English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world and enables communication among people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. In particular, sentences are the basic units of language, and constructing grammatically correct sentences is an important aspect of learning English. In this article, we will take a closer look at how relative clauses function within English sentences and what nominative and possessive relative pronouns are.
1. Introduction to Relative Clauses
A relative clause serves to modify another sentence or word within a single sentence. Generally, a relative clause is used with a noun to explain that noun or provide additional information. A relative clause includes a subject and a verb, and it connects to the main clause within the sentence.
1.1 Functions of Relative Clauses
Relative clauses have the following key functions:
- Adding Information: A relative clause provides additional information about a noun in the main clause. For example, in “The man who is wearing a hat is my father,” “who is wearing a hat” is a relative clause that adds information about “the man.”
- Modifying Nouns: A relative clause modifies a noun, clarifying its meaning within the sentence. For example, in “The book that I borrowed from you was interesting,” “that I borrowed from you” modifies “the book,” explaining which book it is.
1.2 Types of Relative Clauses
Relative clauses can be broadly divided into two types: defining relative clauses and non-defining relative clauses.
- Defining Relative Clauses: This type of relative clause contains information that is essential for fully understanding the meaning of the main clause. For example, in “The students who study hard will pass the exam,” “who study hard” is necessary to specify which students.
- Non-defining Relative Clauses: This type of relative clause adds supplementary information to the main clause, but the sentence remains meaningful without it. For example, in “My brother, who lives in New York, is visiting us,” “who lives in New York” provides additional information.
2. Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns are pronouns used to begin relative clauses. The main relative pronouns include ‘who’, ‘whom’, ‘whose’, ‘which’, and ‘that’. Let’s explore their uses.
2.1 Relative Pronoun ‘who’
‘who’ is used to refer to people and is in the nominative case. For example: “The teacher who taught me is very kind.”
2.2 Relative Pronoun ‘whom’
‘whom’ is used to refer to people and is in the accusative case. It is mainly used in formal contexts. For example: “The man whom you called is my uncle.”
2.3 Relative Pronoun ‘whose’
‘whose’ is a possessive pronoun that indicates ownership. It is used to specify ownership over people or things. For example: “The student whose book is missing should report it.”
2.4 Relative Pronoun ‘which’
‘which’ is used to refer to things. It is often used in non-defining relative clauses and serves to connect two sentences. For example: “The car, which was parked outside, is mine.”
2.5 Relative Pronoun ‘that’
‘that’ can refer to both people and things and is mainly used in defining relative clauses. This pronoun can also be omitted depending on the structure of the sentence. For example: “The book that I read last week was fascinating.”
3. Nominative and Possessive Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns can be categorized into nominative and possessive according to their functions in a sentence. Nominative relative pronouns serve as subjects, while possessive pronouns indicate ownership.
3.1 Nominative Relative Pronouns
The nominative relative pronouns are ‘who’, ‘which’, and ‘that’. They serve as subjects and refer to the subject in the relative clause. For example, in “The girl who won the prize is my sister,” ‘who’ acts as the subject of ‘the girl.’
3.2 Possessive Relative Pronouns
‘whose’ is exclusively used as a possessive relative pronoun. It is used to indicate affiliation or relationships. For example, in “The author whose book I read is famous,” ‘whose’ indicates possession by ‘the author.’
4. Relative Clauses and Sentence Structure
Relative clauses can be placed in various positions within a sentence, and their positioning may vary based on the flow or meaning of the sentence. Understanding how relative clauses are structurally positioned within a sentence helps create more natural English sentences.
4.1 Position of Relative Clauses
Relative clauses typically follow the noun they are meant to modify; however, they can be placed in various positions depending on context. Careful selection of position is essential to create structurally correct relative clauses.
4.2 Omitting Relative Clauses
Sometimes, either the subject or object in a relative clause can be omitted to make the sentence more concise. For example, in “The book (that) I borrowed was interesting,” ‘that’ can be omitted.
4.3 Complex Sentences with Relative Clauses
Relative clauses can be used with other grammatical structures. For example, in “The students who studied hard and passed the exam are celebrating,” the relative clause ‘who studied hard’ combines with other elements in the sentence to create flow.
5. Exercises on Relative Clauses
To understand and practice relative clauses, try the following exercises.
- Rewrite the following sentences using a relative clause: “The man is my brother. He is wearing a red shirt.”
- Use the appropriate relative pronoun in the following sentence: “The car is expensive. You bought it.”
Conclusion
The use of relative clauses and relative pronouns is crucial for understanding the structure of English sentences. They serve to modify nouns and enrich the meaning of sentences, making them essential elements for anyone learning English. By practicing relative clauses and relative pronouns, you can further improve your English writing skills. We hope this helps you on your English learning journey!