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Relative Clauses
Relative Clauses
We use relative clauses to give additional information about something without starting another
sentence. By combining sentences with a relative clause, your text becomes more fluent and you
can avoid repeating certain words.
Relative Pronouns
relative
use example
pronoun
I told you about the woman
who subject or object pronoun for people
who lives next door.
Do you see the cat which is
which subject or object pronoun for animals and things
lying on the roof?
He couldn’t read which
which referring to a whole sentence
surprised me.
Do you know the boy whose
whose possession for people animals and things
mother is a nurse?
object pronoun for people, especially in non- I was invited by the
whom defining relative clauses (in defining relative clauses professor whom I met at the
we colloquially prefer who) conference.
subject or object pronoun for people, animals and
I don’t like the table that
that things in defining relative clauses (who or which are
stands in the kitchen.
also possible)
Relative Adverbs
A relative adverb can be used instead of a relative pronoun plus preposition. This often makes the
sentence easier to understand.
This is the shop in which I bought my bike.
→ This is the shop where I bought my bike.
relative
meaning use example
adverb
in/on refers to a time
when the day when we met him
which expression
in/at the place where we met
where refers to a place
which him
the reason why we met
why for which refers to a reason
him