Relative Clauses

Defining relatives identify the noun and take no surrounding commas. Nondefining relatives add supplementary information and require commas; that is not normally used there. Object relative pronouns can sometimes be omitted. Formal styles may place a preposition before whom/which.

Patterns and examples

• The book that I bought is useful.
• My brother, who lives in Pune, is visiting.
• The person to whom I spoke was helpful.
• Students arriving late must report outside. (reduced)

Notice how form and meaning work together. Read examples aloud, identify the controlling word or clause, and compare them with nearby alternatives before applying the pattern in new writing.

Practice sentences

• Add commas where meaning is supplementary.
• Reduce a relative clause safely.

After answering, explain the rule in your own words and create one original sentence using the same structure.