Definition of relative clause

[greystroke]

Hi,

Most grammar books define a relative clause as a clause which has , who , that , which etc.
My question : why is it called a relative clause? Is it because it is related to the main clause? Or is there some other explanation for the term?

Can someone help, please.

Greystroke

[mara_ce]

A relative clause gives extra information about a noun in the main clause. They can refer to this as subject or object.

That's the woman who bought my car. The woman (subject) bought my car.
That's the car that I used to own. I used to own the car. (object)