Welcome to your B1 English grammar lesson on relative clauses! Are you looking to make your English speaking and writing more detailed and fluent? Understanding and using relative clauses is a key step. Don’t worry, it might sound complicated, but we’ll break it down in a simple and practical way. This lesson is designed for English learners like you, focusing on how you can actually use relative clauses in everyday conversations. Let’s dive in and improve your English grammar skills together!

What are Relative Clauses?

Imagine you want to give extra information about a noun – a person, a thing, or a place. That’s exactly what relative clauses do! Think of them as mini-sentences that are connected to a main sentence to provide more detail. They usually start with words like who, which, that, whose, whom, where, when, or why. These words are called relative pronouns or relative adverbs.

Let’s look at a simple example:

Main sentence: I met a woman.

Extra information: She is a doctor.

Using a relative clause: I met a woman who is a doctor.

See how “who is a doctor” gives us more information about the “woman”? That’s a relative clause in action! Using relative clauses helps you avoid short, choppy sentences and make your English sound more natural and sophisticated. Mastering English grammar B1 level topics like this will significantly boost your communication skills.

Types of Relative Clauses: Defining and Non-Defining

There are two main types of relative clauses: defining and non-defining. Understanding the difference is important for correct grammar and punctuation.

Defining Relative Clauses (Essential Clauses)

Defining relative clauses give us essential information that is needed to identify the noun. Without this clause, the meaning of the sentence wouldn’t be clear or complete. They are essential for understanding which person or thing we are talking about.

We often use who, which, that for defining relative clauses.

• Who: Used for people.
  Example: The man who helped me was very kind.

  (We need “who helped me” to know which man we are talking about.)

• Which: Used for things and animals.
  Example: This is the book which I borrowed from the library.

  (We need “which I borrowed from the library” to know which book.)

• That: Used for people, things, and animals (often in defining clauses).
  Example: The car that is parked outside is mine.

  (“that is parked outside” tells us which car.)

Important! We do not use commas with defining relative clauses because they are essential to the meaning of the sentence. When learning English grammar B1, remember this key punctuation rule.

Non-Defining Relative Clauses (Non-Essential Clauses)

Non-defining relative clauses give us extra, non-essential information about a noun that is already clearly identified. Even if we remove the non-defining relative clause, the main sentence still makes sense. Think of them as adding extra details, like adding an interesting side note.

We use who, which, whose, whom, when, where for non-defining relative clauses. We cannot use ‘that’ in non-defining relative clauses.

• Who: For people.
  Example: My sister, who lives in London, is a teacher.

  (We already know “my sister”, the clause just gives extra info about where she lives.)

• Which: For things and animals.
  Example: My car, which is quite old, still runs well.

  (We know “my car”, the clause adds extra detail about its age.)

• Whose: To show possession for people, things, and animals.
  Example: The author, whose books are very popular, will visit our city.

  (Shows possession – books belong to the author.)

• Whom: The object form of ‘who’, used for people (more formal).
  Example: The professor, whom everyone respects, is retiring soon.

  (“whom everyone respects” is extra info about the professor.)

• When: For time.
  Example: Last summer, when we went to Italy, was amazing.

  (Extra info about “last summer” – when they went to Italy.)

• Where: For places.
  Example: Paris, where I studied art, is a beautiful city.

  (Extra info about “Paris” – where the speaker studied art.)

Important! We always use commas to separate non-defining relative clauses from the main sentence. One comma before the clause and one after if it’s in the middle of the sentence. This is crucial for English grammar B1 and clear writing.

Relative Pronouns and Adverbs in Detail

Let’s look closer at each relative pronoun and adverb and how to use them correctly. This is key for improving your spoken English practice and confidence.

• Who: Refers to people.
  Example: The woman who is speaking is our manager.

• Which: Refers to things and animals.
  Example: The phone which is ringing is mine.

• That: Refers to people, things, and animals (defining clauses only).

  Example: The movie that we watched last night was great.

• Whose: Shows possession.

  Example: The student whose essay won received a prize.

• Whom: Object form of ‘who’ (more formal, often after prepositions).

  Example: The person to whom I spoke was very helpful.

  (More common in writing; in speaking, we might say “who I spoke to” or “that I spoke to”)

• Where: Refers to places.

  Example: The park where we often meet is near my house.

• When: Refers to time.

  Example: The day when I graduated was very special.

• Why: Refers to reasons (often with ‘reason’).

  Example: I don’t know the reason why she is angry.

