Relative Clauses | Grade 8 English Grammar

What you will be able to do

Use relative pronouns (who, which, that, whose) correctly
Tell apart defining and non-defining relative clauses
Use relative adverbs (where, when, why)
Omit the relative pronoun in contact clauses
Place prepositions correctly with relatives

1 Quick Introduction

English

A relative clause gives more information about a noun, joining two ideas into one neat sentence. Instead of "I met a girl. She won the prize," we say "I met a girl who won the prize." The clause begins with a relative pronoun (who, which, that, whose) or a relative adverb (where, when, why).

हिन्दी

संबंधवाचक उपवाक्य (relative clause) किसी संज्ञा के बारे में अधिक जानकारी देता है और दो विचारों को एक साफ़ वाक्य में जोड़ता है। "I met a girl. She won the prize" के बजाय हम कहते हैं "I met a girl who won the prize।" उपवाक्य संबंधवाचक सर्वनाम (who, which, that, whose) या संबंधवाचक क्रिया-विशेषण (where, when, why) से शुरू होता है।

2 A Real-Life Situation

Imagine this

You point someone out at a party:

You: That's the man who fixed our car. And this is the house where I grew up. My friend, whose father is a pilot, is coming too.

Why this form? Each relative clause adds detail to a noun — the man, the house, my friend — without starting a new sentence. 'who' for people, 'where' for places, 'whose' for possession: matching the right relative word is the core skill.

3 The Grammar Rule

Rule & Formula

Relative	Refers to	Example
who	people (subject)	the boy who called
whom	people (object)	the boy whom I met
which	things/animals	the book which I read
that	people or things	the car that broke
whose	possession	the girl whose bag…

Noun + relative pronoun + clause (describing that noun)

The student who works hard succeeds.

4 Defining vs Non-Defining Relative Clauses

A defining (restrictive) relative clause gives essential information — it tells us which one. It takes no commas, and you may use 'that'.

The man who called you is my uncle. (which man? — essential)

A non-defining (non-restrictive) relative clause adds extra, non-essential information. It is set off by commas and cannot use 'that' (use who/which).

My father, who is a doctor, works at AIIMS. (we already know which father)

Test: if you can remove the clause and the sentence still identifies the noun, it is non-defining (commas). If removing it leaves the noun unclear, it is defining (no commas).

Visual — Defining vs Non-Defining Relative Clauses

1

Worked Example

Defining or non-defining? The book that I bought is torn.

Solution

Defining — 'that I bought' tells us which book (essential, no commas).

2

Worked Example

Punctuate: Mr Rao who teaches us maths is strict. (we know which teacher)

Solution

Mr Rao, who teaches us maths, is strict. — extra info needs commas (non-defining).

Key Points

Defining = essential, no commas, 'that' allowed
Non-defining = extra info, commas on both sides, use who/which (not that)
Test: can you remove it and still know which noun?

5 Relative Adverbs, Contact Clauses, Whose & Prepositions

Relative adverbs replace 'preposition + which':

where = in/at which: the house where I live.
when = on/at which: the day when we met.
why = for which: the reason why he left.

Contact clause (omitting the pronoun): when the relative pronoun is the object of a defining clause, you can drop it.

The book (that) I read was great.
The man (whom) she married is rich.

whose shows possession (people or things): The student whose essay won was praised.

Preposition + relative: formally, the preposition goes before 'whom/which'; informally, it moves to the end.

The friend to whom I wrote replied. (formal) = The friend (who) I wrote to. (informal)

1

Worked Example

Use a relative adverb: This is the city. I was born in this city.

Solution

This is the city where I was born. — 'where' = in which.

2

Worked Example

Make a contact clause: The pen that you gave me is lost.

Solution

The pen you gave me is lost. — drop the object relative 'that'.

Key Points

Relative adverbs: where (place), when (time), why (reason)
Drop an object relative pronoun → contact clause (the book I read)
whose = possession; preposition + whom/which (formal) or end (informal)

6 Vocabulary Builder

Word	Meaning	हिन्दी
Relative clause	a clause describing a noun	संबंधवाचक उपवाक्य
Defining	essential, identifying	निर्धारक
Non-defining	extra, non-essential	अतिरिक्त
Relative adverb	where/when/why	संबंधवाचक क्रिया-विशेषण
Contact clause	with the pronoun omitted	लोपयुक्त उपवाक्य

✎ Vocabulary Quick Test0 / 1

Q.A non-defining relative clause is set off by:

Explanation: Non-defining clauses are enclosed in commas.

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid

✗ IncorrectThe man which called is my uncle.

✓ CorrectThe man who called is my uncle.

Use 'who' for people, 'which' for things.

✗ IncorrectMy mother, that is a nurse, works hard.

✓ CorrectMy mother, who is a nurse, works hard.

