Sentential relative clauses

Relative clauses don’t always modify nouns in a main clause; they can also be used to add a commentary or to provide context to the entire main clause. This type of relative clause is known as a sentential relative clause. These clauses help to add depth and context to the sentences but do not restrict or limit the meaning of the main clause.

This guide and a number of sentential relative clause activities are available to download as PDF documents.

Sentential relative clauses always begin with the relative pronoun which, and they are always placed after the main clause it adds information to. This type of clause is non-essential or non-defining, and as such, it is separated from the main clause with a comma.

We typically use sentential relative clauses to make our sentences more concise by eliminating the need for a coordinating conjunction to connect the two pieces of information. This helps the ‘flow’ of the information. For example, instead of saying:

• We spent two weeks travelling around the south of France, and this is something we’ve always dreamed of.

It is much more concise and natural to use a sentential relative clause instead of the second main clause:

• We spent two weeks travelling around the south of France, which is something we’ve always dreamed of.

Here are some more examples of sentential relative clauses used to add context to a main clause:

• The concert was cancelled at the last minute, which disappointed many fans who had travelled far to attend.
• She finally submitted her thesis after months of hard work, which came as a huge relief to her.
• The storm passed without causing any damage, which was a great stroke of luck for the small town.
• The company decided to invest in renewable energy, which aligns perfectly with their sustainability goals.
• He missed his flight due to heavy traffic, which meant he had to reschedule all his meetings.
• The restaurant introduced a new menu item, which quickly became the most popular dish.

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