C1 syntax 5 min read

Nested Relative Clauses in

Mastering nested relative clauses allows you to link complex ideas precisely using the `jo-voh` correlative framework.

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Nested clauses embed one description inside another using multiple relative pronouns.
  • Always pair relative pronouns like `jo` with correlatives like `voh`.
  • Use `jisne` or `jise` for the inner layer of the description.
  • Perfect for formal writing, complex storytelling, and high-level professional communication.

Quick Reference

Outer Relative Inner Relative Correlative Context
`jo` `jisne` `voh` Subject performing an inner action
`jis` `jise` `voh` Object receiving an inner action
`jahan` `jo` `vahan` Describing a thing within a place
`jisne` `jiski` `usne` Subject with a nested possession
`jinhen` `jo` `ve` Plural or formal nested descriptions
`jis` `jispar` `voh` Nesting with specific postpositions

Key Examples

3 of 8
1

Jo ladka vahan khada hai, jisne neeli kameez pehni hai, mera bhai hai.

The boy who is standing there, who is wearing a blue shirt, is my brother.

2

Voh kitaab jo maine kal khareedi thi, jise tumne dekha tha, kho gayi.

The book that I bought yesterday, which you had seen, is lost.

3

Jis shehar mein main rehta hoon, jahan bohot baarish hoti hai, voh sundar hai.

The city where I live, where it rains a lot, is beautiful.

💡

The Comma is Your Friend

Use commas to separate the nested clauses. It gives your listener a tiny break to process the first layer before you hit them with the second.

⚠️

Don't Forget the Anchor

The correlative (voh, usne, vahan) is the anchor of your sentence. If you forget it, your sentence will float away into confusion.

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Nested clauses embed one description inside another using multiple relative pronouns.
  • Always pair relative pronouns like `jo` with correlatives like `voh`.
  • Use `jisne` or `jise` for the inner layer of the description.
  • Perfect for formal writing, complex storytelling, and high-level professional communication.

Overview

You have already mastered the basic jo and voh structure. Now, it is time to level up. Nested relative clauses are like Russian nesting dolls. They allow you to pack a lot of information into one sentence. Think of it as a sentence within a sentence. In Hindi, this is the hallmark of C1 fluency. You are not just describing a person. You are describing a person who is doing something to an object that also has its own story. It sounds complex, but it is actually quite logical. It is like a grammar traffic light. It tells the listener exactly which noun you are talking about. You will use this to sound more sophisticated. It is perfect for formal writing or deep storytelling. Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes. So, do not worry if it feels like a brain teaser at first.

How This Grammar Works

Hindi relies on the relative-correlative system. This means words like jo (who/which) must have a partner like voh (that/he/she). In a nested clause, you have two or more relative pronouns. Each one needs its own partner. Imagine you are at a party. You want to talk about a guest. But you also want to talk about the gift they brought. The gift itself was bought from a specific shop. To link all these ideas, you nest them. The first jo introduces the guest. The second jisne or jise introduces the gift. The main verb at the end ties everything back to the guest. It is all about maintaining the chain of reference. If you break the chain, the sentence collapses. Keep your partners together, and you will be fine.

Formation Pattern

  1. 1Building these sentences requires a step-by-step approach. Follow these four steps to keep things clear:
  2. 2Identify your primary subject. Start with the first relative pronoun like jo or jis.
  3. 3Add the first layer of description. This is your first relative clause.
  4. 4Insert the second relative pronoun. This could be jisne, jise, or jahan. This starts the nested clause.
  5. 5Complete the nested description and then the main clause. Use the correlative voh or usne to finish the thought.
  6. 6Think of it as a sandwich. The jo and voh are the bread. The nested clause is the delicious filling in the middle. If the bread is missing, the filling falls out.

When To Use It

Use nested relative clauses when you need precision. They are great for job interviews. You might say, "The project that I managed, which received an award, was very successful." In Hindi, this nesting shows you can handle complex logic. Use it when writing formal reports or academic essays. It helps you avoid repetitive, short sentences. It makes your prose flow better. You can also use it in storytelling. It adds depth to your characters and settings. For example, "The house where I grew up, which is now a museum, was very small." This is much more elegant than three separate sentences. It shows you have a high-quality command of Hindi syntax.

