In English, a relative clause is a dependent clause that provides additional information about a noun or pronoun in the main clause of a sentence. A relative clause is introduced by a relative pronoun, such as “who,” “whom,” “whose,” “that,” or “which.” Understanding the grammatical structure and usage of relative clauses is essential for effective communication in English. We will discuss all aspects of relative clauses and how we can use them in the IELTS exam. At the end of this blog, you will see a test to evaluate what you have learned.
The Grammatical Structure of Relative Clauses
A relative clause follows a noun or pronoun in the main clause of a sentence and provides additional information about that noun or pronoun. The relative clause is introduced by a relative pronoun, which serves as the subject or object of the relative clause. The relative pronoun can also function as a possessive pronoun.
The grammatical structure of a relative clause is as follows:
[antecedent], [relative pronoun] [verb] [additional information]
For example:
- The book [antecedent] that [relative pronoun] I read [verb] yesterday [additional information] was really interesting.
In this sentence, “book” is the antecedent, and “that” is the relative pronoun. The verb is “read,” and the additional information is “yesterday.” The relative clause “that I read yesterday” provides additional information about the book.
Why and How We Use Relative Clauses
Relative clauses are used to provide additional information about a noun or pronoun in a sentence. They help to clarify the meaning of the sentence and provide more detail. Relative clauses can also help to avoid repetition in a sentence.
There are two types of relative clauses: restrictive and non-restrictive. A restrictive relative clause provides essential information about the antecedent and is not set off by commas. A non-restrictive relative clause provides additional, non-essential information about the antecedent and is set off by commas.
For example:
- The woman [antecedent] who [restrictive relative pronoun] was wearing the red dress [additional information] won the prize.
In this sentence, the restrictive relative clause “who was wearing the red dress” provides essential information about the woman who won the prize.
- My friend, [antecedent] who [non-restrictive relative pronoun] is a doctor [additional information], is coming over tonight.
In this sentence, the non-restrictive relative clause “who is a doctor” provides additional information about the speaker’s friend but is not essential to the meaning of the sentence.
Relative Pronouns: Understanding Their Use and Examples
Relative pronouns are an essential part of the English language that are used to connect two sentences, clauses, or phrases. They allow us to create more complex and descriptive sentences by adding additional information about a noun or pronoun. Understanding the different types of relative pronouns and how to use them is essential for effective communication in English.
Types of Relative Pronouns
There are five main relative pronouns in English: who, whom, whose, which, and that. Each relative pronoun has a specific use in a sentence.
- Who – Used to refer to a person or people
For example:
- The woman who owns the store is my friend.
- The people who live next door are very friendly.
- Whom – Used to refer to a person as an object of a verb or preposition
For example:
- The woman whom I met at the party is a doctor.
- The man to whom I spoke was very helpful.
- Whose – Used to indicate possession by a person or people
For example:
- The house whose windows are painted blue is mine.
- The girl whose brother is a musician loves to sing.
- Which – Used to refer to an animal or thing
For example:
- The car which I bought last year is very reliable.
- The book which you recommended is really interesting.
- That – Used to refer to a person, animal, or thing
For example:
- The cat that we saw in the park was very cute.
- The man that you spoke to earlier is my boss.
How to Use Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns are used to connect two sentences or phrases by adding additional information about a noun or pronoun. They are often used to clarify or add more detail to a sentence.
The relative pronoun always refers to the noun or pronoun that comes before it, which is called the antecedent. The relative pronoun then serves as the subject or object of the clause that follows it.
For example:
- The woman who owns the store is my friend.
In this sentence, “woman” is the antecedent, and “who” is the relative pronoun. The relative pronoun “who” then serves as the subject of the clause “owns the store.” The whole sentence provides more information about the woman.
Do you want to know how to differenciate defining and non-defining relative clauses? Check Grammarly’s post.
