / who)
7. The man _____ you saw yesterday is my teacher. (who / where)
8. The reason _____ she left is not clear. (why / when)
9. The students _____ study hard will succeed. (who / which)
10. The village _____ I was born is far from here. (where / when)
10. Short Passage
Marta is a student who studies at a secondary school. The school, which was built ten years
ago, has many classrooms. She has a friend whose brother works as a doctor. They often
study in the library where students read books. Marta remembers the day when she first
joined the school.
11. Passage Questions
1. In the passage, 'who studies at a secondary school' refers to ______.
2. The word 'which' refers to ______.
3. The word 'whose' refers to ______.
4. The word 'where' refers to ______.
5. The word 'when' refers to ______.