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Relative pronouns and clauses are used to provide additional information about a noun or pronoun in a sentence. They are essential for creating complex sentences that are both accurate and varied.

### Relative Pronouns

The most common relative pronouns include:

– **Who**: Used for people.

– **Whom**: Used for people, typically in more formal contexts.

– **Whose**: Indicates possession for people or things.

– **Which**: Used for animals and things.

– **That**: Used for people, animals, and things (in defining clauses).

### Types of Relative Clauses

Relative clauses can be divided into two main types: defining (restrictive) and non-defining (non-restrictive).

#### 1. Defining (Restrictive) Relative Clauses

These clauses provide essential information about the noun they modify. Without this information, the sentence would be incomplete or its meaning would change.

**Characteristics:**

– No commas are used.

– The information is essential.

**Relative Pronouns Used:**

– Who, whom, whose, which, that.

**Examples:**

– The **student who studies hardest** usually gets the best grades.

– The **book that I borrowed** is fantastic.

#### 2. Non-Defining (Non-Restrictive) Relative Clauses

These clauses add extra information that can be omitted without changing the basic meaning of the sentence.

**Characteristics:**

– Commas are used.

– The information is supplementary.

**Relative Pronouns Used:**

– Who, whom, whose, which. (Note: “that” is not used in non-defining clauses.)

**Examples:**

– My brother, **who is a doctor**, lives in New York.

– The Eiffel Tower, **which is located in Paris**, is an iconic symbol of France.

### Examples and Usage

#### Defining (Restrictive) Relative Clauses

**People:**

– The **man who called you** is my uncle.

– The **woman whom they hired** is very experienced.

**Things/Animals:**

– The **car that I bought** last week is already causing problems.

– The **dog which barked all night** belongs to my neighbor.

**Possession:**

– The **student whose grades improved** is very happy.

#### Non-Defining (Non-Restrictive) Relative Clauses

**People:**

– My **friend John, who is a lawyer,** will help us.

– The **professor, whom many students admire,** will give a lecture at 8 PM.

**Things/Animals:**

– The **laptop, which I just bought,** has already broken down.

– Their **cat, which is very old,** sleeps most of the day.

**Possession:**

– The **artist, whose paintings are famous,** lives in this neighborhood.

### Omitting the Relative Pronoun

In some defining relative clauses, the relative pronoun can be omitted if it is the object of the clause.

**Examples:**

– The **book (that) I read** was fascinating.

– The **girl (who) he likes** is very friendly.

### Combining Sentences Using Relative Clauses

Using relative clauses is a great way to combine sentences and avoid repetition.

**Two simple sentences:**

– I met a girl. She is a famous actress.

**Using a relative clause:**

– I met a girl **who is a famous actress**.

**More Examples:**

– **Original**: We visited the museum. It had a fascinating exhibit.

– **Combined**: We visited the museum **that had a fascinating exhibit**.

– **Original**: The scientist received an award. His research is groundbreaking.

– **Combined**: The scientist, **whose research is groundbreaking**, received an award.

### Summary Table

| Type                      | Usage                            | Example Sentence                                     |

|—————————|———————————-|——————————————————|

| Defining (Restrictive)    | Essential information            | The **car that I rented** was very fast.             |

| Non-Defining (Non-Restrictive) | Extra information (with commas) | The **car, which I rented,** was very fast.         |

| Omitting the Relative Pronoun | When it’s the object          | The **article (that) she wrote** was insightful.      |

| Who                       | People                           | The **teacher who taught me** math is retiring.      |

| Whom                      | People (formal)                  | The **candidate whom we interviewed** was excellent.  |

| Whose                     | Possession                       | The **author whose book won an award** is here.      |

| Which                     | Things/animals                   | The **gadget which you ordered** has arrived.         |

| That                      | People/things/animals (defining) | The **movie that we watched** was interesting.        |

Understanding and correctly using relative pronouns and clauses can greatly improve the clarity and sophistication of your writing.