relativelause

A relative clause is a type of subordinate clause that modifies a noun or noun phrase. It provides additional information about the noun it describes. In English, relative clauses are often introduced by relative pronouns such as who, whom, whose, which, and that, or by relative adverbs like where, when, and why.

There are two main types of relative clauses: restrictive and non-restrictive. Restrictive relative clauses are essential to the meaning of the sentence. They identify which specific noun is being referred to and are not set off by commas. For example, in the sentence "The book that I borrowed is overdue," the clause "that I borrowed" tells us which book is overdue. Without it, the sentence would be unclear.

Non-restrictive relative clauses, on the other hand, provide extra, non-essential information about a noun that has already been clearly identified. These clauses are set off by commas. For instance, in the sentence "My brother, who lives in London, is visiting next week," the clause "who lives in London" adds extra information about the brother, but the sentence would still make sense without it. The identity of the brother is already clear.

Relative clauses are fundamental to constructing complex sentences and adding detail and specificity to descriptions. They are a common feature across many languages, although the specific markers and rules for their use can vary.