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Types of relative clause

Types of relative clause:Some relative clauses are without commas, and some have commas. > 266D
Both these basic kinds of clause have different uses. as shown below. There
are three types of relative clause without commas (> A-C) and two types with
commas (> D-E)

Types of relative clause
Types of relative clause

Types of relative clause: # 1 Identifying clauses
A relative clause without commas can identify which one we mean.
  • Who was that man who said hello to you?
  • I can't find the pen that I was reading.
The clause that I was reading identifies which book we are talking about.
An identifying clause often comes after a noun phrase with the.
  • I like the course that I'm doing now.
We do not normally use my, your, etc.
(Not I like my course that I’m doing now)
Both my and the relative clause identify the course, but we do not need to use more than one of them. But we can use this, that, these, or those.
  • Have you got those photos you took at the weekend?

Types of relative clause: # 2 Classifying clauses
A relative clause without commas. Can say what kind of thing we are talking about:
  • We're looking for a pub that serve; food,
  • I hate people who laugh at their own jokes.
The clause that serves food describes the kind of pub we mean. A classifying clause often comes after a noun phrase with a/an (a pub) or a plural noun (people).

Types of relative clause:# 3 Clauses used for emphasis
We can use a relative clause without commas in a pattern with it + be.
  • It's my husband who does the cooking, not me.
Here the pattern emphasizes the phrase my husband.

Types of relative clause: # 4 Adding clauses
We can use a relative clause with a comma to add more information about a noun.
  • I'll be away on 10 June, which is a Thursday.
  • Aristotle was taught by Plato, who founded the Academy at Athens.
The clause who founded the Academy at Athens adds extra information about
Plato. We can leave out the adding clause and the sentence still makes sense.
NOTE
After a phrase with clan, the question ol whether a comma should be used ts less clear.
  • My brother had a teddy bear which he used to carry around everywhere;
This could be written with or without a comma and spoken with or without a pause before which.


Types of relative clause: # 5 Connective clauses
A relative clause with a comma can tell us what happened next.
  • I shouted to the man, who ran off.
  • Jack put a match to the paper, which instantly caught alight
We use a connective clause to link two actions. In spoken English we often prefer to use two main clauses.
  • I shouted to the man, and he ran off.