6.3 Relative Clauses and Relative Pronouns

Relative clauses and pronouns are key players in sentence structure. They modify nouns, adding crucial details or extra info. These grammar tools help us create more complex, informative sentences.

Knowing how to use relative clauses and pronouns is a game-changer for clear writing. They let us pack more meaning into our sentences, making our ideas richer and more precise.

Types of Relative Clauses

Understanding Relative Clauses and Their Functions

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• Relative clause modifies a noun or pronoun in the main clause by providing additional information
• Functions as an adjective to describe or identify the antecedent
• Begins with a relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, which, that) or a relative adverb (where, when, why)
• Adds essential or non-essential information to the sentence, depending on the type
• Can be removed from the sentence without changing its core meaning (non-restrictive) or is necessary for the sentence's meaning (restrictive)

Restrictive vs. Non-Restrictive Relative Clauses

• Restrictive relative clause narrows down or specifies the meaning of the antecedent
  • Essential for the sentence's meaning and cannot be removed without changing the intended message
  • Not set off by commas in writing
  • Often introduced by "that" or "which" for things, "who" or "whom" for people
  • Provides necessary information to identify the specific person, place, or thing being discussed (The book that I borrowed from the library is overdue)
• Non-restrictive relative clause provides additional, non-essential information about the antecedent
  • Can be removed from the sentence without altering its core meaning
  • Set off by commas in writing
  • Usually introduced by "which" for things and "who" for people
  • Adds extra details or background information about the noun being described (My sister, who lives in Paris, is visiting next week)

Relative Pronouns

Functions and Usage of Relative Pronouns

• Relative pronoun introduces a relative clause and connects it to the main clause
• Refers back to the antecedent (noun or pronoun being modified) in the main clause
• Serves as the subject or object of the relative clause
• Chosen based on the antecedent's characteristics (person, thing, possession) and its function in the relative clause
• Can sometimes be omitted in certain contexts, particularly in informal speech

Specific Relative Pronouns and Their Applications

• Who refers to people and functions as the subject of the relative clause (The woman who won the lottery is my neighbor)
• Whom refers to people and functions as the object of the relative clause or a preposition (The candidate whom we interviewed yesterday was impressive)
• Whose indicates possession for both people and things (The dog whose collar is red belongs to my friend)
• Which refers to things or animals and can be used in both restrictive and non-restrictive clauses (The car, which was parked in the driveway, belongs to my parents)
• That refers to people, animals, or things in restrictive clauses only (The movie that we watched last night was terrifying)

Other Key Terms

Understanding Antecedents in Relative Clauses

• Antecedent represents the noun or pronoun in the main clause that the relative clause modifies
• Determines the choice of relative pronoun used to introduce the relative clause
• Can be a person (who, whom, whose), thing (which, that), or animal (which, that, whose)
• Must agree in number and gender with the relative pronoun
• Helps establish the connection between the main clause and the relative clause (The book that I'm reading is fascinating)