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What is a relative clause?

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A relative clause can be used to give additional information about a noun.

They are introduced by a relative pronoun like 'that', 'which', 'who', 'whose', 'where' and 'when'. For example:

I won鈥檛 stand by the man who smells of slime.

In this example, the relative clause is 鈥榳ho smells of slime鈥. It provides more information about the man. The relative pronoun, 鈥榳ho鈥, is used to connect these clauses in the sentence.

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Watch: Relative clauses

Learn about relative clauses with this video from Bitesize KS2 English.

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What is a subordinate clause?

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Relative clauses can be used to create complex sentences as they are a type of subordinate clause.

A subordinate clause is a part of a sentence that adds additional information to the main clause.

Relative clauses come directly after the noun they are referring to.

This might be at the end of a sentence or embedded into the middle of a sentence.

If it is embedded into the middle of a sentence, the relative clause is usually surrounded by commas.

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Relative pronouns

Relative clauses are introduced by a relative pronoun. The relative pronoun used depends on the person or type of thing you are writing about.

Relative pronouns include:

  • 鈥榃ho鈥 (a person or people)
  • 鈥榃hich鈥 (an object, a place or animals)
  • 鈥楾hat鈥 (an object, a place or a person)
  • 'When鈥 (a time)
  • 鈥榃here鈥 (a place)

Example

Two simple sentences:

Milly played her ukulele to her sister Martha. She was in her bedroom.

Below, the relative pronoun, 鈥榳ho鈥, is used to create a relative clause so these two simple sentences can be connected.

鈥楽he was in her bedroom鈥 is extra information, so this forms the relative clause.

Relative clause sentence:

Milly, who was in her bedroom, played her ukulele to her sister Martha.

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Watch: Relative clauses with Super Movers

Relative clauses with Max and Harvey

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Watch: Where to place relative clauses in a sentence

Watch this video to understand how relative clauses can be placed in different positions within a sentence.

Find out where relative clauses can be placed in a sentence.

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Activity 1

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Activity 2

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Activity 3

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Activity 4

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Activity 5

Look at this picture of a bear.

A bear in a forest hugging a tree surrounded by its cubs.
Image caption,
Bear in the forest with cubs.
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Think about what the bear might be able to hear, smell, feel or taste as it hides.

Write three sentences about the picture that include both:

  • a relative clause
  • one of the five senses

Examples

'The tall trees, that were shielding the bear, creaked and moaned.'

'The cute bear, who could taste honey on his lips, felt the tree dance in the wind as he hid behind it.'

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Teaching resources

Looking for extra activities to support your english lessons? There are more resources available, including videos on Shakespeare and reading and writing.

大象传媒 Teach has thousands of free, curriculum-linked resources to help deliver lessons - all arranged by subject and age group.

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Play our fun English game Crystal Explorers. game

Use grammar, punctuation and spelling skills to explore jungles, caves and tombs on your mission!

Play our fun English game Crystal Explorers
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