Relative clauses

Defining relative clauses.

To give important information about a person, place, or thing use a relative clause (= a relative pronoun + subject + verb).

Use the relative pronouns
Who for people
Which for things
Where for places
Whose to mean of who/of which.

You can use that instead of who or which.

Who, which, and that can be omitted when the verbs in the main clause and the relative clause have a different subject.
He's the man I met on the plane. (The subject of met is I, so it's not necessary to put who.)


Non-defining relative clauses.

If a relative clause gives extra, non-essential information (the sentences makes sense without it), you must put it between commas (or a comma and a full stop).
This painting, which was painted in 1860, is worth 2000 euros.

In these clauses, you can't leave out the relative pronoun (who, which, etc.)
Burford, where my brother was born, is a beautiful town.

In these clauses, you can't use that instead of who/which.