relative

Everyday

1. A relative is a person in your family, like an aunt, uncle, cousin or grandparent. tree →
2. As an adjective, relative means compared with something else, like «relative size». tree →
3. In grammar, a relative pronoun (who, which, that) joins a clause to a noun. tree →

In the lessons

In family lessons relatives are part of your family tree; in maths and science relative size, speed or position is measured compared with something else. Phrases: «a close relative», «a distant relative», «relative to», «relative clause».

Examples

• We visited our relatives at Christmas. tree →
• My aunt is my closest relative in Canada. tree →
• Lions and house cats are distant relatives. tree →
• The ant is tiny relative to the elephant. tree →
• «Who» is a relative pronoun. tree →
• Many relatives came to the wedding. tree →
• The test was relatively easy. tree →
• A Town Mouse once visited a relative who lived in the country. tree →

Note

Countable as a noun. Adverb: relatively (quite, compared with others). Same as «relation» for family members. Relative clauses start with who, which, that, where.