The Relative Clause
Recognize a relative clause when you see one.
A relative clause—also called an adjective or adjectival clause—will meet three requirements.
- First, it will contain a subject and verb.
- Next, it will begin with a relative pronoun [who, whom, whose, that, or which] or arelative adverb [when, where, or why].
- Finally, it will function as an adjective, answering the questions What kind? How many? orWhich one?
The relative clause will follow one of these two patterns:relative pronoun or adverb + subject + verbrelative pronoun as subject + verbHere are some examples:Which Francine did not acceptWhich = relative pronoun; Francine = subject; did accept = verb [not, an adverb, is not officially part of the verb].Where George found Amazing Spider-Man #96 in fair conditionWhere = relative adverb; George = subject; found = verb.That dangled from the one clean bathroom towelThat = relative pronoun functioning as subject; dangled = verb.Who continued to play video games until his eyes were blurry with fatigueWho = relative pronoun functioning as subject; played = verb.
Avoid creating a sentence fragment.
A relative clause does not express a complete thought, so it cannot stand alone as a sentence. To avoid writing a fragment, you must connect each relative clause to a main clause. Read the examples below. Notice that the relative clause follows the word that it describes.To calm his angry girlfriend, Joey offered an apology which Francine did not accept.We tried our luck at the same flea market where George found Amazing Spider-Man #96 in fair condition.Michelle screamed when she saw the spider that dangled from the one clean bathroom towel.Brian said goodnight to his roommate Justin, who continued to play video games until his eyes were blurry with fatigue.
Punctuate a relative clause correctly.
Matthew and his sister Loretta, who skateboard in the street, are especially noisy in the early evening.Punctuating relative clauses can be tricky. For each sentence, you will have to decide if the relative clause is essential or nonessential and then use commas accordingly.Essential clauses do not require commas. A relative clause is essential when you need the information it provides. Look at this example:The children who skateboard in the street are especially noisy in the early evening.Children is nonspecific. To know which ones we are talking about, we must have the information in the relative clause. Thus, the relative clause is essential and requires no commas.If, however, we eliminate children and choose more specific nouns instead, the relative clause becomes nonessential and does require commas to separate it from the rest of the sentence. Read this revision:
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Exercise 37. Relative Clauses
1.
The last record which produced by this company
became a gold record.
2.
Checking accounts that require a minimum balance
are very common now.
3.
The professor whose you spoke yesterday is not
here today.
4.
John whose grades are the highest in the school,
has received a scholarship.
5.
Felipe bought a camera that has three lenses.
6.
Frank are who were nominated for the office of
treasurer.
7.
The doctor is with a patient whose leg was
broken in an accident.
8.
Jane is the woman who is going to China next
year.
9.
Janet wants a typewriter whose self-corrects.
10.
This book that I found last week, contains some
useful information.
11.
Mr. Bryant whose team has lost the game, looks
very sad.
12.
James wrote an article whose indicated that he
diskiled the president.
13.
The director of the program whose graduated from
Harvard University, is planning to retire next year.
14.
This is the book that I have been looking for
all year.
15.
William whose brother is a lawyer, wants to
become a judge.
Exercise 38. Relative Clause Reduction
1.
George is the man chosen to represent the
committee at the convention.
2.
All of the money accepted has already been
released.
3.
The papers on the table belong to Patricia.
4.
The man brought to the police station confessed
to the crime.
5.
The girl drinking coffe, is Mary Allen.
6.
John’s wife, a professor, has written several
papers on this subject.
7.
The man talking to the policeman, is my uncle.
8.
The book
on the top shelf, is the one that I need.
9.
The number of students have been counted is
quite high.
10.
Leo Evans, a doctor, eats in this restaurant
every day.