DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES
As the name suggests, defining relative clauses give essential information to define or identify the person or thing we are talking
about. Take for example the sentence: Dogs that like cats are very unusual. In this sentence we understand that there are
many dogs in the world, but we are only talking about the ones that like cats. The defining relative clause gives us that
information. If the defining relative clause were removed from the sentence, the sentence would still be gramatically correct, but
its meaning would have changed significantly.
Defining relative clauses are composed of a relative pronoun (sometimes omitted), a verb, and optional other elements such as
the subject or object of the verb. Commas are not used to separate defining relative clauses from the rest of the sentence.
Commas or parentheses are used to separate non-defining relative clauses from the rest of the sentence.
EXAMPLES
Children who hate chocolate are uncommon.
They live in a house whose roof is full of holes.
An elephant is an animal that lives in hot countries.
Let's go to a country where the sun always shines.
The reason why I came here today is not important.
RELATIVE PRONOUNS
The following relative pronouns are used in defining relative clauses. These relative pronouns appear at the start of the defining
relative clause and refer to a noun that appears earlier in the sentence.
Person Thing Place Time Reason
Subject who/that which/that
Person Thing Place Time Reason
Object who/whom/that which/that where When why
Possessive whose whose
REPLACING WITH "THAT" IN SPOKEN ENGLISH
The pronouns who, whom, and which are often replaced by that in spoken English. Whom is very formal and is only used in
written English. You can use who or that instead, or omit the pronoun completely. In the examples below, the common usage is
given with the defining relative clause highlighted. The pronoun that would be used in more formal written English instead
of that is given in parentheses.
EXAMPLES
The dish that I ordered was delicious. (which)
The man that came with her has already left. (who)
The doctor that I was hoping to see wasn't on duty. (whom)
INCLUDING OR OMITTING THE RELATIVE PRONOUN
The relative pronoun can only be omitted when it is the object of the clause. When the relative pronoun is the subject of the
clause, it cannot be omitted. You can usually tell when a relative pronoun is the object of the clause because it is followed by
another subject + verb. See below, in the first sentence the relative pronoun cannot be ommitted because it is the subject of the
relative clause ("the woman spoke"). In the second sentence, the pronoun can be omitted because "the woman" is the object of
the verb "loved".
Noun, subject of the main clause Relative pronoun Verb + rest of relative clause Verb + rest of main clause
The woman that spoke at the meeting was very knowledgeable.
The woman (that) the man loved was living in New York.
OTHER USES OF "THAT"
'That' is often used to introduce defining relative clauses when they follow the words something, anything, everything, nothing,
all or a superlative. It may be omitted when it is not the subject of the clause.
EXAMPLES
There's something (that) you should know.
It was the best film (that) I've ever seen.
Do you have anything that will help my throat?
Everything (that) you say seems silly to me.
Nothing (that) anyone does can replace my lost bag.
I'm sorry, but that is all (that) I saw.
