Understanding the structure of sentences is very important when studying English. In particular, relative clauses are elements that enrich and clarify sentences. In this article, I would like to provide an in-depth explanation of the definition and function of relative clauses, as well as supplementary relative clauses.
1. Definition and Function of Relative Clauses
A relative clause (Restrictive Clause or Defining Clause) connects to the main clause and serves to describe the subject or object. Relative clauses are primarily initiated with relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that). For instance, in the sentence ‘The man who is wearing a hat is my father.’, ‘who is wearing a hat’ is a relative clause that modifies the noun ‘The man’.
1.1 Types of Relative Clauses
Relative clauses can be broadly divided into two categories: restrictive relative clauses and non-restrictive relative clauses.
- Restrictive Relative Clause: Serves to clearly distinguish a specific object and is used without commas. Example: ‘The book that I borrowed is fascinating.’
- Non-restrictive Relative Clause: Provides additional information in the sentence, but the meaning is conveyed completely even without it. In this case, it is separated by commas. Example: ‘My brother, who lives in London, is visiting us.’
1.2 Usage of Relative Pronouns
The relative pronouns that form the relative clause serve the following roles:
- Who: Used to refer to people.
- Whom: The objective form of ‘who’, mainly used in formal writing.
- Whose: Used to indicate possession.
- Which: Used to refer to objects or animals.
- That: Can be used for people, objects, or animals and is commonly used in restrictive relative clauses.
2. Understanding Supplementary Relative Clauses
Supplementary relative clauses generally refer to non-restrictive relative clauses and are used to provide additional information or explanation within the sentence. These relative clauses offer contextual information independently of the main clause’s core information.
2.1 Structure of Supplementary Relative Clauses
Supplementary relative clauses are often separated by commas and have meaning on their own. For instance, in ‘The Eiffel Tower, which is located in Paris, is a famous landmark.’, ‘which is located in Paris’ is a supplementary relative clause. In this case, it provides additional information about the subject ‘The Eiffel Tower’.
2.2 Importance of Supplementary Relative Clauses
This type of relative clause helps the reader better understand the content of the sentence. Moreover, it allows for clearer communication of complex ideas or information. By doing so, it contributes to making the writing easier to read and conveys a clearer message.
3. Precautions When Using Relative Clauses
3.1 Confusion Between Relative Clauses and Other Sentence Structures
When using relative clauses, it is important to ensure that the desired meaning is accurately conveyed according to the context. Distinguishing between restrictive and non-restrictive relative clauses, as well as applying pronouns correctly, is essential.
3.2 Choosing the Correct Relative Pronoun
The relative pronouns connecting the relative clause should be selected differently based on their role as the subject or object within the sentence. For example, in ‘The student who won the award is my friend.’, ‘who’ is used as the subject, while in ‘The student whom I met yesterday is my friend.’, ‘whom’ is used as the object.
4. Practice Problems for Relative Clauses
To practice relative clauses, try solving the following problems:
- Add a relative clause to the following sentence: ‘I have a friend ____ (play the guitar well).
- Convert the following sentence into a non-restrictive relative clause: ‘The book that I read is interesting.’
- Insert the correct relative pronoun into the following sentence: ‘She is the teacher ____ (teach) us English.’
5. Conclusion
Relative clauses are a very important element in understanding and using English sentence structure. Through supplementary relative clauses, readers can easily understand richer information, which can contribute to enhancing their English communication skills. I hope that every learner studying English can express sentences more accurately through relative clauses.
6. Additional Resources
If you want to find more practice problems or resources concerning relative clauses, please refer to the links below: