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Relative Clauses and Pronouns

A relative clause is a subordinate clause. It refers back to a noun or noun phrase.

It usually does this by using a relative pronoun (who, which or that).

A relative clause can be used with the subject of a sentence.
For example,

The lady, who makes lots of noise, should be quiet.

The lady is the subject of the sentence and the relative pronoun ‘who’ refers to her.

A relative clause can be used with an object of a sentence.

For example,

The school banned mobile phones that can access the internet.

Phones are an object of this sentence, but the pronoun ‘that’ refers to the phones.

Remember, relative pronouns can sometimes be left out of the relative clause, but they are still understood.

For example, the horse I rode ran too fast.
‘that’ has been left out.