RELATIVE CLAUSES WITH TYPICAL ERRORS

Relative clauses: typical errors

from English Grammar Today

• When we use a relative pronoun as a subject in the relative clause, we don’t use a personal pronoun or noun:

That’s the school that does lots of music and drama.

Not: That’s the school that it does lots of music and drama.

• When a relative pronoun is the object of the relative clause, we need a subject (pronoun or noun) in the relative clause:

They met at the gallery that Jane had talked about.

Not: They met at the gallery that had talked about.

• When a relative pronoun is the object of the relative clause, we don’t need another object (pronoun or noun) in the relative clause:

They went to the same restaurant that Mark had been to.

Not: They went to the same restaurant that Mark had been to it.

• In writing, we don’t use commas in defining relative clauses:

Sally is a committee member who finds it difficult to make decisions.

Not: Sally is a committee member, who finds it difficult to make decisions.