How to Use Relative Clauses in English (With Hindi Examples)

🔹 Introduction (परिचय):
"वह लड़का जो पार्क में खेल रहा है, मेरा भाई है।"
"यह किताब, जो मैंने कल खरीदी, बहुत अच्छी है।"
"वह जगह जहाँ हम मिले थे, अब एक मॉल बन गई है।"

हम Hindi में इस तरह की बातें रोज़ कहते हैं, लेकिन क्या आप जानते हैं कि इन्हें English में कैसे कहें? (Hum Hindi mein is tarah ki baatein roz kehte hain, lekin kya aap jaante hain ki inhe English mein kaise kahein?) These sentences use something called relative clauses—a key part of English grammar that connects ideas and adds detail. For Indians learning English, understanding relative clauses can feel tricky, but it’s a game-changer for fluency.

In this massive 10,000-word blog, we’ll break down everything you need to know about relative clauses. Here’s what you’ll learn:

• What relative clauses are and why they matter
• Common relative pronouns (who, which, that, etc.) with Hindi explanations
• How to use them in daily sentences
• Past, present, and future examples
• Hindi-English conversation examples
• Grammar rules and common mistakes Hindi speakers make
• Tons of exercises with answer keys

By the end, you’ll confidently turn English into Hindi and back again, using relative clauses like a pro. Let’s dive in!

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🔹 What Are Relative Clauses? (रिलेटिव क्लॉज़ क्या हैं?):
A relative clause is a part of a sentence that gives extra information about a noun (person, thing, or place). It starts with a relative pronoun like "who," "which," "that," "where," or "when." In Hindi, we don’t always use a separate word for this—we often rely on "jo" (जो) or context.

For example:

• English: "The man who lives next door is a doctor."
• Hindi: "वह आदमी जो बगल में रहता है, डॉक्टर है।" (Woh aadmi jo bagal mein rehta hai, doctor hai.)

Here, "who lives next door" (jo bagal mein rehta hai) is the relative clause, describing "the man."

Relative clauses make your sentences richer and more precise. They’re everywhere—conversations, books, movies—so mastering them is key to fluent English.

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🔹 Types of Relative Clauses (रिलेटिव क्लॉज़ के प्रकार):
There are two main types:

1. Defining Relative Clauses (परिभाषित करने वाले):
   • These give essential information about the noun. Without them, the sentence feels incomplete.
   • Example: "The book that I borrowed is on the table."
     • Hindi: "वह किताब जो मैंने उधार ली, मेज़ पर है।"
     • "That I borrowed" defines which book we’re talking about.
2. Non-Defining Relative Clauses (गैर-परिभाषित करने वाले):
   • These add extra, non-essential info. They’re separated by commas.
   • Example: "My sister, who lives in Mumbai, is a teacher."
     • Hindi: "मेरी बहन, जो मुंबई में रहती है, शिक्षक है।"
     • "Who lives in Mumbai" is just bonus info—remove it, and the sentence still works.

📌 Tip: In Hindi, we don’t always use commas like this, but in English, they’re crucial for non-defining clauses.

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🔹 Relative Pronouns (रिलेटिव सर्वनाम):
These words start relative clauses. Here’s a detailed list with Hindi meanings and uses:

Let’s explore each with examples!

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🔹 Using Relative Pronouns in Sentences:

✅ Who (लोगों के लिए – Subject):

• English: "The boy who plays football is my friend."
• Hindi: "वह लड़का जो फुटबॉल खेलता है, मेरा दोस्त है।"
• Explanation: "Who" refers to "the boy" and acts as the subject of "plays football."

✅ Whom (लोगों के लिए – Object):

• English: "The teacher whom I met yesterday was kind."
• Hindi: "वह शिक्षक जिसे मैंने कल मिला, दयालु था।"
• Explanation: "Whom" is the object of "I met." (Note: "Whom" is formal; "who" is often used instead.)

✅ Which (चीज़ों/जानवरों के लिए):

• English: "The car which is parked outside is new."
• Hindi: "वह गाड़ी जो बाहर खड़ी है, नई है।"
• Explanation: "Which" describes "the car."

✅ That (लोगों/चीज़ों के लिए):

• English: "The movie that we watched was amazing."
• Hindi: "वह फिल्म जो हमने देखी, शानदार थी।"
• Explanation: "That" works for both people and things in defining clauses.