When Not To Use It

Do not use this while ordering street food. "The samosa that is on the tray that you just cleaned..." is way too much. Keep it simple for daily chores. If you are texting a friend, stick to short sentences. Nested clauses can become "grammar word soup" if overused. If your sentence has more than three relative pronouns, stop. You will confuse your listener and yourself. Avoid them when giving urgent directions. "The turn that is after the tree that was hit by lightning..." might cause an accident. Clarity should always be your priority. If the sentence feels like a tongue twister, simplify it.

Common Mistakes

The most common error is "The Ghost Correlative." This happens when you start with jo but forget the voh. The listener is left waiting for the conclusion. It is like a joke without a punchline. Another mistake is mixing up the oblique case. Remember that jo changes to jis or jin when a postposition follows. If the nested subject is doing an action in the past, you must use jisne. Do not lose track of your subjects. If you start talking about a girl, do not end the sentence talking about a car. It is easy to get lost in the layers. Think of it like a map. You need to know where you started to know where you are going.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Compare this to a simple relative clause. A simple one only has one jo and one voh. "The boy who is tall is my friend." A nested one adds another layer. "The boy who is tall, who gave me the book, is my friend." You can also use participial phrases to simplify things. Instead of a nested clause, you could use a verbal adjective. For example, "The book given by the boy." However, the nested clause is more flexible. It allows you to add tense and specific details that a participle cannot. Nested clauses are the heavy-duty tools of Hindi grammar. Participles are the quick-fix tools.

Quick FAQ

Q. Can I use ki instead of a nested clause?

A. Sometimes, but ki (that) often starts a new thought rather than describing a noun.

Q. Is this only for formal Hindi?

A. Mostly, but educated speakers use it in serious conversations too.

Q. How many layers can I add?

A. Two layers are common. Three layers are risky. Four layers are a nightmare.

Q. Does the verb always go at the end?

A. Yes, Hindi is a verb-final language, and this stays true for nested clauses.

Reference Table

Outer Relative Inner Relative Correlative Context
`jo` `jisne` `voh` Subject performing an inner action
`jis` `jise` `voh` Object receiving an inner action
`jahan` `jo` `vahan` Describing a thing within a place
`jisne` `jiski` `usne` Subject with a nested possession
`jinhen` `jo` `ve` Plural or formal nested descriptions
`jis` `jispar` `voh` Nesting with specific postpositions
💡

The Comma is Your Friend

Use commas to separate the nested clauses. It gives your listener a tiny break to process the first layer before you hit them with the second.

⚠️

Don't Forget the Anchor

The correlative (voh, usne, vahan) is the anchor of your sentence. If you forget it, your sentence will float away into confusion.

🎯

Match the Case

If your nested clause uses a past tense transitive verb, make sure you use `jisne` and not just `jo`. Case harmony is key to C1 precision.

💬

The Mark of an Intellectual

In India, using nested clauses correctly in Hindi is often seen as a sign of being well-educated and articulate. It's the 'Professor' style of speaking.

مثال‌ها

8
#1 Basic Nesting

Jo ladka vahan khada hai, jisne neeli kameez pehni hai, mera bhai hai.

Focus: jisne

The boy who is standing there, who is wearing a blue shirt, is my brother.

Two descriptions of the same person are linked here.

#2 Object Nesting

Voh kitaab jo maine kal khareedi thi, jise tumne dekha tha, kho gayi.

Focus: jise

The book that I bought yesterday, which you had seen, is lost.

The book is the object of both relative clauses.

#3 Place Nesting

Jis shehar mein main rehta hoon, jahan bohot baarish hoti hai, voh sundar hai.

Focus: jahan

The city where I live, where it rains a lot, is beautiful.

Using 'jahan' to add a second layer to a location.

#4 Formal Usage

Voh mahila jinhen aapne bulaya tha, jo videsh se aayi hain, bahar intezaar kar rahi hain.

Focus: jinhen

The lady whom you called, who has come from abroad, is waiting outside.

Uses plural forms for respect (jinhen, hain).

#5 Edge Case: Possession

Jis aadmi se main mila, jiski beti doctor hai, voh bohot ameer hai.

Focus: jiski

The man I met, whose daughter is a doctor, is very rich.

Nesting a possessive relative clause (jiski).

#6 Mistake Corrected (Missing Correlative)

✗ Jo kaam tumne kiya, jo bohot mushkil tha, achha hai. → ✓ Jo kaam tumne kiya, jo bohot mushkil tha, voh achha hai.

Focus: voh

The work you did, which was very difficult, is good.

Always include the correlative 'voh' to close the sentence.

#7 Mistake Corrected (Wrong Case)

✗ Jo aadmi ne mujhe phone kiya... → ✓ Jis aadmi ne mujhe phone kiya, jo mera dost hai, usne sab bataya.

