Relative Clause

What Are Relative Clauses?
Content:
•A relative clause is a part of a sentence that provides more information about a noun.
•It begins with a relative pronoun (e.g., who, which, that, whose, where, when).
•It acts like an adjective, modifying the noun it follows.
Example:
"The book that explains quantum mechanics is fascinating."
Visual: Diagram breaking down the sentence into main clause and relative clause.
Structure of Relative Clauses
Content:
•Relative Pronouns:
• Who: refers to people (The researcher who discovered this phenomenon won an award.)
• Which: refers to things (The article which was published yesterday is insightful.)
• That: refers to people or things (The microscope that she used is state-of-the-art.)
• Whose: shows possession (The patient whose diagnosis was delayed received care.)
• Where/When: refer to places/times (The lab where the experiment was conducted is well-equipped.)
Examples in Science
Title: Examples of Relative Clauses in Science
Content:
1.The molecule that binds to the receptor initiates the response.
2.The physicist who developed this theory received a Nobel Prize.
3.The lab where the trials were conducted is world-renowned.

Examples in Health Sciences
Title: Examples of Relative Clauses in Health Sciences
Content:
1.The patient whose treatment was successful reported no side effects.
2.The journal article which focused on epidemiology was groundbreaking.
3.The vaccine that was developed recently shows promise.

Examples in Social Sciences
Title: Examples of Relative Clauses in Social Sciences
Content:
1.The theory which examines social behavior is widely debated.
2.The sociologist who conducted the study presented her findings.
3.The community where the survey was carried out faces unique challenges.
Essential Tips
Content:
•Punctuation Matters:
• Use commas for non-restrictive clauses (The theory, which was revolutionary, changed the field.).
• No commas for restrictive clauses (The theory that explains this behavior is complex.).
•Relative Pronouns Can Be Dropped: In informal contexts, "The book she wrote is insightful" is acceptable.
Practice Activity
Title: Let’s Practice!
Instructions:
•Add relative clauses to these sentences:
• The scientist __________ published the paper presented at the conference.
• The experiment __________ failed will be redesigned.
• The hospital __________ the new wing was built is near my home.
Omission/Reduction of Relative Pronouns
1.What is Omission?
In some cases, relative pronouns (who, which, that) can be omitted when they are not the subject of the relative
clause.
2.Example:
1. Full relative clause: The book that I read was fascinating.
2. Reduced: The book I read was fascinating.
("That" is omitted because it’s not the subject of the clause; "I" is.)
When to Omit the Relative Pronoun?
•Subject of the clause: Cannot be omitted.
Example: The scientist who discovered the vaccine is famous. (Cannot reduce)
•Object of the clause: Can be omitted.
Example: The study that they conducted was groundbreaking. → The study they conducted was groundbreaking.
Relative Pronoun + Be Verb Reduction:
When a relative clause contains be, both the pronoun and the verb can often be reduced.
Example:
•Full: The experiment that was conducted in the lab was successful.
•Reduced: The experiment conducted in the lab was successful.

Omission in Non-Restrictive Clauses:
Omission is not allowed in non-restrictive clauses (clauses with commas).
Example:
•Incorrect: The book, I read, was fascinating.
•Correct: The book, which I read, was fascinating.

Relative Pronouns with Prepositions
1.Placement of Prepositions:
Prepositions can be placed:
1. Before the relative pronoun (formal).
2. At the end of the clause (informal).
2.Examples:
1. Formal: The professor to whom I spoke was very knowledgeable.
2. Informal: The professor who I spoke to was very knowledgeable.

Relative Pronouns That Follow Prepositions:
•Use whom or which with prepositions for formality.
•Avoid using that with prepositions directly preceding it.
Incorrect: The topic about that we discussed is relevant.
Correct: The topic about which we discussed is relevant.

•Examples of Prepositions in Use:
•Formal: The chairperson under whom I worked was inspiring.
•Informal: The chairperson who I worked under was inspiring.
•Formal: The article in which the theory is explained is detailed.
•Informal: The article which the theory is explained in is detailed.

Practice Activity
1.Reduce the following relative clauses:
1. The book that was written by her is a bestseller.
2. The report which they submitted yesterday is detailed.
2.Rewrite with prepositions:
1. Formal: The problem they were discussing is complex.
2. Informal: The doctor to whom I referred you is unavailable.