✅ Whose (जिसका/जिसकी – Possession):

• English: "The girl whose bag is red is my cousin."
• Hindi: "वह लड़की जिसका बैग लाल है, मेरी चचेरी बहन है।"
• Explanation: "Whose" shows the bag belongs to the girl.

✅ Where (जहाँ – Places):

• English: "The park where we met is beautiful."
• Hindi: "वह पार्क जहाँ हम मिले, सुंदर है।"
• Explanation: "Where" points to the location.

✅ When (जब – Time):

• English: "The day when it rained was unforgettable."
• Hindi: "वह दिन जब बारिश हुई, अविस्मरणीय था।"
• Explanation: "When" specifies the time.

📌 Tip: Practice replacing "jo" in Hindi sentences with the right English pronoun to get the hang of it!

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🔹 Sentence Patterns with Relative Clauses:

✅ Present Tense:

• "The man who sells fruits is here." – वह आदमी जो फल बेचता है, यहाँ है।
• "The dog, which barks a lot, is mine." – वह कुत्ता, जो बहुत भौंकता है, मेरा है।

✅ Past Tense:

• "The teacher who taught me retired." – वह शिक्षक जो मुझे पढ़ाता था, रिटायर हो गया।
• "The house, which we bought, was old." – वह घर, जो हमने खरीदा, पुराना था।

✅ Future Tense:

• "The friend who will visit is funny." – वह दोस्त जो आएगा, मज़ेदार है।
• "The trip, which we’ll take, will be fun." – वह यात्रा, जो हम करेंगे, मज़ेदार होगी।

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🔹 Real-Life Conversation Examples (Hindi-English):

🧍♂️ Scenario 1: At School

• A (English): “The teacher who explains well is Ms. Sharma.”
• B (English): “Oh, I like her! The lessons that she teaches are easy.”
• A (Hindi): “वह शिक्षक जो अच्छे से समझाता है, मिस शर्मा हैं।”
• B (Hindi): “ओह, मुझे वह पसंद हैं! जो पाठ वह पढ़ाती हैं, आसान हैं।”

🧍♀️ Scenario 2: Shopping

• A (English): “The shop where I bought this shirt is nearby.”
• B (English): “Nice! The shirt, which looks expensive, was cheap?”
• A (Hindi): “वह दुकान जहाँ मैंने यह शर्ट खरीदी, पास में है।”
• B (Hindi): “अच्छा! यह शर्ट, जो महंगी लगती है, सस्ती थी?”

🧍♂️ Scenario 3: Family Chat

• A (English): “The cousin whose car broke down called me.”
• B (English): “The day when that happened was crazy, right?”
• A (Hindi): “वह चचेरा भाई जिसकी गाड़ी खराब हो गई, उसने मुझे फोन किया।”
• B (Hindi): “वह दिन जब ऐसा हुआ, पागलपन भरा था, ना?”

These examples show how relative clauses flow naturally in daily life.

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🔹 Polite Phrases with Relative Clauses:
Use these to sound polite or start conversations:

• “The person who helped me was so kind.” – वह व्यक्ति जो मेरी मदद करता था, बहुत दयालु था।
• “This book, which I recommend, is amazing.” – यह किताब, जो मैं सुझाता हूँ, शानदार है।
• “The place where we can meet is quiet.” – वह जगह जहाँ हम मिल सकते हैं, शांत है।

📌 Tip: These are great for formal settings like interviews or emails.

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🔹 Grammar Focus: Key Rules for Relative Clauses:

1. Subject vs. Object:
   • Subject: "The girl who sings is talented." (Who = subject of "sings.")
   • Object: "The girl whom I met is talented." (Whom = object of "I met.")
2. Omitting Pronouns:
   • In defining clauses, you can skip "that" or "whom" if it’s the object:
     • "The movie that we watched" → "The movie we watched."
     • Hindi: "वह फिल्म जो हमने देखी" stays the same.
3. Commas for Non-Defining:
   • Use commas for extra info: "My phone, which is new, broke."
   • No commas for essential info: "The phone that I bought broke."
4. Whose for Possession:
   • Works for people and things: "The house whose roof leaks is old."

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🔹 Common Mistakes by Hindi Speakers:

📌 Tip: Hindi’s flexible word order can trip you up—stick to English structure!

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🔹 Practice Exercises:
Test your skills with these exercises. Answers are below.

✅ Fill in the Blanks:

1. The boy ______ plays cricket is my brother.
2. The house, ______ we bought, is big.
3. The day ______ it rained was cold.
4. The teacher ______ I met was strict.
5. The car ______ engine broke is mine.

