1.

Restrictive Relative Clause / Defining Relative Clause

📖 Definition

A restrictive relative clause (also called defining relative clause) is a relative

clause that defines, limits, or restricts the meaning of the noun it modifies.

• It tells us which person or thing is meant.

• Without it, the sentence would be incomplete or lose essential
meaning.
• It is not set off by commas.

✅ Examples

1. The man who lives next door is a doctor.

2. This is the book that I borrowed from the library.
3. Students who study hard usually succeed.

🔎 Explanation

1. The man who lives next door is a doctor.

◦ The clause “who lives next door” restricts which man we are
talking about.
◦ Without it, “The man is a doctor” would be vague.
2. This is the book that I borrowed from the library.

◦ The clause “that I borrowed from the library” defines which

book is meant.
◦ Without it, the listener would not know which book is referred to.
3. Students who study hard usually succeed.

◦ The clause “who study hard” restricts the type of students being
described.
◦ Not all students succeed, only those “who study hard.”
2. Non-restrictive Relative Clause / Non-defining Relative Clause

📖 Definition

A non-restrictive relative clause (also called non-defining relative clause) is

a relative clause that gives extra information about the noun.

• This information is not essential to identify the noun.

• The meaning of the main sentence remains clear even if the clause is
removed.
• It is always separated by commas in writing (or pauses in speech).

✅ Examples

1. My brother, who lives in Canada, is coming to visit.

2. Mount Everest, which is the highest mountain in the world, attracts
many climbers.
3. Yesterday I met Sarah, who you introduced to me last year.

🔎 Explanation

1. My brother, who lives in Canada, is coming to visit.

◦ The main sentence = “My brother is coming to visit.”

◦ The clause “who lives in Canada” just gives extra info, not
needed to identify him.
2. Mount Everest, which is the highest mountain in the world, attracts
many climbers.

◦ The main sentence = “Mount Everest attracts many climbers.”

◦ The clause “which is the highest mountain in the world” is
extra background detail.
3. Yesterday I met Sarah, who you introduced to me last year.

◦ The main sentence = “Yesterday I met Sarah.”

 ◦ The clause “who you introduced to me last year” adds non-
essential, descriptive info.

✨ Key Difference Recap:

• Restrictive (Defining) → Essential information, no commas.

• Non-restrictive (Non-defining) → Extra information, always
commas.
Perfect 👌 Let’s continue with the same study material style for the next
two types of Relative Clauses:

3. Contact Clause / Zero Relative Clause / Elliptical Relative Clause

📖 Definition

A contact clause (also called zero relative clause or elliptical relative clause)
is a relative clause where the relative pronoun (who, which, that, etc.) is
omitted.

• It usually occurs in informal spoken English.

• The omitted relative pronoun is understood from context.
• It is always a restrictive/defining type (never non-restrictive).

✅ Examples

1. The man Ø I saw yesterday is my uncle.

2. That’s the book Ø she recommended to me.
3. The food Ø we ate at the party was delicious.
(Here Ø marks the omitted relative pronoun.)

🔎 Explanation

1. The man Ø I saw yesterday is my uncle.

 ◦ Underlying full form: The man whom I saw yesterday is my
uncle.
◦ “Whom” is omitted in the contact clause.
2. That’s the book Ø she recommended to me.

◦ Full form: That’s the book that she recommended to me.

◦ “That” is dropped.
3. The food Ø we ate at the party was delicious.

◦ Full form: The food which we ate at the party was delicious.
◦ “Which” is omitted, but the meaning is clear.
4. Cleft Relative Clause (in it-clefts and wh-clefts)

📖 Definition

A cleft relative clause is a special type of structure used for emphasis.

• It “splits” (or clefts) one sentence into two parts.

• Common patterns:

◦ It-clefts → “It is/was … that/who …”

◦ Wh-clefts → “What … is …”
• The relative clause highlights the most important information.

✅ Examples

1. It was John who broke the vase. (It-cleft)

2. It is honesty that matters most in life. (It-cleft)
3. What I need most is a good rest. (Wh-cleft)

🔎 Explanation

1. It was John who broke the vase.

◦ Normal sentence = “John broke the vase.”

 ◦ Using a cleft form emphasizes John as the doer.
2. It is honesty that matters most in life.

◦ Normal sentence = “Honesty matters most in life.”

◦ The cleft highlights honesty for emphasis.
3. What I need most is a good rest.

◦ Normal sentence = “I need a good rest most.”

◦ The wh-cleft highlights a good rest as the essential element.

✨ Key Difference Recap:

• Contact Clause → Omits the relative pronoun (informal, defining).

• Cleft Clause → Adds emphasis by splitting the sentence into two parts.

Great 👍 Let’s continue in the same structured study material style for the
next two types of Relative Clauses:

5. Sentential Relative Clause / Sentence-relative Clause / Continuative

Relative Clause

📖 Definition

A sentential relative clause is a relative clause that refers not just to a

single noun, but to the whole preceding clause or sentence.

• Typically introduced by which (sometimes as).

• Always non-restrictive (set off by commas).
• Functions to comment on, explain, or evaluate the entire preceding
idea.

✅ Examples

1. He forgot his umbrella, which was very careless of him.

 2. She passed all her exams, which surprised everyone.
3. They decided to cancel the trip, which disappointed the children.

🔎 Explanation

1. He forgot his umbrella, which was very careless of him.

◦ “Which was very careless of him” comments on the whole action

of forgetting the umbrella, not just the umbrella.
2. She passed all her exams, which surprised everyone.

◦ “Which surprised everyone” refers to the entire fact that she

passed all her exams, not to the exams alone.
3. They decided to cancel the trip, which disappointed the children.

◦ “Which disappointed the children” evaluates the whole decision,

not just “the trip.”

6. Free Relative Clause / Nominal Relative Clause / Headless Relative

Clause

📖 Definition

A free relative clause is a relative clause that does not have an explicit
antecedent (head noun).

• The relative word (whoever, whatever, whichever, what, where, when,

etc.) itself acts as both the relative pronoun and the head of the
clause.
• It functions like a noun phrase (subject, object, complement, etc.).

✅ Examples

1. What you said is true.

2. I’ll give this prize to whoever wins the race.
3. You can eat whatever you like.
🔎 Explanation

1. What you said is true.

◦ “What you said” = “the thing that you said.”

◦ Entire free relative clause works as the subject.
2. I’ll give this prize to whoever wins the race.

◦ “Whoever wins the race” = “the person who wins the race.”
◦ Entire free relative clause works as the object of the preposition
“to.”
3. You can eat whatever you like.

◦ “Whatever you like” = “anything that you like.”

◦ Entire free relative clause works as the object of the verb “eat.”

✨ Key Difference Recap:

• Sentential Relative Clause → Refers to the whole previous sentence

or idea (always non-restrictive).
• Free Relative Clause → Has no explicit antecedent; the relative word
itself is the head (functions as a noun phrase).
Perfect ✅ Let’s continue in the same structured study material style for
the next two types of Relative Clauses:

7. Comparative Relative Clause

(introduced by than or as)

📖 Definition

A comparative relative clause is a type of relative clause that occurs in

comparative constructions with words like more, less, fewer, as…as, such…
as.
 • It is introduced by than or as.
• It often has an elliptical structure (part of the clause is omitted because
it is understood).
• It functions to compare two elements.

✅ Examples

1. She has more experience than he has.

2. He is not as tall as I am.
3. They invited fewer guests than we expected.

🔎 Explanation

1. She has more experience than he has.

◦ The relative clause “than he has” compares her experience with

his experience.
◦ The object “experience” is understood after “has.”
2. He is not as tall as I am.

◦ The relative clause “as I am” compares his height with mine.
◦ The complement “tall” is understood after “am.”
3. They invited fewer guests than we expected.

◦ The clause “than we expected” compares the number of guests

invited with the number we thought would be invited.
◦ The object “guests” is omitted but implied.

