Relative clauses and Relative pronouns

Relative clauses are

pieces of information that are added into a main sentence in order to give specific or extra data about a previously mentioned person or thing . called that way because they are always related to something or someone in the main sentence which is called antecedent.

Relative clauses are introduced by a relative pronoun or a relative adverb

Main sentence relative clause

Relative pronouns
WHO (que, quin, quienes) used to talk about people. WHICH (que, el cual, la cual) used to talk about things.

THAT (que) to talk about people or things.

WHOSE (cuyo, cuya) to talk about the possession of the antecedent.

Relative adverbs
WHERE (donde) used to talk about places.

WHEN (cuando) to talk about a particular moment in time.

Relative Pronouns and Relative Adverbs are always related to a specific word in the main sentence.

I talked to the man who witnessed the accident.

This word is called Antecedent .

Use of relative pronouns on relative clauses

* In the first case the relative pronoun (who- that ) is the subject of the relative clause. *

ZERO RELATIVE
In some cases you can use zero relative, that means the relative pronoun can be left out of the sentence. This happens when the relative clause is the object of the sentence (object relative clause) .

You can ommit relative pronouns on relative clauses where WHO THAT WHICH is followed by a noun or pronoun, that is to say, when the relative pronoun is NOT the subject of the relative clause. Look at the examples.

Relative clauses with specific information

This type of relative clauses are called defining relative clauses because they give essential information about the antecedent. Look the example:

That man who is wearing a red t-shirt is my uncle.

If you dont know about whom im talking about you will need more information to find it out. This essential info will be added as a relative clause.

The marker which is yellow is not working

Dont forget
Defining relative clauses give essential information about the antecedent. You can use the relative pronoun that on defining relative clauses instead of who or which.
You can use zero relative on this type of clauses.

But now take a look at this situation

The marker , which is yellow, not working. is

Non- defining relative clauses

When the relative clause only gives you extra information about something or someone in the sentence it is called nondefining relative clause.

They are explicative sentences and they add information about the antecedent. The meaning is not affected by them.

Since Non-defining relative clauses are not indispensable they must be written between commas. James Bond, who is a famous spy, was created by the writer Ian Fleming.
We dont need the extra info to identify James Bond. This info is not essential.

Remember!!!
Non-defining relative clauses are always written between commas. You cannot use the relative pronoun that on non-defining relative clauses. Non-defining relative clauses always give extra information about the antecedent You cannot use zero relative on this type of clauses.

Defining relative clauses are often used on spoken English.

Non-defining relative clauses are often used on written English.

Zero relative

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