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Relative Clauses

The document explains relative clauses, which modify nouns and pronouns using question words like who, which, and where. It distinguishes between defining relative clauses, which identify or classify nouns, and non-defining relative clauses, which provide additional information without classification. It also discusses the omission of relative pronouns when they are the object of a defining relative clause.

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4 views1 page

Relative Clauses

The document explains relative clauses, which modify nouns and pronouns using question words like who, which, and where. It distinguishes between defining relative clauses, which identify or classify nouns, and non-defining relative clauses, which provide additional information without classification. It also discusses the omission of relative pronouns when they are the object of a defining relative clause.

Uploaded by

paula
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Relative clauses: the people who live next door.

Clauses beginning with question words (e.g. who, which, where) are often used to modify nouns and some
pronouns – to identify people and things, or to give more information about them. Clauses used like this are
called relative clauses.

 Do you know the people who live next door?


 Those who want tickets can get them from the office.
 There’s a programme tonight which you might like.

Who refers to people. Where refers to places. Whose refers to possession.


Which refers to things. When refers to time. That sometimes replaces who and which.

TWO KINDS OF RELATIVE CLAUSES

Defining relative clauses

Some relative clauses identify or classify nouns: they tell us which person or thing, or which kind of person or
thing, we are referring to.

 People who take physical exercise live longer.


 Who owns the car which is parked outside?
 Have you got something that will get ink out of a carpet?
 That’s the woman whose name I always forget.

We often use that instead of who and which, especially in an informal style.

 It’s the best film that’s ever been made.

Non-defining relative clauses

Other relative clauses do not identify or classify; they simply tell us more about a person or thing that is
already identified.

 This is Ms Rogers, who’s joining the firm next week.


 In 1908 Ford developed his Model T car, which sold for $500.

We cannot replace which or who for that in this type of relative clause.
Non-defining relative clauses are written between commas or comma and period.

OMITTING THE RELATIVE PRONOUN

That, who and which can only be omitted when they are the object of a defining relative clause. When
the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause, it cannot be omitted. You can usually tell when a relative
pronoun is the object of the clause because it is followed by another subject + verb.

George is the guy who/that works with me. (Who = George. George works –he does the action. He’s the
subject of the clause. I can’t omit the relative pronoun.)

George is the guy (who/that) I told you about the other day. (Who = George. I told –I did the action. George is
the object of the clause. I can omit the relative pronoun.)

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