Relative clauses: typical errors

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.