Relative clauses
English · Key Stage 2 · The School
What a relative clause does
A RELATIVE CLAUSE adds information about a specific noun, right where that noun appears. It starts with WHO (for people), WHICH or THAT (for things), or WHOSE (for possession). "The girl WHO WON THE RACE" — the clause tells you exactly which girl, not just any girl among the many in the story.
Combining two sentences
Two short sentences: "The dog barked. The dog lives next door." Combine them with a relative clause: "The dog WHICH LIVES NEXT DOOR barked." One sentence now, carrying both pieces of information, without repeating the word "dog" twice over.
Choosing the right relative pronoun
WHO for a person: "the man who called". WHICH or THAT for a thing: "the book which I lent you". WHOSE for something belonging to someone: "the boy whose coat this is". Picking the right one is part of writing a correct relative clause, and mixing them up is a mistake worth checking for.
Start with three separate sentences: "My teacher is called Mr Patel. Mr Patel plays the guitar. Mr Patel taught me last year." Combine the first two with a relative clause: "My teacher, who plays the guitar, is called Mr Patel." Now fold in the third fact too: "My teacher, who plays the guitar and taught me last year, is called Mr Patel." Three separate sentences became one, carrying all the same information, without a single fact lost or repeated. That is exactly what a relative clause is for, and it reads far more smoothly than the three originals ever did, with none of the repeated names.