Lesson 23. Relative Clauses
Overview
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to connect ideas using relative clauses. Relative clauses are structures that help you describe people, places, and things more precisely. You’ll practice essential forms such as who, whose, which, that, and where, and see how they work in both defining and non‑defining clauses.
At the end of the lesson, you’ll read and listen to Chapter 10: The Unexpected Guest. This chapter uses relative clauses in natural context to help reinforce your learning.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- identify and use defining and non‑defining relative clauses
- choose the correct relative pronoun (who, whose, which, that)
- use where to describe places
- combine two sentences into one using a relative clause
- recognize relative clauses in authentic reading and listening contexts
- apply these forms in your own writing and speaking
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Grammar Focus: Relative Clauses (who, whose, which, where, that)
Relative clauses connect two pieces of information about the same person or thing. Instead of saying "I have a sister. She lives in London," you combine them: "I have a sister who lives in London." We use words like who, which, that, and where to start relative clauses.
Defining Clauses
Defining clauses are essential to describing what or who the noun is. Without them, we don't know exactly what or who we're talking about. Commas are not used with these clauses.
- Students who study hard usually get good grades. → Not all students. Just the ones who study hard.
- I need the keys that are on the table. → Which keys? Only those on the table.
Non-Defining Clauses
A non-defining clause adds extra information about the noun, but is not required to identify who the noun refers to. A comma is required before and after this type of relative clause.
- My brother, who lives in London, is coming to visit. → We know without the relative clause whose brother it is.
- Paris, which is the capital of France, is beautiful in spring. → Everyone knows Paris. The clause adds a fact.
Relative Pronouns
A relative clause can be introduced by a relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, which, that) or a relative adverb (where, when, why). In this lesson, we'll focus on the relative pronouns who, whose, which, and that. We'll also discuss the relative adverb where.
| Relative Pronoun | Use For |
|---|---|
| Who | People |
| Whose | People / Things (when showing possession) |
| Which | Things |
| That | Things / People |
Note: Only use that with essential clauses.
| Relative Adverb | Use For |
|---|---|
| Where | Places |
Now let’s look at examples from real contexts to see how these clauses work.
Examples
These examples show how relative clauses add essential or extra information. The relative clause is shown in bold.
| Daniel is the cousin who taught Eric to fix a camera. |
| He carried a backpack that looked too heavy. |
| He unpacked equipment which filled the table. |
| He’s someone who notices small details. |
| They saw notebooks that spilled onto the floor. |
| The café where we met is now closed. |
| She's the student whose project won the prize. |
Chapter 10 - The Unexpected Guest
Chapter Vocabulary
| unfamiliar | unbekannt |
| restless energy | unruhige Energie |
| abundant | reichlich |
| clutter | Unordnung |
| intensity | Intensität |
| landing (stairs) | Treppenabsatz |
| presence | Präsenz |
| to adjust | anpassen |
| to admire | bewundern |
| to overlook | übersehen |
| to spill out | auslaufen |
| rhythm | Rhythmus |
| to unpack | auspacken |
| outlet (electrical) | Auslass |
| gentle | sanft |
| to shift | verschieben |
Story
Listen to the story
Ana and Alejandro returned from school to find an unfamiliar suitcase in the hallway—large, dark green, and covered with airport stickers. The house felt different, as if someone new had stepped into its rhythm.
Sarah appeared from the kitchen, brushing flour from her hands. “You’re home,” she said. “I should tell you—my cousin Daniel arrived this afternoon. He’s staying for a week.”
Before they could respond, a man stepped into the doorway. He was in his early thirties, with kind eyes and a warm smile, but his presence filled the room with a restless energy.
“You must be Ana and Alejandro,” he said. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
Ana nodded politely. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Daniel carried a backpack that looked far too heavy for one person, and he moved with the confidence of someone who had traveled often. He placed the bag on the floor, and a small stack of notebooks spilled out.
“Sorry,” he said, gathering them quickly. “I’m working on a photography project. I take notes everywhere I go.”
Eric joined them, wiping his hands on a towel. “Daniel is the cousin who taught me how to fix my first camera,” he said. “He’s full of ideas.”
Daniel smiled. “Ideas and clutter. I’m trying to be better.”
Over the next hour, the house shifted around him. He unpacked equipment that filled the living room table, set up a charging station that used every outlet, and opened a suitcase that contained more cables than clothes. Nothing was messy—just abundant, as if he carried pieces of every place he’d been.
Ana watched quietly. She didn’t mind the movement, but she felt the house adjusting, like a deep breath taken in.
That evening, they all sat down for dinner. Daniel spoke gently, asking about their classes, their jobs, their first months in Vancouver.
“I admire anyone who chooses to start over in a new place,” he said. “It takes courage.”
Ana felt something soften inside her. “We’re still learning,” she said.
“That’s the best part,” Daniel replied. “Learning changes you.”
After dinner, he offered to help clean up, but his energy made the process slower rather than faster. He opened the wrong cupboards, moved dishes to new places, and asked questions faster than anyone could answer them.
Still, there was nothing careless about him. He was simply a person who lived with intensity, someone who noticed details others overlooked, someone who filled silence with possibility.
Later, when Ana and Alejandro went upstairs, they paused at the landing.
“He’s kind,” Ana said.
Alejandro nodded. “And he’s… a lot.”
Ana smiled. “The house feels different.”
“Not worse,” Alejandro said. “Just different.”
They both knew the week ahead would be full—full of movement, full of stories, full of the kind of presence that changes the rhythm of a place.
But as they got ready for bed, Ana felt something else too: curiosity. Daniel was someone who carried the world with him, and she wondered what they might learn from him before he left.
Quiz
Choose the correct word for the relative clause.
Example
Question: The lawyer _____ talked to me was very through. (who / which)
Answer: Who