Relative Clauses for intermediate learners
Relative clauses give us more information about people and things. They are used to combine clauses and avoid repetition. Click here to learn!
What Are Relative Clauses?
Whenever we have a relative pronoun, relative determiner, or a relative adverb at the beginning of a clause, we call it a relative clause. Below, we are going to learn all about it.
Relative Clauses: Types
In English, we have two types of relative clauses. Take a look at the list below:
Now, let us analyze each:
Adjectival Relative Clauses
These relative clauses function as adjectives and describe nouns or noun phrases in sentences. They can begin with relative pronouns or relative adverbs. Look:
I'm not sure I know
The old man
Are you talking about the building
Ursula remembered the day
Warning!
It is important to know that whenever a relative pronoun is referring to a noun that is in the sentence, it is no longer a relative pronoun. It is a relative adverb.
Nominal Relative Clauses
Nominal relative clauses mainly function as a subject, an object, or a complement for the independent clause. They can begin with nominal relative pronouns or relative determiners. Look at the list below:
Now, let us examine some examples below:
I can date
Why do you get angry
As you can see we have a noun after the modifier.
I think she doesn't know
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