How to Use Relative Clauses in IELTS Speaking
Using relative clauses in IELTS speaking can demonstrate your ability to use complex sentences, which is an essential skill to achieve a high score in the speaking test. In this blog post, we will discuss how to use relative clauses in IELTS speaking and provide examples to illustrate their use.
Identify the Noun or Pronoun You Want to Modify
To use a relative clause, you first need to identify the noun or pronoun you want to modify. The relative pronoun you use will depend on the type of noun or pronoun being modified.
For example:
- Person: My friend, who I met in high school, is getting married next month.
- Thing: The car, which I bought last year, has been very reliable.
Choose the Appropriate Relative Pronoun
Once you have identified the noun or pronoun, you need to choose the appropriate relative pronoun. The most common relative pronouns are “who,” “whom,” “whose,” “which,” and “that.” Knowing which pronoun to use depends on the noun or pronoun being modified and whether it is a person, animal, or thing.
For example:
- Person: The man who is standing over there is my boss.
- Animal: The dog that chased the cat is very fast.
- Thing: The book which I am reading is really interesting.
Use Commas to Set Off Non-Essential Information
If you are using a non-defining relative clause to provide additional, non-essential information, it should be set off with commas. This can help to make your meaning clear and avoid confusion.
For example:
- Defining: The teacher who taught me math was really good.
- Non-defining: My math teacher, who I had in high school, was really good.
Vary Your Use of Relative Clauses
To demonstrate your ability to use complex sentences, it is important to vary your use of relative clauses. This means using both defining and non-defining relative clauses, as well as different relative pronouns.
For example:
- Defining: The woman who is speaking is the CEO of the company.
- Non-defining: The CEO of the company, who I met at a conference last year, is a very inspiring person.
To learn how to use collocation in the IELTS exam, you can visit this post.
How to Use Relative Clauses in IELTS Writing
One of the key elements of scoring well in IELTS writing is the ability to use a variety of sentence structures, including relative clauses. Relative clauses are clauses that provide additional information about a noun or pronoun in a sentence. They are often used to make a sentence more complex, provide more detail or explanation, and show the relationship between different ideas. Here are some tips on how to use relative clauses effectively in IELTS writing:
Identify the Noun or Pronoun Being Modified
To use a relative clause correctly, you must first identify the noun or pronoun being modified. The relative pronoun that introduces the relative clause must match the noun or pronoun it is referring to. For example:
- The book (that/which) I read was very interesting. (The relative pronoun “that” or “which” refers to the noun “book”.)
Use the Correct Relative Pronoun
There are several relative pronouns that can be used to introduce a relative clause, such as “that,” “which,” “who,” “whom,” and “whose.” Choosing the correct relative pronoun depends on the noun or pronoun being modified and the role it plays in the sentence. For example:
- The person (who/whom) I met yesterday was very friendly. (The relative pronoun “who” or “whom” refers to the noun “person” and indicates that the person is the subject of the verb “met”.)
- The computer, (which/that) I bought last week, is already outdated. (The relative pronoun “which” or “that” refers to the noun “computer” and provides additional information about it.)
Use Commas Correctly
When using a non-defining relative clause (a clause that provides additional, non-essential information), it should be set off by commas. For example:
- The car, (which/that) was parked outside, belongs to my neighbor.
- My brother’s new girlfriend, (who/whom) he met at work, is very intelligent.
Don’t Overuse Relative Clauses
While relative clauses can add complexity and detail to a sentence, using too many can make your writing confusing and difficult to read. Use relative clauses when they are necessary to add meaning, but try not to overuse them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding and effectively using relative clauses and relative pronouns can greatly enhance one’s performance in the IELTS exam, both in writing and speaking. These clauses and pronouns allow for greater complexity and detail in language, enabling test-takers to better articulate their ideas and convey their message. By mastering the identification of nouns and pronouns being modified, selecting the correct relative pronoun, and using commas properly, test-takers can improve their writing skills and overall performance. Practice is key, and with dedicated effort, one can become comfortable using relative clauses and pronouns in their IELTS exam, achieving greater success in this important test of language proficiency.