Modifying Time with "Which"
Explanation:
When "which" modifies a time-related noun (day, year, moment, etc.), it pairs with a preposition to describe the
timing more precisely.
Examples:
•The year in which the discovery was made revolutionized science.
("in which" indicates the specific year of the discovery.)
•The moment at which the reaction occurred was recorded.
("at which" specifies the exact moment something happened.)
Informal Equivalent:
•The year when the discovery was made revolutionized science.
•The moment the reaction occurred was recorded.
Modifying Place with "Which"
Explanation:
"Which" can be used with prepositions to describe or specify a location in a formal context.
Examples:
•The city in which the experiment took place is renowned for its research facilities.
("in which" specifies the city where the event occurred.)
•The building from which the data was collected is well-equipped.
("from which" refers to the source of the data.)
•The city where the experiment took place is renowned.
•The building the data was collected from is well-equipped.

Modifying Reason with "Which"
Explanation:
"Which" can describe the reason behind a noun, paired with a preposition like for.
Examples:
•The reason for which the policy was implemented was to improve public health.
("for which" introduces the reason behind the policy.)
•The argument on which the theory is based is compelling.
("on which" identifies the reasoning that supports the theory.)
•The reason why the policy was implemented was to improve public health.
•The argument the theory is based on is compelling.

Noun Type Preposition + Which Informal Alternative
Time The year in which it occurred The year when it occurred
Place The city in which it happened The city where it happened
Reason The reason for which it exists The reason why it exists

Relative Clause

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What Are Relative Clauses?

•It acts like an adjective, modifying the noun it follows.

"The book that explains quantum mechanics is fascinating."

Title: Examples of Relative Clauses in Science

1.The molecule that binds to the receptor initiates the response.

2.The physicist who developed this theory received a Nobel Prize.

3.The lab where the trials were conducted is world-renowned.

Title: Examples of Relative Clauses in Health Sciences

1.The patient whose treatment was successful reported no side effects.

2.The journal article which focused on epidemiology was groundbreaking.

3.The vaccine that was developed recently shows promise.

Title: Examples of Relative Clauses in Social Sciences

1.The theory which examines social behavior is widely debated.

2.The sociologist who conducted the study presented her findings.

Title: Let’s Practice!

•Add relative clauses to these sentences:

• The scientist __________ published the paper presented at the conference.

• The experiment __________ failed will be redesigned.

1. Full relative clause: The book that I read was fascinating.

2. Reduced: The book I read was fascinating.

•Subject of the clause: Cannot be omitted.

•Object of the clause: Can be omitted.

•Reduced: The experiment conducted in the lab was successful.

Omission is not allowed in non-restrictive clauses (clauses with commas).

•Incorrect: The book, I read, was fascinating.

•Correct: The book, which I read, was fascinating.

Prepositions can be placed:

1. Before the relative pronoun (formal).

2. At the end of the clause (informal).

1. Formal: The professor to whom I spoke was very knowledgeable.

2. Informal: The professor who I spoke to was very knowledgeable.

•Use whom or which with prepositions for formality.

•Avoid using that with prepositions directly preceding it.

Incorrect: The topic about that we discussed is relevant.

Correct: The topic about which we discussed is relevant.

•Formal: The chairperson under whom I worked was inspiring.

•Informal: The chairperson who I worked under was inspiring.

•Formal: The article in which the theory is explained is detailed.

•Informal: The article which the theory is explained in is detailed.

1.Reduce the following relative clauses:

1. The book that was written by her is a bestseller.

2. The report which they submitted yesterday is detailed.

2.Rewrite with prepositions:

1. Formal: The problem they were discussing is complex.

2. Informal: The doctor to whom I referred you is unavailable.

("in which" specifies the city where the event occurred.)

•The building from which the data was collected is well-equipped.

("from which" refers to the source of the data.)

•The city where the experiment took place is renowned.

•The building the data was collected from is well-equipped.

("for which" introduces the reason behind the policy.)

•The argument on which the theory is based is compelling.

("on which" identifies the reasoning that supports the theory.)

•The argument the theory is based on is compelling.

Time The year in which it occurred The year when it occurred

Place The city in which it happened The city where it happened

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