Relative Clauses, Causatives & Connectives: Rules, Uses & Exam Tricks

What You Will Learn

This unit covers three key grammar topics:

1. Relative Clauses – How to join two sentences using who, which, that, whose, where, when.
2. Causative Verbs – How to express "making someone do something" using have/get + past participle.
3. Connectives – How to link ideas smoothly using words like and, but, so, because, although.

These skills will help you write clear, complex, and error-free sentences in exams and real life.

1. Relative Clauses: Joining Sentences with Who, Which, That

Relative clauses add extra information about a noun. They help avoid repetition and make sentences more natural.

How Relative Clauses Work

Key Rules

✅ Defining relative clauses (no comma) give essential information. ✅ Non-defining relative clauses (comma + comma) give extra details. ✅ Omit the relative pronoun if it is the object (e.g., The man (whom) I met is my teacher). ✅ Use that for things (not people) in defining clauses (The car that she bought is red).

Worked Example

Original Sentences:

• I met a girl. She is from Pokhara. Combined with Relative Clause:
• I met a girl who is from Pokhara. (Defining, no comma)
• My sister, who is a doctor, lives in India. (Non-defining, commas)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ The movie, which I watched yesterday, was boring. (Correct: The movie that I watched yesterday was boring. – which needs commas for non-defining.) ❌ She is the girl whom I told you about. (Correct: She is the girl I told you about. – whom can be omitted if it’s the object.)

2. Causative Verbs: Have/Get + Past Participle

Causative verbs show that someone makes another person do something.

How Causative Verbs Work

Key Differences: Have vs. Get

classDiagram
    class Have {
        +Formal
        +Used for services
        +Example: *I had my car repaired.*
    }
    class Get {
        +Casual
        +Used for personal actions
        +Example: *I got my hair cut.*
    }
    Have --> "More Polite" Get
    Have --> "Services" Get
    Get --> "Personal Actions" Have

Worked Example

Original Meaning: A barber cut my hair. Causative Form:

• I had my hair cut. (Polite, formal)
• I got my hair cut. (Casual)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ She had her teeth brushing. (Correct: She had her teeth brushed. – Use past participle, not -ing form.) ❌ He got his house painting. (Correct: He got his house painted.)

3. Connectives: Linking Ideas Smoothly

Connectives (or linking words) help join sentences and paragraphs logically.

Types of Connectives & Their Uses

Worked Example

Original Sentences:

• I was tired. I went to bed early. Combined with Connective:
• I was tired, so I went to bed early. (Result)
• I wanted to stay out, but I was tired. (Contrast)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ She is tall, and she is beautiful. (Correct: She is tall and beautiful. – No comma before and when joining two adjectives.) ❌ I couldn’t go because I was tired. (Correct: I couldn’t go because of my tiredness. – Because needs a clause, not a noun.)

Practice Exercises (NEB-Style Questions)

Section A: Relative Clauses (Fill in the Blanks)

1. The man ______ (who/which) stole my bag has been arrested.
2. The book, ______ (that/which) I read yesterday, was interesting.
3. The city ______ (where/when) I was born is Kathmandu.

Answers:

1. who (people)
2. which (non-defining, commas)
3. where (place)

Section B: Causative Verbs (Rewrite the Sentences)

1. A mechanic repaired my car. (Use "had") → I had my car repaired.
2. A barber will cut my hair tomorrow. (Use "get") → I will get my hair cut tomorrow.

Section C: Connectives (Choose the Best Word)

1. I was hungry, ______ I ate a sandwich. (so/but)
2. ______ it was raining, we went out. (Because/Although)

Answers:

1. so (result)
2. Although (contrast)

Exam Tips for Full Marks

✔ Relative Clauses:

• Always check if the clause is defining (no comma) or non-defining (commas).
• Remember: who = people, which = things, that = both (but avoid that for non-defining).
• NEB loves testing: The girl (who/whom) you met is my sister. → who (subject).

✔ Causative Verbs:

• Past participle only! (had my hair cut, not cutting)
• Have = formal, get = casual.
• NEB trick: The doctor examined me. → I had myself examined. (reflexive object).

✔ Connectives:

• Commas matter! I like tea, but she prefers coffee.
• Avoid mixing tenses in connected clauses. Example: ❌ She left because she is tired. (Wrong tense) ✅ She left because she was tired. (Correct)

✔ Common NEB Mistakes:

• Omitting that in defining clauses (The book that I read was good.).
• Wrong relative pronoun (The house where I live is big. – not in which).
• Misusing get (I got my phone repaired, not repairing).

Final Advice:

• Practice daily by combining short sentences using relative clauses.
• Memorize causative patterns (have/get + past participle).
• Learn connectives in pairs (because/so, but/although) to avoid confusion.

Good luck! 🚀 You can now write complex, error-free sentences like a pro. 😊