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Relative Clause

This document covers the topic of relative clauses in English grammar, distinguishing between defining and non-defining relative clauses. It explains the use of relative pronouns such as 'which', 'that', and 'who', and provides examples to illustrate their application. Additionally, it includes notes on other words that can begin relative clauses and offers practice exercises for identifying and correcting relative clauses.

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Thư Phạm Anh
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2 views8 pages

Relative Clause

This document covers the topic of relative clauses in English grammar, distinguishing between defining and non-defining relative clauses. It explains the use of relative pronouns such as 'which', 'that', and 'who', and provides examples to illustrate their application. Additionally, it includes notes on other words that can begin relative clauses and offers practice exercises for identifying and correcting relative clauses.

Uploaded by

Thư Phạm Anh
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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BASIC ENGLISH GRAMMAR 2

LESSON 11: RELATIVE CLAUSE

Nguyen Ngoc Nhat Minh, UFLS – University of Danang


Lecture Contents

▪Defining relative clause


▪Non-defining relative clause
I. Defining relative clause
▪ We use relative pronouns like WHICH or THAT to refer to things, and
WHO or THAT to refer to people.
▪ A defining relative clause (underlined in the example) is used
because the sentence would not make sense without it. It gives
essential information that defines or identifies which person or thing
is being talked about.
E.g. The kind of music which/that my group play is hard to describe.
▪ WHICH / THAT / WHO can be omitted in the relative clause if the
clause contains a second subject that is different from the subject
of the whole sentence.
E.g. The kind of music (which/that) my group play is hard to
II. Non-defining relative clause
▪ A non-defining relative clause is similar to defining RC in terms of
structure, but it just gives additional relevant information about
people or things. This information is not essential and the sentence
has a clear meaning without the relative clause.
▪ A comma is put both before and after a non-defining relative clause
(underlined in the examples)
E.g. My car, which I only bought two months ago, has broken down.
E.g. My brother, who knows a lot about this sort of thing, told me what I
should do.
▪ Notes: In a non-defining relative clause, do not use THAT to refer to
things or people
E.g. My brother, that knows a lot…
Other words used to begin a relative clause
Use Example
WHERE
-To refer to places - In the part of the city where I live, nothing interesting ever
happens.
-Cannot be omitted - The hotel, where I had stayed previously, was excellent.
WHEN
-to refer to times - This is the time of year (when) the tourists start to arrive.
-possible to be omitted in a defining - At this time of year, when the tourists have left, this place is
relative clause but NOT in a non- lovely.
defining relative clause
WHOSE + noun
-use as a possessive form - She is a writer whose books I always like to read. (I like to
read her books)
- Rachel, whose address I don’t know, lives somewhere outside
the city center. (I don’t know her address)
Practice : Decide whether the relative clauses in these sentences are
defining / non-defining and correct / incorrect. Correct the mistakes if
any.
Practice : Decide whether the relative clauses in these sentences are
defining / non-defining and correct / incorrect. Correct the mistakes if
any.
WHO
WHO /
THAT

WHICH


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