  (Often we can use ‘that’ or ‘for which’ instead: “the reason that she is angry” or “the reason for which she is angry”)

Practicing with examples is the best way to learn relative clauses. Try creating your own sentences using each of these words!

How to Use Relative Clauses in Speaking

Relative clauses are incredibly useful for making your spoken English practice sound more natural and fluent. Instead of using short, simple sentences, you can combine ideas and add details smoothly. This will significantly improve English vocabulary usage in context.

Here are some examples of how you can use them in everyday conversations:

• Describing people: “I met a guy who works at the coffee shop. He’s really friendly.”
• Talking about places: “Let’s go to the restaurant where we had dinner last week. It was delicious.”
• Explaining things: “The new phone which just came out has an amazing camera.”
• Giving reasons: “That’s the reason why I’m late. The traffic was terrible.”
• Referring to time: “Do you remember the time when we went camping? That was fun!”

Start noticing how native English speakers use relative clauses in conversations. Pay attention to which words they use and how they connect ideas. Then, try to use them yourself! Don’t be afraid to practice – it’s the best way to improve.

Common Mistakes with Relative Clauses

Even at the B1 level, learners sometimes make mistakes with relative clauses. Knowing these common errors can help you avoid them and further improve English grammar.

• Using ‘that’ in non-defining relative clauses: Remember, ‘that’ is not used in non-defining clauses. Use ‘who’ or ‘which’ instead, and don’t forget the commas!
  Incorrect: My sister, that lives in London, is a teacher.
  Correct: My sister, who lives in London, is a teacher.

• Forgetting commas in non-defining relative clauses: Commas are essential! They signal that the information is extra, not essential.

  Incorrect: My car which is quite old still runs well.
  Correct: My car, which is quite old, still runs well.

• Using the wrong relative pronoun: Make sure you use ‘who’ for people, ‘which’ for things/animals, ‘whose’ for possession, etc.

  Incorrect: The book who I borrowed is interesting.
  Correct: The book which I borrowed is interesting.

• Unnecessary relative pronouns: Sometimes you can omit the relative pronoun when it is the object of the relative clause (especially in defining clauses).

  Example: The book (that/which) I read was very long.

  (Omitting ‘that’ or ‘which’ is also correct here: “The book I read was very long.”)

Let’s Practice!

Time to put your knowledge to the test! Complete these exercises to practice using relative clauses. This spoken English practice will help solidify your understanding.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Choose the correct relative pronoun or adverb (who, which, that, whose, where, when) to complete the sentences.

1. The woman ______ is standing by the door is my mother.
2. This is the park ______ I used to play as a child.
3. The book ______ cover is blue is very interesting.
4. I remember the day ______ we first met.
5. The dog ______ barked at me was very big.

Exercise 2: Combine the Sentences using Relative Clauses

Combine these pairs of sentences using relative clauses.

1. I saw a movie. It was very exciting.
2. She is talking to a man. He is from Italy.
3. This is my car. It is very old.
4. They live in a house. The house is near the beach.
5. I met a student. Her brother is a doctor.

Exercise 3: Identify Defining and Non-Defining Clauses

Read the sentences and identify if the relative clause is defining (D) or non-defining (ND). Pay attention to commas!

1. The book that I ordered online arrived today. (___)
2. My brother, who is a teacher, lives in Canada. (___)
3. The car which is parked in front of my house is blocking my driveway. (___)
4. My neighbor, whose dog is very noisy, is going on vacation. (___)
5. The restaurant where we ate last night was excellent. (___)

Answers to Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

1. who
2. where
3. whose
4. when
5. that / which

Exercise 2: Combine the Sentences using Relative Clauses

1. I saw a movie which was very exciting. / I saw a movie that was very exciting.
2. She is talking to a man who is from Italy.
3. This is my car which is very old. / This is my car that is very old.
4. They live in a house which is near the beach. / They live in a house that is near the beach.
5. I met a student whose brother is a doctor.

Exercise 3: Identify Defining and Non-Defining Clauses

1. Defining (D)
2. Non-Defining (ND)
3. Defining (D)
4. Non-Defining (ND)
5. Defining (D)

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve taken a big step in mastering relative clauses. Understanding and using them correctly will significantly improve your English grammar, writing, and most importantly, your spoken English fluency. Keep practicing, and you’ll find yourself using them naturally in your conversations. Remember, consistent practice is key to improve English vocabulary and grammar skills. For more practice and to boost your speaking confidence, check out Lingofrnd.com, your AI spoken English teacher. You can also Download App to practice relative clauses and many other English grammar topics anytime, anywhere. Happy learning!