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Relative Clauses: Adding Extra Information About a Noun

In one line: A relative clause is a group of words that tells us more about a noun (a person, place or thing), and it usually starts with a relative pronoun such as who, which, that, whose, where or when.

Why it works

Relative clauses let you join two short sentences into one smoother sentence, so your writing sounds less choppy. They also help you say exactly which person or thing you mean, as in 'the girl who won the race' rather than just 'the girl'. Good writers use them to pack in useful detail without starting a brand-new sentence every time.

Think of it like: Think of a relative clause like a name tag stuck onto a noun. If a room is full of children, saying 'the boy' is confusing, but 'the boy who is wearing a red hat' points to exactly one person. The relative clause is the tag that tells everyone which one you mean, or gives a fun extra fact about them. (Where this breaks: A name tag can be stuck anywhere, but a relative clause normally has to sit straight after the noun it describes, or the sentence can become confusing. Also, a tag is always optional, whereas some relative clauses are essential: take them away and the reader no longer knows which person or thing you mean.)

Worked example

Join these two sentences using a relative clause: 'The dog barked all night. The dog lives next door.'

  1. Find the noun that both sentences share: 'the dog'.
  2. Decide which sentence gives extra information about that noun: 'The dog lives next door.'
  3. Choose a relative pronoun (a joining word that points back to the noun). A dog is an animal, not a person, so use 'that' or 'which'.
  4. Swap 'The dog' in the second sentence for the relative pronoun: 'that lives next door'.
  5. Place this relative clause straight after 'the dog' in the first sentence: 'The dog that lives next door barked all night.'

Answer: The dog that lives next door barked all night. (The relative clause is 'that lives next door'.)

Common mistakes

  • Using 'which' for people, as in 'the teacher which helped me', instead of using 'who' for people and 'which' or 'that' for things and animals.
  • Using 'what' as a relative pronoun, as in 'the book what I read', when it should be 'the book that I read' or 'the book which I read'.
  • Leaving out one of the commas around a clause that only adds an extra fact, as in 'My grandad, who is 80 loves chess', instead of putting commas at both ends: 'My grandad, who is 80, loves chess'.
  • Mixing up 'who's' (short for 'who is') with 'whose' (showing that something belongs to someone), so write 'the girl whose bike was stolen', not 'the girl who's bike was stolen'.

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Questions parents ask

What year do children learn about relative clauses?

In England, relative clauses are formally taught in Year 5, and children in Australia meet them around Years 5 and 6. In the US, students usually learn relative pronouns such as who, whose, which and that in Grade 4. Many children use them naturally in speech much earlier.

What is the difference between a relative clause and a relative pronoun?

A relative pronoun is the single word that starts the clause, such as who, which, that or whose. The relative clause is the whole group of words, for example 'who lives next door'. Words like 'where' and 'when' can also start relative clauses.

Can a relative clause have no relative pronoun at all?

Yes, sometimes the pronoun can be left out, as in 'the book I read' instead of 'the book that I read'. This only works when the pronoun is not the subject of the clause. Children usually find it easier to include the pronoun while they are learning.

How can I help my child with relative clauses at home?

Play a 'which one?' game: point to an object and ask your child to describe it using who, which, that or where, such as 'the mug that has a crack in it'. You can also give them two short sentences about the same thing and ask them to join them. Reading together and spotting relative clauses in books helps too.