RELATIVE CLAUSES
RELATIVE CLAUSES
RELATIVE CLAUSES
A clause is a part of a sentence.
A relative clause contains a relative pronoun or adverb and
tells us which person or thing the speech refers to.
The man arrived. The man is very tall.
I met the man. The man is very tall.
The man who arrived is very tall.
The man (whom) I met is very tall.
Relative clause
RELATIVE CLAUSES
RELATIVE CLAUSES
Relative pronoun/ adverb – examples of use
who The man who arrived is my uncle.
which The book (which) I bought is very good.
whose The man whose house is blue is working abroad.
whom The girl (whom) I wanted to talk to is not here.
where The village where they live is near the river.
that The shirt (that/which) you gave me doesn’t fit me.
The girl that/who arrived is my sister.
RELATIVE CLAUSES
USES
RELATIVE CLAUSES
Relative clauses can be:
1. Defining
The man who has entered the room is my Maths teacher.
I remember the time when there were no cars on our island.
2. Non-defining
Rita, who lives next door, is a very good student.
In those days, when there were no cars, we had peace and
quiet.
RELATIVE CLAUSES
FORM
Defining Relative Clauses
1. These clauses are used to restrict the noun or pronoun to
which they refer to a particular type or person.
The bacteria (that) Chen has identified come from the
Azores.
The girl who arrived this morning is my cousin Jane.
No commas are used before and
after the relative clause.
RELATIVE CLAUSES
FORM
Defining Relative Clauses
2. That can replace who or which:
The girl that/who arrived is my cousin Jane.
3. The object pronoun is often omitted:
The woman (that/whom) I wanted to see is not here.
RELATIVE CLAUSES
FORM
Non-defining Relative Clauses
1. These sentences are used to provide extra information; it is
not essential to the meaning of the sentence.
My sister, who is a doctor, lives in London.
We always use commas before and after the non-defining
(non-restrictive) relative clause.
RELATIVE CLAUSES
FORM
Non-defining Relative Clauses
The relative pronoun which can be used to add information
about a whole clause.
My grandparents’ cottage, where I was born, has been
demolished, which has made me very sad.
They’ve arrived late, which means they won’t get a seat.
In these sentences, we always use a comma before the
relative pronoun.
RELATIVE CLAUSES
FORM
Relative Clauses - prepositions
In relative pronouns, the prepositions
usually come at the end of the sentence.
That’s the woman (that/who) I sold my car to.
In more formal English, the preposition can be before the
relative pronoun.
That’s the lady to whom I sold my car.
RELATIVE CLAUSES
RELATIVE CLAUSES
PRACTICE
RELATIVE CLAUSES
PRACTICE
Complete the sentences using the correct relative pronoun/adverb:
1. I recently went back to the town ________ I was born.
2. A pacifist is a person __________ believes that all wars are
wrong.
3. Is there a shop near here _______ I can buy a book?
4. The building ___________ was destroyed in the fire has now
been rebuilt.
RELATIVE CLAUSES
PRACTICE
Complete the sentences using the correct relative pronoun/adverb:
1. I recently went back to the town ________
where I was born.
2. A pacifist is a person __________
who/that believes that all wars are
wrong.
3. Is there a shop near here _______
where I can buy a book?
4. The building ___________
which/that was destroyed in the fire has now
been rebuilt.
RELATIVE CLAUSES
PRACTICE
Decide whether the sentences are Defining (D) or Non-defining (ND) Relative Clauses;
add commas when necessary:
1. My brother Michael who lives in London is a vet. _______
2. My office which is on the second floor is very small._____
3. Mary works for a company that makes washing machines. _____
4. I don’t like people who are always late. ______
RELATIVE CLAUSES
PRACTICE
Decide whether the sentences are Defining (D) or Non-defining (ND) Relative Clauses;
add commas when necessary:
1. My brother Michael who lives in London is a vet. _______
ND
2. My office which is on the second floor is very small._____
ND
3. Mary works for a company that makes washing machines. _____
D
4. I don’t like people who are always late. ______
D
RELATIVE CLAUSES