Relative Clause

Relative Clause:

A noun or Pronoun + Relative word + Relative Clause

A. Study the table and learn which relative words are used in what ways:

 B. Tips

• Sometimes same word works as noun (object) and place:
  – I sold the house where I got born. (place)
  – I sold the house that was in village. (object)

 C. Defining and non – defining relative clause:

# Defining Relative Clause (Essential)

• Gives essential information
• No comma is used
• Without it, meaning is unclear

e.g.

– Students who work hard succeed.

– The man who stole the bike was arrested.

# Defining Relative Clause (Essential)

• Gives additional information
• Comma is used
• That is not used

e.g.

– My father, who is a teacher, lives in Pokhara.

– Kathmandu, which is the capital of Nepal, is crowded.

Exercise A:

Fill in the blanks with suitable relative pronouns: who, which, that, whom, whose, where, why, how, what or when.

1. There is a lady ……….wallet has been stolen.
2. Do you know the man ……..sold these glasses?
3. The knife …………you cut the bread with is very sharp.
4. Why do you blame him for everything ………goes wrong?
5. A cemetery is a place…………..dead bodies are buried.
6. This school is for those children……….mother tongue is not Nepali.
7. I don’t know the name of the person……………I spoke over the telephone.
8. I came to Kathmandu on the day…………….the devastating earthquake took place.
9. In the application form she wrote…………..she needed a good payment.
10. The pilot explained ………….he made force landing on the road.
11. There was a student __________ project was selected for the national competition.
12. Have you met the scientist __________ discovered the new vaccine?
13. The house __________ we rented last year has been sold.
14. Can you tell me the reason __________ you were absent yesterday?
15. This is the restaurant __________ we had dinner last night.
16. The teacher __________ you were talking to is my uncle.
17. I clearly remember the moment __________ I first met her.
18. She didn’t understand __________ he was trying to explain.
19. The manager explained __________ the problem had occurred.
20. The movie __________ we watched yesterday was very inspiring.
21. That is the village __________ my grandfather was born.
22. The boy __________ broke the window has apologized.
23. Do you know the woman __________ son won the scholarship?
24. I don’t know the exact time __________ the train will arrive.
25. This is the laptop __________ I bought last month.
26. The officer to __________ I submitted the documents was very helpful.
27. Tell me __________ you want for your birthday.
28. We visited the museum __________ displays ancient artifacts.
29. She explained the method __________ she solved the problem.
30. That is the reason __________ I refused the offer.
31. Anyone __________ wants to participate must register first.
32. He showed me the letters __________ he had received from abroad.
33. The year __________ the constitution was amended remains historic.
34. She couldn’t understand the manner in __________ the decision was made.
35. This is exactly __________ I was looking for.

Exercise B:

Join the following pairs of sentences using who, which, that, whose, whom, where, when or what.

1. The building was destroyed in the fire. It has now been rebuilt.
2. A new cricket stadium is being made in Chitwan. It can accommodate one hundred thousand people.
3. Shanghai is the most populated city in the world. I stayed there for five years.
4. This is the man. I gave some money to him this morning.
5. Do know the man? His son was awarded in the school yesterday.
6. His step-mother was not very kind to him. He had been staying with her.
7. He can never forget Nakkhu Jail. He had spent 14 years there.
8. He showed me his new tab. He had paid a hundred thousand rupees for it.
9. Nelson Mandela joined ANC in 1930s. He was a student then.
10. She forgot to buy the things. Her mother had told to buy them.
11. The book became a bestseller. It was published last month.
12. A new hospital has been opened in Biratnagar. It provides free treatment to poor patients.
13. Pokhara is a beautiful city. I spent my childhood there.
14. This is the teacher. I was talking to her yesterday.
15. Do you remember the girl? Her father works in the Ministry of Education.
16. He failed the exam. He had prepared very hard for it.
17. We visited the village. My ancestors were born there.
18. She lost the necklace. Her grandmother had given it to her.
19. I will never forget the day. We won the championship on that day.
20. He bought a camera. It costs more than fifty thousand rupees.
21. The man was arrested. The police suspected him of robbery.
22. She explained the reason. She left the company for that reason.
23. That is the school. I completed my secondary education there.
24. He told me something. It shocked everyone in the room.
25. The scientist made a discovery. It changed modern medicine.
26. The woman is my aunt. You met her at the wedding.
27. I clearly remember the year. The constitution was amended in that year.
28. The laptop is not working. I bought it last week.
29. We met a traveler. His stories were fascinating.
30. He finally found the answer. He had been searching for it for months.