Lesson 7: Introduction to Relative Clauses
This lesson introduces relative clauses in English, explaining their function and how to use them effectively.
About this lesson
In this lesson, you will explore the concept of relative clauses in English. You will learn how to use them to provide additional information about people, objects, or places — all without starting a new sentence. We will cover the different relative pronouns such as 'who', 'whom', 'whose', 'which', and 'that', and see how they connect main clauses with subordinate ones.
40 minutes
What you'll learn
- Understand what a relative clause is and what role it plays in a sentence.
- Recognize and identify the different relative pronouns.
- Use 'who', 'which', and 'that' correctly in sentences.
- Combine two short sentences into one more complex sentence using a relative clause.
- Distinguish between defining and non-defining relative clauses.
Lesson vocabulary
- clause A relative clause usually starts with a relative pronoun.
- pronoun Relative pronouns connect clauses.
- refer The pronoun 'who' refers to people.
- provide Relative clauses provide extra detail.
- essential Some relative clauses give essential information.
- non-essential Commas are used with non-essential relative clauses.
- modify The relative clause modifies the noun.
- subject In 'The man who called me', 'who' is the subject of the relative clause.
- object 'Whom' is used when the pronoun is the object.
- possessive 'Whose' is a possessive relative pronoun.
- connect Relative pronouns connect two parts of a sentence.
- information This clause gives us more information.
- sentence We can combine two sentences into one.
- rule There are specific rules for using relative clauses.
- describe Relative clauses describe nouns.