ESL Grammar Sentence Structure Relative Clauses Who Which That Whose Where

What It Is

A relative clause is a group of words that provides more information about a noun in a sentence. It starts with a relative pronoun (who, which, that, whose, where) and ends with a verb. ESL learners often struggle with relative clauses because their first language may not have similar structures.

Key Rules

• A relative clause starts with a relative pronoun (who, which, that, whose, where).
  Example: The book that I read is interesting.
• Use who for people and which for things.
  Example: The person who helped me is nice. The car which I bought is red.
• Use that for nonessential clauses (not essential to the sentence).
  Example: The book that I read is interesting. (The book is interesting, but the fact that I read it is not essential.)
• Use whose for possession.
  Example: The car whose keys I lost is mine.
• Use where for location.
  Example: The place where I live is beautiful.
• A relative clause can be essential (necessary for the sentence) or nonessential (not necessary for the sentence).
  Example: Essential: The book I read that is interesting. Nonessential: The book that I read is interesting.
• A relative clause can be restrictive (limits the noun) or nonrestrictive (provides extra information).
  Example: Restrictive: The book I read that is interesting. Nonrestrictive: The book, which is interesting, is on the shelf.
• Use commas to separate nonessential clauses.
  Example: The book, which is interesting, is on the shelf.
• Use a period to separate essential clauses.
  Example: The book I read that is interesting.
• A relative clause can be in the present, past, or future tense.
  Example: Present: The book I read that is interesting. Past: The book I read that was interesting. Future: The book I will read that will be interesting.
• Use the correct verb form in the relative clause.
  Example: The book I read that was interesting. (past tense)
• Use the correct subject-verb agreement in the relative clause.
  Example: The book I read that is interesting. (subject-verb agreement)
• Use the correct pronoun in the relative clause.
  Example: The book I read that is interesting. (use that for nonessential clauses)

Common ESL Errors

• Error: The book I read who is interesting.
  Why it happens: Interference from L1 (some languages use who for people and which for things).
  Correction: The book I read that is interesting. (use that for nonessential clauses)
• Error: The book I read which is mine.
  Why it happens: Overgeneralization (using which for all clauses).
  Correction: The book I read whose keys I lost is mine. (use whose for possession)
• Error: The book I read where is interesting.
  Why it happens: Confusion between where and which.
  Correction: The book I read that is interesting. (use that for nonessential clauses)

Practice Exercises

1. Fill in the blank: The person who helped me is nice. Answer: The person who helped me is nice. (use who for people)
2. Fill in the blank: The car which I bought is red. Answer: The car which I bought is red. (use which for things)
3. Fill in the blank: The book whose keys I lost is mine. Answer: The book whose keys I lost is mine. (use whose for possession)

Last-Minute Revision

⚠️ that vs. which: Use that for nonessential clauses and which for essential clauses.
⚠️ who vs. which: Use who for people and which for things.
⚠️ whose vs. which: Use whose for possession and which for things.
⚠️ where vs. which: Use where for location and which for things.
⚠️ Commas: Use commas to separate nonessential clauses.
⚠️ Periods: Use a period to separate essential clauses.
⚠️ Verb forms: Use the correct verb form in the relative clause.
⚠️ Subject-verb agreement: Use the correct subject-verb agreement in the relative clause.
⚠️ Pronouns: Use the correct pronoun in the relative clause.
⚠️ Tenses: Use the correct tense in the relative clause.
⚠️ Restrictive vs. nonrestrictive clauses: Use commas to separate nonessential clauses and periods to separate essential clauses.