Non-defining clauses can't use 'that'.

✗ IncorrectThe house which I live is old.

✓ CorrectThe house where I live is old.

Use 'where' (= in which) for a place.

✗ IncorrectThe girl who her bag was lost cried.

✓ CorrectThe girl whose bag was lost cried.

Use 'whose' to show possession.

8 Practice Exercises

Fill in the BlanksLevel 1

Fill in the correct relative pronoun (who / which / whose).

The boy ______ won the race is my friend.
The book ______ I read was thrilling.
The lady ______ car was stolen called the police.
The dog ______ barks loudly is theirs.
The man ______ I met is a doctor.

Answer Key

who
which / that
whose
which / that
whom / who

Fill in the BlanksLevel 2

Complete with a relative adverb or join the sentences.

This is the school ______ I studied.
I remember the day ______ we first met.
Tell me the reason ______ you are late.
Combine: 'This is the pen. I bought it.' (contact clause)
The friend ______ I wrote replied. (to whom)

Answer Key

where
when
why
This is the pen I bought.
to whom

Error Detection

The man which helped us was kind.
My uncle, that lives in Goa, is rich.
This is the village which I was born.
The student who his essay won was praised.

Answer Key

The man who helped us was kind. (error: which)
My uncle, who lives in Goa, is rich. (error: that)
This is the village where I was born. (error: which)
The student whose essay won was praised. (error: who his)

Sentence Correction

The car who broke down is mine.
She is the girl which sings well.
Mr Sen, who teaches science he is helpful.

Answer Key

The car that broke down is mine.
She is the girl who sings well.
Mr Sen, who teaches science, is helpful.

Rearrange the Words

who / the / won / boy / is / my / friend
where / this / I / is / the / live / house
whose / the / lost / girl / bag / cried / was

Answer Key

The boy who won is my friend.
This is the house where I live.
The girl whose bag was lost cried.

Match the Following

Column A	Column B
1. who	a. place (= in which)
2. which	b. people
3. whose	c. possession
4. where	d. things

Answer Key

who → peoplewhich → thingswhose → possessionwhere → place (= in which)

9 Micro Quiz

✎ Quick Check — 5 questions0 / 5

Q1.'The boy ___ won is my cousin.'

Explanation: 'who' for a person (subject).

Q2.'This is the town ___ I grew up.'

Explanation: 'where' = in which (place).

Q3.Which clause is non-defining?

Explanation: It has commas and adds extra info.

Q4.Make a contact clause: 'The film that we watched was long.'

Explanation: Drop the object relative 'that'.

Q5.'The lady ___ bag was found is here.'

Explanation: 'whose' shows possession.

10 Reading Practice

The library, which was built a century ago, is the heart of our town. The librarian, whose memory is remarkable, knows every reader who visits. "This is the corner where I first fell in love with books," said an old man whom everyone respects. The day when the new wing opens will be a celebration.

Comprehension Questions

Identify a non-defining clause and explain how you know.
Find a relative adverb of place and one of time.
Why is 'whose' used for the librarian?

Answer Key

"which was built a century ago" — it adds extra info about the library and is set off by commas.
Place: 'where I first fell in love with books'; Time: 'when the new wing opens'.
It shows possession — 'the librarian's memory' becomes 'whose memory'.

11 Speaking, Writing & Daily Use

Say these aloud

The girl who sits beside me is kind.
This is the book that changed my life.
My friend, whose father is a doctor, is here.
That is the park where we played.
I remember the day when we met.

Write five sentences about people and places you know, using who, which, whose, where and one non-defining clause (with commas).

Example: My teacher, who is very patient, helps everyone. This is the house where I was born.

12 Challenge Zone

🔥 Higher-Level Questions — 30 / 3

Q1.Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.

Explanation: With one brother, the clause is extra info → commas on both sides.

Q2.Formal version of 'The person who I spoke to was helpful':

Explanation: Formally, the preposition precedes 'whom': 'to whom I spoke'.

Q3.Which relative word fits? 'Do you know the reason ___ she resigned?'

Explanation: 'why' = for which (reason).

13 Chapter Mind Map

Mind Map

          RELATIVE CLAUSES
                |
   +--------+---+----+---------+
   |        |        |         |
 PRONOUNS DEFINING ADVERBS  EXTRAS
 who/whom  vs       where    contact
 which/that NON-DEF  when    clause
 whose    commas vs why     prep+whom
          no commas         (formal)

14 One-Minute Revision

Remember these

Relative pronouns: who/whom (people), which (things), that (both), whose (possession)
Defining = essential, no commas, 'that' allowed
Non-defining = extra info, commas, use who/which (not that)
Relative adverbs: where (place), when (time), why (reason)
Drop an object relative pronoun → contact clause (the book I read)