✅ Translate into English:

1. वह लड़की जो गाना गाती है, बहुत सुंदर है।
2. यह किताब, जो मैंने कल पढ़ी, बहुत रोचक है।
3. वह जगह जहाँ हम खेलते थे, अब स्कूल बन गई है।
4. वह आदमी जिसका कुत्ता भौंकता है, मेरा पड़ोसी है।
5. वह दिन जब हम मिले, बहुत खास था।

✅ Write Sentences:
Write 5 sentences using "who," "which," "that," "whose," and "where." Include Hindi translations.

✅ Answer Key:
Fill in the Blanks:

1. who
2. which
3. when
4. whom
5. whose

Translations:

1. "The girl who sings is very beautiful."
2. "This book, which I read yesterday, is very interesting."
3. "The place where we played has now become a school."
4. "The man whose dog barks is my neighbor."
5. "The day when we met was very special."

Sample Sentences:

1. "The friend who calls me is funny." – वह दोस्त जो मुझे फोन करता है, मज़ेदार है।
2. "The phone, which I lost, was expensive." – वह फोन, जो मैंने खो दिया, महंगा था।
3. "The movie that we saw was long." – वह फिल्म जो हमने देखी, लंबी थी।
4. "The boy whose bag is blue is here." – वह लड़का जिसका बैग नीला है, यहाँ है।
5. "The park where I jog is green." – वह पार्क जहाँ मैं दौड़ता हूँ, हरा-भरा है।

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🔹 Other useful links:

Explore more English-to-Hindi lessons:

• 50+ Common English to Hindi Phrases for Beginners
• How to Talk About Weather in English (With Hindi Examples)
• How to Ask for Directions in English (With Hindi Examples)
• How to Speak English Fluently Without a Teacher

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🔹 Why Relative Clauses Matter:
Relative clauses aren’t just grammar—they’re tools for storytelling, clarity, and connection. In daily life, they help you:

• Describe People: "The friend who helped me moved to Canada."
• Talk About Things: "The phone that I bought stopped working."
• Share Memories: "The day when we laughed so hard was the best."

For Hindi speakers, they bridge the gap between our natural "jo" sentences and English’s structured style.

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🔹 Advanced Uses of Relative Clauses:

✅ Reduced Relative Clauses:

• Full: "The man who is standing there is my uncle."
• Reduced: "The man standing there is my uncle."
• Hindi: "वह आदमी जो वहाँ खड़ा है, मेरा चाचा है।"

✅ Prepositions in Relative Clauses:

• "The house in which I live is old." – वह घर जिसमें मैं रहता हूँ, पुराना है।
• Informal: "The house that I live in is old."

✅ Combining Clauses:

• "The girl who sings, whose voice is sweet, won the prize." – वह लड़की जो गाती है, जिसकी आवाज़ मीठी है, ने पुरस्कार जीता।

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🔹 Cultural Tips for Indians:

• Avoid Overuse of "Jo": In Hindi, we repeat "jo" a lot. In English, use pronouns sparingly and correctly.
• Practice Clarity: English speakers value concise relative clauses—don’t overcomplicate them.
• Listen and Learn: Watch English shows or listen to podcasts to hear relative clauses in action.

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🔹 How to Practice Relative Clauses Daily:

1. Describe People/Things: Talk about "the friend who lives nearby" or "the book that I’m reading."
2. Translate Hindi Sentences: Turn "jo" sentences into English.
3. Write a Diary: Use relative clauses to describe your day.
4. Speak Aloud: Practice conversations with a friend or mirror.

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✅ Conclusion:
Relative clauses की मदद से आप English में अपनी बात को और साफ़ और रोचक बना सकते हैं। (Relative clauses ki madad se aap English mein apni baat ko aur saaf aur rochak bana sakte hain.) From "who" to "where," you now know how to use them in daily life.

इस ब्लॉग से आपने सीखा:

• Relative clauses क्या हैं और कैसे काम करते हैं
• English में इन्हें Hindi explanations के साथ कैसे इस्तेमाल करें
• Real-life examples और exercises

अब अगली बार जब आप English में बात करें, relative clauses का इस्तेमाल करें और अपनी fluency को impress करें! (Ab agli baar jab aap English mein baat karein, relative clauses ka istemaal karein aur apni fluency ko impress karein!) Happy learning!