In English, a relative clause is a clause that provides additional information about a noun in the sentence. It is called a “relative” clause because it is related to the noun that it modifies. For example, in the sentence “The book that I bought yesterday is on the table,” the relative clause is “that I bought yesterday” and it provides more information about the noun “book.” Relative clauses are typically introduced by a relative pronoun such as “that,” “which,” or “who,” and they are often essential to the meaning of the sentence because they help to specify which particular noun is being referred to.
Examples of relative clauses
The man who works at the grocery store is my neighbor. (The relative clause “who works at the grocery store” provides additional information about the noun “man,” and it is introduced by the relative pronoun “who.”)
The book that I read last night was really interesting. (The relative clause “that I read last night” provides additional information about the noun “book,” and it is introduced by the relative pronoun “that.”)
The city where I grew up is beautiful. (The relative clause “where I grew up” provides additional information about the noun “city,” and it is introduced by the relative pronoun “where.”)
The person whom I met at the party is a famous author. (The relative clause “whom I met at the party” provides additional information about the noun “person,” and it is introduced by the relative pronoun “whom.”)
These are just a few examples of relative clauses in English. There are many other ways to use relative clauses to provide additional information about nouns in sentences.
What are modal verbs in English?
In English, a modal verb is a type of auxiliary verb that is used to indicate modality, which refers to the speaker’s attitude or opinion about the likelihood or possibility of something. Modal verbs are often used to express concepts such as ability, possibility, necessity, and permission.
Some examples of modal verbs in English include “can,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “must,” “shall,” “should,” “will,” and “would.” These verbs are typically followed by the base form of the main verb, without the “to” infinitive. For example:
I can swim. (The modal verb “can” indicates that the speaker has the ability to swim.)
She may be late. (The modal verb “may” indicates that it is possible that she will be late.)
We must finish the project by Friday. (The modal verb “must” indicates that it is necessary for us to finish the project by Friday.)
You should call your parents. (The modal verb “should” indicates that the speaker thinks it is a good idea for you to call your parents.)
Modal verbs are often used to indicate degrees of certainty, possibility, or permission, and they can be used to make requests, offers, and suggestions.
Here are a few exercises you can try to practice using relative clauses:
- Identify the relative clause in the following sentences:
- The book, which was on the table, is mine.
- The man who lives next door is my neighbor.
- The cat that is sleeping on the couch is hers.
In these sentences, the relative clauses are “which was on the table,” “who lives next door,” and “that is sleeping on the couch.”
- Rewrite the following sentences to include relative clauses:
- The book is mine. It was on the table.
- The man is my neighbor. He lives next door.
- The cat is hers. It is sleeping on the couch.
Corrected sentences:
- The book, which was on the table, is mine.
- The man who lives next door is my neighbor.
- The cat that is sleeping on the couch is hers.
- Write five original sentences using relative clauses. For example: “The car, which was parked in the driveway, is mine.”
- The dog, which is running in the park, is hers.
- The house, which is for sale, is on the corner.
- The dress, which is hanging in the closet, is mine.
- The flowers, which are in the vase, are from him.
By practicing using relative clauses in your sentences, you can improve the coherence and clarity of your writing. Keep practicing and you’ll become more comfortable using this important grammar concept. Good luck!