8. Indefinite Relative Clause

(introduced by whoever, whatever, whichever, whenever, wherever,

however)

📖 Definition
An indefinite relative clause is a clause introduced by indefinite relative
pronouns or adverbs.

• Similar to free relative clauses, but they add an element of

indefiniteness or generality (not referring to a specific person or thing,
but to anyone, anything, anywhere, etc.).
• Functions as a noun phrase or adverbial expression in the sentence.

✅ Examples

1. Whoever arrives first will get the best seat.

2. You may sit wherever you like.
3. I’ll support you whatever you decide.

🔎 Explanation

1. Whoever arrives first will get the best seat.

◦ “Whoever arrives first” = “any person who arrives first.”

◦ The clause is the subject of the sentence.
2. You may sit wherever you like.

◦ “Wherever you like” = “in any place that you like.”

◦ The clause functions as an adverbial phrase of place.
3. I’ll support you whatever you decide.

◦ “Whatever you decide” = “anything that you decide.”

◦ The clause works as the object of the verb “support.”

✨ Key Difference Recap:

• Comparative Relative Clause → used in comparisons (with than /

as), often elliptical.
• Indefinite Relative Clause → expresses indefinite/general meaning
with whoever, whatever, whichever, wherever, whenever, however.
Great 👍 Let’s continue the study material in the same structured style for
the last two types:

9. Bound Relative Clause

📖 Definition

A bound relative clause is a clause where the relative pronoun is “bound”

to a preceding quantifier, determiner, or expression, rather than referring
to a specific antecedent noun.

• Often introduced by words like all, any, every, no, the only, the first,
the last etc.
• The relative pronoun (who, which, that) doesn’t point to a particular
noun, but instead is tied (bound) to these quantifying expressions.
• It makes a generalized or quantified statement.

✅ Examples

1. All that glitters is not gold.

2. She is the only one who understands me.
3. Anyone who wants to join must register by Friday.

🔎 Explanation

1. All that glitters is not gold.

◦ The bound relative clause = “that glitters.”

◦ Here “all” is the quantifier, and “that glitters” is bound to it,
meaning “everything which glitters.”
2. She is the only one who understands me.

◦ The bound relative clause = “who understands me.”

 ◦ It is bound to “the only one,” narrowing down a unique person
with that quality.
3. Anyone who wants to join must register by Friday.

◦ The bound relative clause = “who wants to join.”

◦ Bound to the indefinite “anyone,” meaning “any person with the
condition of wanting to join.”

10. Comparative Correlative Relative Clause

(sometimes treated separately from 7, depending on grammar tradition)

👉 But since you already included “Comparative Relative Clause” in option

7, the missing 10th type commonly recognized in advanced grammar is the:

10. Free-choice Relative Clause

(closely linked to indefinite relatives, but with emphasis on “any/every”

possibility)

📖 Definition

A free-choice relative clause is introduced by indefinite relative words like

whoever, whichever, whatever, wherever, whenever, however but it
specifically expresses the idea of free choice, openness, or possibility.

• It’s different from ordinary indefinite relatives because the emphasis is

on freedom of selection (like “no matter who/what/where”).
• Often paraphrased as “no matter + wh-word”.

✅ Examples

1. You can choose whichever dress you like.

2. I’ll help you whenever you need me.
3. Sit wherever you want.
🔎 Explanation

1. You can choose whichever dress you like.

◦ “Whichever dress you like” = “no matter which dress you like.”
◦ Expresses free choice among many possible options.
2. I’ll help you whenever you need me.

◦ “Whenever you need me” = “no matter when you need me.”
◦ Indicates freedom of time — help is always available.
3. Sit wherever you want.

◦ “Wherever you want” = “no matter where you want.”

◦ Expresses freedom of location.

✨ Key Difference Recap:

• Bound Relative Clause → relative clause bound to a quantifier/

determiner (all, any, only, first, last, etc.).
• Free-choice Relative Clause → special use of indefinite relatives that
emphasizes “no matter who/what/where/when” (freedom of choice).