Why Relative Clauses Matter for SPM
In SPM English, your essay mark depends partly on sentence variety. If every sentence follows the same Subject-Verb-Object pattern, you’ll get a Band 3 at best. Relative clauses let you combine short sentences into longer, more impressive ones — moving you toward Band 5 or 6.
Without relative clauses: “The teacher is very kind. She teaches us English.”
With a relative clause: “The teacher who teaches us English is very kind.”
Same information, but the second version shows better grammar control.
The Five Relative Pronouns
Who — For People
“The student who scored the highest was given a prize.” “My mother, who is a nurse, works at General Hospital.”
Which — For Things and Animals
“The book which I borrowed was very interesting.” “She lives in a house which was built in the 1980s.”
That — For People OR Things (Informal)
“The boy that won the race is my classmate.” “The movie that we watched was boring.”
Note: “That” can replace “who” or “which” in most cases, but NOT in non-defining clauses (explained below).
Where — For Places
“This is the school where I studied.” “Kuala Lumpur is the city where the meeting was held.”
When — For Times
“I remember the day when we first met.” “Friday is the day when we have assembly.”
Defining vs Non-Defining Clauses
Defining Clauses (Essential Information)
The information is necessary to identify which person or thing you mean. NO commas.
“The students who passed the exam will receive certificates.” (Which students? The ones who passed.)
“The book that she recommended was excellent.” (Which book? The one she recommended.)
Non-Defining Clauses (Extra Information)
The information adds detail but isn’t needed to identify the subject. USE commas.
“Teacher Daletha, who has taught for 8 years, uses bilingual methods.” (We already know who Teacher Daletha is — the clause adds extra info.)
“Kuala Lumpur, which is the capital of Malaysia, has many shopping malls.” (We know what KL is — the clause adds detail.)
Important: You CANNOT use “that” in non-defining clauses.
- Wrong: “My sister, that lives in Penang, is a doctor.”
- Right: “My sister, who lives in Penang, is a doctor.”
How to Combine Sentences Using Relative Clauses
Step-by-Step Method
Original two sentences: “I met a girl. The girl speaks five languages.”
Step 1: Identify the common element → “a girl” / “the girl” Step 2: Replace the second mention with a relative pronoun → “who” Step 3: Insert the relative clause after the noun it describes
Result: “I met a girl who speaks five languages.”
More Examples
Original: “The phone is new. I bought the phone yesterday.” Combined: “The phone which I bought yesterday is new.”
Original: “Malacca is a historic city. I was born in Malacca.” Combined: “Malacca, where I was born, is a historic city.”
Original: “I remember the year. My family moved to Selangor in that year.” Combined: “I remember the year when my family moved to Selangor.”
Common SPM Mistakes
1. Using “Who” for Things
Wrong: “The book who I read was interesting.” Right: “The book which/that I read was interesting.”
2. Using “Which” for People
Wrong: “The teacher which taught us has retired.” Right: “The teacher who taught us has retired.”
3. Repeating the Pronoun
Wrong: “The student who he won the prize is my friend.” Right: “The student who won the prize is my friend.”
This is extremely common among Malaysian students. The relative pronoun already replaces the subject — don’t add it back.
4. Missing Commas for Non-Defining Clauses
Wrong: “My father who is a teacher works at SMK Taman Desa.” Right: “My father, who is a teacher, works at SMK Taman Desa.”
(You only have one father, so the clause is extra information — needs commas.)
5. Using “That” in Non-Defining Clauses
Wrong: “Penang, that is known for its food, is a popular tourist destination.” Right: “Penang, which is known for its food, is a popular tourist destination.”
Using Relative Clauses in SPM Essays
In Introductions
“In today’s world, where technology dominates every aspect of life, students face unique challenges.”
In Body Paragraphs
“Students who manage their time wisely tend to score better in exams.” “Social media, which has become an essential part of teenagers’ lives, can affect academic performance.”
In Conclusions
“This is a matter that requires the attention of parents, teachers, and students alike.”
Showing Range
Mix defining and non-defining clauses to show grammar variety:
- “The habit that helps most is daily reading.” (defining)
- “Reading, which improves vocabulary and comprehension*, should be encouraged.”* (non-defining)
Practice Exercise
Combine each pair of sentences using a relative clause:
- The man is my uncle. The man is wearing a blue shirt.
- She lives in Ipoh. Ipoh is famous for its food.
- I visited the museum. The museum was closed on Monday.
- I remember the moment. I received my SPM results at that moment.
- The teacher is very strict. The teacher teaches Mathematics.
Answers:
- The man who is wearing a blue shirt is my uncle.
- She lives in Ipoh, which is famous for its food.
- The museum which/that I visited was closed on Monday.
- I remember the moment when I received my SPM results.
- The teacher who teaches Mathematics is very strict.
Write More Sophisticated Sentences
Relative clauses are one of the fastest ways to improve your essay band. At SPMEnglish.com.my, we practise sentence combining and clause structures until they flow naturally in your writing. WhatsApp us to level up your essay writing.
Related Resources
- Complex Sentences — Build advanced sentence structures
- Essay Writing Tips — Apply relative clauses in essays
- Grammar & Sentence Structure — Complete grammar programme
- Conjunctions & Linking Words — More ways to connect ideas