How to use relative clauses

A clause is a part of a sentence. A relative clause tells us which person or thing is referred to. A relative clause usually starts with ‘who, that, which.’

The man who sells vegetables is an honest man.

The woman who sweeps the floor is poor.

She knows a lot of students who travel by bus.

“Who” in a relative clause refers to people. It cannot refer to things. Here are some more examples.

A surveyor is a person who examines and records the area and features of a land by measuring and calculating.

She knows all the people who live in her neighbourhood.

When we refer to things we use “that” or “which” in a relative clause.

She does not like films that depict violence.

Benedict is an accountant in a company that manufactures bicycles.

Why did you buy a computer that breaks down very often?

In the above sentences the relative clauses are not separated by a comma.

Instead of “who”, “that” can also be used with people.

The person who teaches us English is a Burgher.

The person that teaches us English is a Burgher.

When “Who that, which” are used as the object, they can be left out.

The student who I wanted to meet was absent.

The student I wanted to meet was absent.

Did you find the money that you lost yesterday?

Did you find the money you lost yesterday?

Learn how to use prepositions in a relative clause.

Do you know the policeman father is talking to?

The chair she sat in was comfortable.

Is this the book you are looking for?

The man who sat next to me on the train stole my purse.

We use “whose” in relative clauses, instead of possessive pronouns (his, her, their)

The guest speaker whose car had broken down could not come on time.

What’s the name of the lady whose umbrella you borrowed?

“Whom” can be used when it is the object.

The teacher whom the principal wanted to see is on holiday.

“Whom” can also be used with a preposition.

The boy with whom I corresponded is coming to see me.

“Where” can be used in a relative clause when we refer to a place.

The house where we lived is to be pulled down.

I wish to go back to the village where I was born.

Sri Lanka is an island where there is plenty of sunshine.

Do you know a hotel where we can have a good meal?

Is there a bookshop in your town where I can buy a copy of ‘Rogets’s Thesaurus’?

She can’t remember the place where she parked her car.

Take this back to the shop where you bought it.

Words denoting numbers

Here’s another quiz with words denoting numbers. You have only to select the appropriate word from the following word list and fill the blank. Look at the solution only after doing the quiz.

brood, poultry, skein, congregation, crowd, coterie, barren, litter, cast, zoo, audience, assembly, horde, choir, spectators, nob,host, troupe, company, staff

01. A number of mules .........

02. A number of chickens .........

03. A number of cats .........

04. A collection of fowls .........

05. A couple of hawks .........

06. A number of wild geese in flight .........

07. A collection of wild animals .........

08. A number of people at church .........

09. A number of people listening to a lecture .........

10. A number of people looking on at a

football match .........

11. A number of people collected

together in the street .........

12. A number of people gathered

together for some common purpose .........

13. A group of people who get together to

work for some cause or common interest ..........

14. A number of disorderly people ..........

15. A number of savages ..........

16. A number of singers in a church ..........

17. A collection of angels ..........

18. A number of artistes, dancers, or acrobats ..........

19. A number of actors ..........

20. A number of servants ..........

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Solution: 1. barren, 2. brood, 3. litter, 4. poultry, 5. cast, 6. skein, 7. zoo, 8. congregation, 9. audience, 10. spectators, 11. crowd, 12. assembly, 13. coterie, 14. mob, 15. horde, 16. choir, 17. host, 18. troupe, 19. company, 20. staff.

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