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Clauses

Relative pronouns and relative clauses

This, unit presents the definition and the types of relative clauses. English language has several
relative pronouns: who, whom, that, which, and whose. Many people struggle with the correct
use of relative pronouns, particularly when they use ‘that’ versus ‘which’ and ‘who’ versus
‘whom’. This unit will provide an overview of what relative pronouns and relative clauses are
and how to correctly use relative pronouns within different types of relative clauses.
Relative pronoun
A relative pronoun introduces a relative clause, providing additional information about a noun in
the main clause. The seven relative pronouns in English are who, whom, which, that, when,
where and whose. They can act as subject or object case pronouns depending on their function
within the relative clause. Possessive relative pronouns, like whose, indicate ownership. The
following table gives a short summary of the relative pronouns.
Subject Object Possession
People who/that who/whom/that whose
Things which/that which/that whose
Time when when whose
Place where where whose

Who: Used to refer to people and acts as the subject of the relative clause.

Example: The man who is tall is my brother.

That: Can be used instead of ‘who’ or ‘which’ in defining clauses, referring to people or things
and acting as the subject.

Example: The dog that barks is loud.

Which: Used to refer to things and acts as the subject and object of the relative clause.

Example: The car which he bought is new.

The book which I borrowed is interesting.

Whom: Used to refer to people and acts as the object of the relative clause.

Example: This is the person whom I met yesterday.

That: Can be used instead of ‘who’ or ‘which’ in defining clauses, referring to people or things
and acting as the object.

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When: Refers to a specific time or period.

Examples: The day when we first met was 2000 G.C.
The year when the company was founded was anonymous.
The day when we got married was unforgettable
Where: Refers to a specific location or place.

Examples: The place where we met was Hossana.

The town where he grew up was Hawassa.

That's the town where I was born.

Whose: Used to indicate possession, referring to people or things.

Example: The house whose roof is broken needs repair.

Definition of a relative clause

What is a relative clause?

Activity

Answer the following questions individually. Write your answers in the spaces provided.
What does a relative clause mean to you?
______________________________________________________________________________
Do you think that any collection of clauses can be a meaningful sentence? If not, why?
______________________________________________________________________________

What does it mean when we say a meaningful sentence?

_________________________________________________________________________
A relative clause is a type of dependent clause. A dependent clause is a clause that does not form
a complete thought and could not stand alone as a sentence. A relative clause is clause that
attached to an independent clause (that is, a clause that does form a complete thought and could
stand alone as a sentence) in order to add extra information to it. In this way, the relative clause
is dependent upon the clause it attaches to become part of a complete sentence. Since relative
clauses serve a function similar to that of adjectives (description words), by providing more
information about the subject of the independent clause they attach to, they are also known as
adjective clauses.
There are two types of relative clauses: restrictive clauses and non-restrictive clauses.
A relative clause is a dependent clause that is introduced by or begins with explicitly or
implicitly stated relative pronouns like who, whom, whose, that, or which. In other words, a
relative clause is a subordinate clause introduced by relative pronouns such as who, which,

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whose, where, why, whom….etc. and that refer back to the previous nouns. Relative pronouns
are joining pronouns used to begin a group of words that tells someone or something mentioned
earlier. They include who, which, whom, whose, that and so on.
There are two types of relative clauses: defining and non-defining.
Types of relative clauses
A relative clause is a subordinate clause that modifies, or gives further information about a noun or
pronoun, i.e., an antecedent of a relative pronoun. Hence, relative clauses are two types: defining and
non-defining relative clauses.
Defining Relative Clauses
Defining relative clause is identified as a restrictive, limiting, identifying or essential relative clause. A
restrictive clause is a type of relative clause that provides information about the subject of the
independent clause that is necessary to the meaning of the sentence. This means that, without the
restrictive clause, the meaning of the sentence would change. Restrictive clauses cannot set apart
from the independent clause within commas. That means, the relative clause without comma is called
defining/identifying/restrictive.
The man whom you are talking is my uncle.
He is the man who/that lives next door.
This is the photo which/that shows my house.
Diamonds that sparkle are expensive.
Note:
 If the subject is a person, we use who/that/whom.

The student who/that wins the race will get prize.

 If the subject is a thing, we use which/that.
The car which/that killed the cow was badly damaged.
 If the object is a person, we use who/whom/that/.
I found the boy who/whom/ that/we caught him stealing has been expelled.
 If the object is a thing, we use which/that/.
That is the cake which/that mother baked was very nice.
 To show possession, we can use whose.
That is the girl whose father is a policeman.
He lives near the lake in a village whose name I have forgotten.

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Non-defining relative clause

A non-restrictive clause is a type of relative clause that adds non-essential information to a
sentence. This means that the central meaning of the sentence would not change if the non-
restrictive clause was omitted. Commas set the non-restrictive clause apart from the rest of the
sentence.
Relative pronouns (who, whom, that, which, and whose) indicate the beginning of a relative
clause. When referring to something non-human, the appropriate relative pronouns are ‘that’ or
‘which’. When referring to a human, the appropriate relative pronounce are typically ‘who’ or
‘whom’. However, that can also be used to refer to humans in restrictive clauses. The possessive
relative pronoun is ‘whose’ when referring to either humans or non-humans.
Let’s see the following non-defining relative clauses.
Example:
Adam took his car, which had a bad transmission, to the mechanic.
In the example above, the non-restrictive clause (“which had a bad transmission) describes
Adam’s (only) car. Knowing that his car has a bad transmission is not necessary to know that he
took it to the mechanic.
Peter, who lives in Toronto, works in the banking industry
Diamonds, which sparkle, are expensive.
In the example above, the non-restrictive clause (which sparkles) adds additional information
about diamonds (that they sparkle) but does not affect the essential meaning of the sentence:
diamonds are expensive.
Paris, which is the capital of France, is a very beautiful city.
Instruction: Select the correct relative pronoun from the list given and complete the blank space in
each of the following sentences.

Where Which When Why Who Whose

1. The 19th century artist, --------------- name I couldn’t remember, was very prolific at his time.
2. One of the reasons ---------------- most of us change is because we need to adjust and adopt to the
changing life conditions.
3. This is a restaurant ------------- you can find many different cuisines from around the world.
4. The moment ------------------ I found out the exam results was one of the worst times in my life.
5. Those ------------------ are eager to join the Spanish class should sign up by tomorrow.
6. Los Angeles, --------------------- is one the most visited tourist destinations, is a fascinating city

Choose the alternative that contains the correct answer

1. The train ________ goes to Madrid leaves from platform. A) where B) who C) which D)
whose
2. The teacher ________ Computer I borrowed wants it back. A) which B) where C) who
D)whose
3. Where’s the dog _________ lives next door. A) who B) which C) whose D) when

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4. My friend Kebede, ________ is an Ethiopian, tells funny jokes. A) who B) which C)

whose D) where
5. Do you know ________ this mobile phone belongs to? A) which B) where C) whom
D)who
6. The teacher, ____ I spoke this morning, said I was doing very well. A) who B) whom C)
to whom D) which
7. Do you know anyone ______ has visited Ireland? A) which B) where C) whom D) who

From ESSLCE 2025

1. I met the girl-------------------phone number I was asking for.
a. which b. that c. whose d. whom