Welcome back to our grammar lesson series! Today, we’re diving into relative clauses. If you’re aiming for a B2 level in English, understanding and using relative clauses correctly is super important. They will make your English sound more fluent and sophisticated, both in speaking and writing. Let’s break down what they are, how to use them, and why they are so useful for improving your English speaking skills.

What are Relative Clauses?

Think of relative clauses as extra information you add to a sentence to describe a noun more specifically. They help you combine two sentences into one smoother, more complex sentence. Essentially, they ‘relate’ to a noun and give us more detail about it. In simpler terms, they answer the question: “Which one?” or “What kind of?” about a noun.

Let’s look at a simple example:

• Sentence 1: I saw a movie.
• Sentence 2: The movie was very interesting.

We can combine these using a relative clause:
I saw a movie that was very interesting.
Here, “that was very interesting” is the relative clause. It gives us more information about “movie”.

Why are Relative Clauses Important for B2 English Learners?

At the B2 level, you’re expected to communicate more complex ideas and express yourself with greater nuance. Relative clauses are essential for this because they allow you to:

• Speak more fluently: Instead of using short, choppy sentences, you can connect ideas smoothly.
• Add detail and clarity: You can provide specific information about people, things, and places.
• Sound more natural and advanced: Using relative clauses correctly is a hallmark of more proficient English speakers.
• Improve your English grammar overall: Mastering relative clauses strengthens your understanding of sentence structure.

So, if you want to improve your spoken English practice and sound more confident, learning about relative clauses is a fantastic step!

Types of Relative Clauses

There are two main types of relative clauses: defining and non-defining.

1. Defining Relative Clauses (Restrictive)

Defining relative clauses are essential for the meaning of the sentence. They tell us which specific noun we are talking about. If you remove a defining relative clause, the meaning of the main sentence is not clear or is changed significantly.
We use relative pronouns and adverbs to introduce defining relative clauses:

• who/that: for people (who is more formal, that is more common in spoken English)
• which/that: for things and animals (which is more formal, that is more common in spoken English)
• whose: for possession (for people, animals, and things)
• where: for places
• when: for time
• why: for reason

Examples of Defining Relative Clauses:

• The woman who lives next door is a doctor. (Which woman? The one who lives next door.)
• The book that I borrowed from the library is very interesting. (Which book? The one I borrowed from the library.)
• The car whose engine is broken is being repaired. (Which car? The one whose engine is broken.)
• The restaurant where we had dinner last night was excellent. (Which restaurant? The one where we had dinner last night.)
• I remember the day when I first met you. (Which day? The day when I first met you.)
• There is a reason why I am late. (Which reason? The reason why I am late.)

Notice that we don’t use commas to separate defining relative clauses from the main clause.

2. Non-defining Relative Clauses (Non-restrictive)

Non-defining relative clauses give us extra, non-essential information. The sentence still makes sense without them. They just add more detail, like a bonus fact. We always use commas to separate non-defining relative clauses from the main clause.
We use relative pronouns and adverbs to introduce non-defining relative clauses:

• who: for people
• which: for things and animals
• whose: for possession (for people, animals, and things)
• where: for places
• when: for time
• why: for reason (less common in non-defining clauses)

Important: We cannot use ‘that’ in non-defining relative clauses. We use ‘who’ and ‘which’.

Examples of Non-defining Relative Clauses:

• My brother, who is a teacher, lives in London. (We already know it’s ‘my brother’. The clause just adds extra information about his job.)
• My car, which is quite old, still runs very well. (We already know it’s ‘my car’. The clause adds extra information about its age.)
• Paris, where I spent my holidays last year, is a beautiful city. (We already know it’s ‘Paris’. The clause adds extra information about a past holiday.)
• Last Tuesday, when it rained heavily, we stayed at home. (We already know it’s ‘Last Tuesday’. The clause adds extra information about the weather then.)

See the commas? They are crucial for non-defining relative clauses!

How to Use Relative Clauses in Speaking

Now, let’s focus on using relative clauses in spoken English. Don’t be afraid to use them! Start with defining relative clauses as they are more common and slightly simpler because you don’t need to worry about commas in speech.

Tips for Spoken English Practice:

1. Start simple: Begin by combining short sentences using ‘who’, ‘which’, and ‘that’.
2. Describe people and things around you: Look around your room or think about your day and describe things using relative clauses.
   Example: “I’m using the laptop that my company gave me.”
3. Practice with a partner or a language app: Engage in conversations and actively try to use relative clauses. Lingofrnd.com is a great tool for spoken English practice, as it allows you to practice speaking with an AI English teacher who can help you improve your grammar and fluency.
4. Listen to native speakers: Pay attention to how native speakers use relative clauses in movies, TV shows, and podcasts. Notice the flow and rhythm.
5. Don’t worry about being perfect initially: Focus on getting the basic structure right. Fluency and accuracy will improve with practice.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even advanced learners sometimes make mistakes with relative clauses. Here are a few common pitfalls to watch out for:

• Using ‘that’ in non-defining relative clauses: Remember, in non-defining clauses, use ‘who’ or ‘which’, not ‘that’. Incorrect: My brother, that is a teacher, lives in London. Correct: My brother, who is a teacher, lives in London.
• Forgetting commas in non-defining relative clauses: Commas are essential! Their absence changes the meaning.
• Incorrect choice of relative pronoun: Make sure you use ‘who’ for people, ‘which’ for things, ‘where’ for places, etc.
• Overusing relative clauses: While they are important, don’t overuse them to the point where your speech becomes overly complex and unnatural. Balance is key.

Let’s Practice!

Ready to put your knowledge to the test? Complete the following exercises. Fill in the blanks with the correct relative pronoun (who, which, whose, where, when, that). Decide if the clause is defining or non-defining and use commas where necessary.

1. The book _______ I’m reading is very interesting.
2. My sister, _______ lives in Canada, is a doctor.
3. This is the restaurant _______ we first met.
4. The man _______ car was stolen reported it to the police.
5. I remember the day _______ I graduated from university.
6. The phone _______ is ringing is mine.
7. London, _______ is the capital of England, is a very exciting city.
8. Do you know the reason _______ she is so upset?
9. The students _______ studied hard passed the exam.
10. My new shoes, _______ I bought yesterday, are very comfortable.

Answers

1. The book that/which I’m reading is very interesting. (defining)
2. My sister, who lives in Canada, is a doctor. (non-defining)
3. This is the restaurant where we first met. (defining)
4. The man whose car was stolen reported it to the police. (defining)
5. I remember the day when I graduated from university. (defining)
6. The phone that/which is ringing is mine. (defining)
7. London, which is the capital of England, is a very exciting city. (non-defining)
8. Do you know the reason why she is so upset? (defining)
9. The students who/that studied hard passed the exam. (defining)
10. My new shoes, which I bought yesterday, are very comfortable. (non-defining)

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve taken a significant step in mastering relative clauses. By understanding and practicing them, you’ll improve your English grammar B2 level and sound more confident and fluent. Remember to practice regularly, especially in your spoken English.

Want to practice speaking and using relative clauses in real conversations? Check out Lingofrnd.com, your AI spoken English teacher, and take your English to the next level! You can also Download App to practice on the go!

Keep practicing, and you’ll be using relative clauses like a pro in no time. Happy learning!