A relative clause (betrekkelijke bijzin) provides extra information about a noun (or pronoun) mentioned just before it in the main clause. It functions like an adjective, describing the noun.

Relative clauses are introduced by relative pronouns (betrekkelijke voornaamwoorden).

The main relative pronouns are die and dat.

1. die:

• Used when the noun being described is a de-word (masculine or feminine, singular or plural).
• Refers to people and things.
• Example (de-word, thing): De fiets die daar staat, is nieuw. (The bike that is standing there is new.) - fiets is a de-word.
• Example (de-word, person): De vrouw die naast me zit, is mijn tante. (The woman who is sitting next to me is my aunt.) - vrouw is a de-word.
• Example (plural): De boeken die ik lees, zijn interessant. (The books that I am reading are interesting.) - boeken is plural (always de).

1. dat:

• Used when the noun being described is a het-word (neuter singular).
• Refers only to things.
• Example (het-word, thing): Het huis dat ik wil kopen, is duur. (The house that I want to buy is expensive.) - huis is a het-word.
• Example (het-word, thing): Het meisje dat daar speelt, is mijn dochter. (The girl that is playing there is my daughter.) - meisje is a het-word (diminutive).

Word Order in Relative Clauses: Just like other subordinate clauses, the finite verb in a relative clause moves to the end.

• De man [die een bril draagt] is mijn buurman. (The man [who wears glasses] is my neighbour.) - Verb draagt is at the end of the relative clause.
• Het boek [dat op tafel ligt] is van mij. (The book [that lies on the table] is mine.) - Verb ligt is at the end of the relative clause.

Prepositions: If the relative pronoun refers to a person and follows a preposition, die changes to wie.

• De persoon met wie ik sprak... (The person with whom I spoke...)

If the relative pronoun refers to a thing and follows a preposition, the preposition combines with waar (e.g., met + dat -> waarmee).

• De pen waarmee ik schrijf... (The pen with which I write...)

(Note: wie and waar + preposition constructions are often introduced later than A2, but good to be aware of.)

Summary:

• Use die for de-words (singular & plural) and people.
• Use dat for het-words (singular) and things.
• The finite verb goes to the end of the relative clause.