Relative Clauses

Relative clauses give more information about a subject or object. They usually follow and "agree" with the noun they modify and often occur between a Subject and Verb. However, they usually have no effect on the S + V relationship.

Example:

> The man who works at IBM comes from Hong Kong.
> The house that Jack built remains empty.
> The people who came to the party had a great time.
> Those who arrive early are entitled to a rebate.
> I ate an apple that had a worm in it.
> She is the one who I told you about.
> The man who lives over there is my uncle.
> One of the men who lives over there is my uncle.
> Only one of the people who work in the company is qualified.

Most relative clauses use the words who, whom, whose, which, that, when or where.

Example:
> This is the place where I met my wife.

> Paul is the man who loves Mary. > Simon is the man who(m) Mary loves.

(subject position) (object position)

Commas which set off relative clauses function like parentheses ( ) indicating non-essential information.

Example:
> My wife, who is a doctor, works at Community Hospital.
    My wife (who is a doctor) works at Community Hospital.

Without commas, relative clauses specify one member of a group:

> My brother who is a scientist works at the university.
> My brother who is a mechanic works at Bob's Garage.
Specifies "which brother" (one of many)