Relative Clauses, Causatives & Connectives: Rules & Uses

TAKEAWAYS:

• Relative clauses join two sentences by replacing a noun with who, which, that, whose, where (e.g., The book that you lent me is interesting).
• Causatives show someone/something making another do an action (She had her hair cut).
• Connectives link ideas logically (I studied hard, so I passed).
• Avoid comma splices (joining two sentences with just a comma).
• Defining vs. non-defining relative clauses change punctuation (The man who stole the bag was arrested vs. My brother, who is a doctor, lives in Kathmandu).
• Connectives like although, however, therefore add sophistication to essays.

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1. Relative Clauses: Joining Ideas with Who, Which, That etc.

Relative clauses help avoid repetition by combining two sentences into one. They describe a noun (person, place, thing) and are called adjective clauses.

How They Work

• Relative pronouns (who, which, that, whose, where, when) introduce relative clauses.
• Defining relative clauses (essential info) have no commas and cannot be removed.
  • The girl who won the prize is my sister.
• Non-defining relative clauses (extra info) are set off by commas and can be removed.
  • My sister, who is a doctor, lives in Pokhara.

Rules for Relative Pronouns

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ The book, which I read yesterday, was interesting. (Incorrect if the clause is defining.) ✅ The book that I read yesterday was interesting. (No comma for defining.) ✅ My favorite book, which has a blue cover, is missing. (Commas for non-defining.)

Solved Example

Original sentences:

• I met a man. He is a scientist. Combined with relative clause:
• I met a man who is a scientist.

Original sentences:

• This is the temple. We visited it last year. Combined with relative clause:
• This is the temple that we visited last year.

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2. Causatives: Making Someone/Something Do an Action

Causatives show that one person or thing makes another perform an action. The structure is: Subject + causative verb + object + verb (without to)

Common Causative Verbs

Key Differences

• Make → Forces someone to do something (often unwilling).
  • The teacher made us study for the exam.
• Let → Allows someone to do something (willing).
  • My parents let me go to the party.
• Have → Gets something done (often a service).
  • I had my bike repaired.

Solved Example

Original sentence:

• Someone repaired my car. Causative form:
• I had my car repaired.

Original sentence:

• The boss forced the employees to work overtime. Causative form:
• The boss made the employees work overtime.

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3. Connectives: Linking Ideas Smoothly

Connectives (or linking words) help ideas flow logically in writing and speaking. They show cause, contrast, addition, result, or sequence.

Types of Connectives

Common Mistakes

❌ I was tired, but I went to bed early. (Correct, but "but" is informal for essays.) ✅ I was tired; however, I went to bed early. (More formal.)

Solved Example

Original sentences:

• I was hungry. I ate a sandwich. Combined with connective:
• I was hungry, so I ate a sandwich.

Original sentences:

• She wanted to buy a phone. She didn’t have enough money. Combined with connective:
• She wanted to buy a phone, but she didn’t have enough money.

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4. Relative Clauses vs. Connectives: When to Use Which?

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5. Exam Tips for NEB Class 12

1. Relative Clauses in Essays

   • Use non-defining clauses (with commas) to add extra details in formal writing.
   • Example:
     • Nepal, which is a beautiful Himalayan country, attracts many tourists.

2. Causatives in Writing

   • Use "have + object + past participle" for services (e.g., I had my watch repaired).
   • Avoid mixing make/let with passive forms (❌ She was made to study → ✅ She was forced to study).

3. Connectives for High Marks

   • Avoid simple "and/but" in essays. Use more advanced connectives like:
     • Consequently, Therefore, Nevertheless, Hence
   • Example:
     • Many people migrate to cities for jobs; consequently, rural areas face labor shortages.

4. Common NEB Exam Questions

   • Fill in the blanks with relative pronouns (who, which, that).
     • The man who invented the telephone was Alexander Graham Bell.
   • Rewrite sentences using causatives.
     • Someone cleaned the room. → I had the room cleaned.
   • Combine sentences using connectives.
     • She was tired. She went to bed early. → She was tired; therefore, she went to bed early.

5. Practice for Grammar Section

   • NEB often tests error correction in relative clauses (e.g., The book, which I read, was good → The book that I read was good).
   • Proofreading questions may ask to add missing connectives.

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NEB-Style Practice Questions

Section A: Fill in the Blanks

1. The girl ______ won the prize is my cousin. (who/which/that)
2. I have a friend ______ lives in Australia. (who/whose/where)
3. ______ you do your homework, you can watch TV. (Because/If/Although)
4. She ______ her hair cut yesterday. (had/have/make)
5. The movie was boring, ______ I didn’t enjoy it. (but/so/and)

Section B: Rewrite Using Relative Clauses

1. This is the house. I was born here. → This is the house where I was born.
2. The man is a doctor. He is my neighbor. → The man who is my neighbor is a doctor.

Section C: Combine Using Connectives

1. It rained. We couldn’t go for a picnic. → It rained, so we couldn’t go for a picnic.
2. She wanted to buy a car. She didn’t have enough money. → She wanted to buy a car, but she didn’t have enough money.

Section D: Correct the Errors

1. The book, which is on the table, is mine. (No error)
2. He made me to do the work. (❌ → He made me do the work.)
3. Although she was tired, but she worked hard. (❌ → Although she was tired, she worked hard.)

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Answers: A: 1. who, 2. who, 3. If, 4. had, 5. so B: (As given above) C: (As given above) D: (As corrected above)

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Final Advice:

• Relative clauses make your writing concise and professional.
• Causatives help express actions done by others naturally.
• Connectives improve cohesion in essays (worth marks in writing sections!).
• Practice daily by rewriting sentences from newspapers or textbooks.

Would you like additional exercises or common NEB question patterns?