Focus: Jis

The man who called me, who is my friend, told everything.

Use 'jis' before postpositions like 'ne'.

#8 Advanced Layering

Voh purana ghar jo nadi ke paas hai, jispar ab belen ug aayi hain, jald hi gir jayega.

Focus: jispar

That old house which is near the river, on which vines have now grown, will soon fall.

A complex description using a postpositional relative (jispar).

Test Yourself

Choose the correct relative pronoun to complete the nested clause.

Voh ladki jo kal aayi thi, ___ tumne baat ki thi, meri behan hai.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. پاسخ صحیح: jis-se

The verb 'baat karna' requires the postposition 'se', so 'jis' becomes 'jis-se'.

Complete the sentence with the appropriate correlative.

Jo film humne dekhi, jo kaafi lambi thi, ___ bohot boring thi.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. پاسخ صحیح: voh

'Film' is the subject of the final clause, so 'voh' is the correct correlative.

Select the correct plural relative pronoun for a formal context.

Voh neta ___ janta ne chuna hai, jo imaandaar hain, desh badal denge.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. پاسخ صحیح: jinhen

'Jinhen' is the plural/formal object form of 'jo', matching the respectful tone.

🎉 Score: /3

Visual Learning Aids

Simple vs. Nested Relative Clauses

Simple (B1/B2)
Jo ladka vahan hai... The boy who is there...
Nested (C1)
Jo ladka vahan hai, jisne topi pehni hai... The boy who is there, who is wearing a hat...

Building Your Nested Clause

1

Are you describing a noun twice?

YES ↓
NO
Use a simple relative clause.
2

Is the second description an action?

YES ↓
NO
Use 'jiski' or 'jahan'.
3

Did you add the final 'voh'?

YES ↓
NO
Add 'voh' or the sentence is incomplete!

Common Nested Pairs

👤

People

  • Jo... jisne...
  • Jo... jise...
📍

Places

  • Jis jagah... jahan...
  • Jahan... jo...

Frequently Asked Questions

22 questions

It is a sentence where one relative clause (a description) contains another relative clause inside it. For example, Jo ladka, jisne kal phone kiya tha, vahan khada hai....

Start with a relative pronoun like jo or jis. This sets the stage for the noun you are about to describe in detail.

Yes! You use jo for the general description and jisne if that person did an action in the past tense. Example: Jo aadmi vahan hai, jisne khana khaya....

The main verb usually comes at the very end of the entire construction. It links back to the very first noun you mentioned.

Grammatically, no, but for clarity, yes. Stick to two layers; three is pushing it, and four will confuse even native speakers.

Use plural relative pronouns like jo (remains same) and jinhonne or jinhen. The correlative must also be plural, like ve or unhone.

The relative pronouns themselves don't change gender, but the verbs inside the clauses must agree with the gender of the noun they describe.

The relative pronoun must take the oblique form. Jo becomes jis, so you would use jis-ko or jise.

It is less common in casual talk. People usually break it into two sentences to keep things light and fast.

Keep the 'sandwich' model in mind. Start with jo, put your descriptions in the middle, and always end with voh.

Jo is the base form (who/which). Jisne is used when the person is the subject of a past tense transitive verb (who did something).

You can, but it's like juggling four balls. Jo ladka, jisne voh kitaab di, jise maine padha...—it gets messy fast!

Similar, but Hindi's requirement for a correlative (voh) makes it more structured than the English 'which' or 'who'.

In formal C1 Hindi, yes. Leaving it out is a common colloquialism, but it's technically a grammatical error in high-level writing.

Take two simple sentences about the same object and try to fuse them using jo and jisne. Then add a third fact.

English speakers often forget the second relative pronoun and try to use 'and' instead. In Hindi, nesting is more precise than 'and'.

Absolutely. You can say Voh ghar jahan main rehta hoon, jo purana hai... (The house where I live, which is old...).

Yes, though it's rarer. Jab main chhota tha, jab hum dilli mein rehte the... (When I was small, when we lived in Delhi...).

Yes, especially in dramatic dialogues or poetic songs where a character is describing a lost love or a complex situation.

Look for the very last verb that follows the correlative voh. That is the 'action' of the main subject.

That's fine! Jo kitaab (Subject 1) tumne (Subject 2) di thi... Just make sure each subject has its own clear verb.

Always. It is better to be simple and correct than complex and wrong. But keep practicing to reach that C1 level!

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