Relative clauses are one of the most powerful grammatical tools you can use in your IELTS Writing and Speaking tests. They allow you to add detail, sophistication, and complexity to your sentences without sacrificing clarity. In this comprehensive guide, we will break down relative clauses into simple, manageable parts that will help you achieve Band 7 and above.

What Are Relative Clauses?

A relative clause is a type of subordinate clause that provides additional information about a noun in the main clause. Think of it as a way to combine two sentences into one more sophisticated sentence. For example, instead of saying “The student passed the exam. The student studied hard,” you can say “The student who studied hard passed the exam.”

In IELTS, using relative clauses correctly demonstrates your ability to produce complex sentence structures—a key requirement for higher band scores in both Writing and Speaking.

Defining vs Non-Defining Relative Clauses

Understanding the difference between defining and non-defining relative clauses is crucial for IELTS success. Each serves a different purpose and follows different punctuation rules.

Defining Relative Clauses

Defining relative clauses (also called restrictive clauses) identify which specific person, place, or thing we are talking about. They provide essential information that cannot be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence.

Examples:

• The candidates who scored above 7.0 were invited for an interview.
• Cities that have efficient public transport systems tend to have less traffic congestion.
• The essay which discussed climate change received the highest mark.

Key points:

• No commas are used
• The clause cannot be removed without changing the meaning
• Use “that” for things (can also use “which”)
• Use “who” for people

Non-Defining Relative Clauses

Non-defining relative clauses (also called non-restrictive clauses) provide extra, non-essential information about something already identified. Removing this information does not change the core meaning of the sentence.

Examples:

• London, which is the capital of the UK, attracts millions of tourists every year.
• My IELTS tutor, who has been teaching for twenty years, gave me excellent advice.
• The government announced new policies, which surprised many analysts.

Key points:

• Always use commas
• The clause can be removed without changing the essential meaning
• Never use “that”—use “which” for things and “who” for people
• Common in academic writing for adding commentary or examples

Relative Pronouns: When to Use What

Advanced Techniques for Band 7+

1. Reduced Relative Clauses

For more sophisticated writing, you can reduce relative clauses by omitting the relative pronoun and auxiliary verb when the clause uses a passive or continuous form.

Full form: The data which was collected from 500 participants showed significant trends.

Reduced: The data collected from 500 participants showed significant trends.

Full form: Students who are studying abroad often face culture shock.

Reduced: Students studying abroad often face culture shock.

2. Prepositions in Relative Clauses

In formal IELTS Academic Writing, you can move prepositions to before the relative pronoun for a more sophisticated style.

Informal: The company which I work for is expanding globally.

Formal: The company for which I work is expanding globally.

3. Which to Refer to Whole Clauses

A sophisticated technique is using “which” to refer back to an entire previous clause rather than just a noun. This is excellent for adding commentary in Task 2 essays.

Example: Many people now work remotely, which has transformed traditional office culture.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these frequent errors that can lower your Grammatical Range and Accuracy score:

1. Mixing “That” with Non-Defining Clauses

❌ Incorrect: My hometown, that is located by the sea, has beautiful beaches.

✅ Correct: My hometown, which is located by the sea, has beautiful beaches.

2. Wrong Pronoun Choice

❌ Incorrect: The car who broke down was very old.

✅ Correct: The car which/that broke down was very old.

3. Double Subject Error

❌ Incorrect: The teacher who she taught me grammar was excellent.

✅ Correct: The teacher who taught me grammar was excellent.

Practice Exercises

Combine these sentences using appropriate relative clauses:

1. The government introduced new policies. The policies aim to reduce pollution.
2. My friend lives in Canada. His sister is a doctor.
3. The exam was extremely challenging. I took it last month.
4. 2023 was a significant year. Global temperatures reached record highs that year.
5. The students passed with distinction. They attended all revision classes.

Suggested answers:

1. The government introduced new policies which/that aim to reduce pollution.
2. My friend, whose sister is a doctor, lives in Canada.
3. The exam (which/that) I took last month was extremely challenging.
4. 2023, when global temperatures reached record highs, was a significant year.
5. The students who attended all revision classes passed with distinction.

Conclusion

Mastering relative clauses is essential for achieving a high band score in IELTS. They allow you to produce complex, sophisticated sentences that demonstrate grammatical control and range. Remember to vary between defining and non-defining clauses, use appropriate pronouns, and consider reducing clauses for more academic-style writing.

Practice incorporating relative clauses into your Speaking and Writing responses. With consistent use, they will become natural features of your English, helping you achieve the Band 7+ score you need.