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Relative Clauses

The document explains relative clauses, which consist of a noun followed by a relative pronoun and a subject/verb, and distinguishes between defining and non-defining relative clauses. It outlines the functions of various pronouns such as who, whom, whose, which, that, where, when, and why, and provides examples for each. Additionally, it discusses the specific use of 'that' in essential information contexts and its limitations.

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Linh Nguyễn Thùy
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4 views1 page

Relative Clauses

The document explains relative clauses, which consist of a noun followed by a relative pronoun and a subject/verb, and distinguishes between defining and non-defining relative clauses. It outlines the functions of various pronouns such as who, whom, whose, which, that, where, when, and why, and provides examples for each. Additionally, it discusses the specific use of 'that' in essential information contexts and its limitations.

Uploaded by

Linh Nguyễn Thùy
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

Structure: Noun + Relative Pronoun + Subject/Verb …


• Main clause: a complete sentence.
• Relative clause: cannot stand alone; it modifies the noun.
Example: The city which has the highest population faces serious pollution problems.

Pronoun Function Examples


Who Subject of a clause The teacher who organised the project encouraged students to
recycle.
Whom Object The researcher whom we interviewed explained the data.
Whose Ownership The company whose products are eco-friendly has gained many
customers.
Which Subject or Object The report, which covers global warming trends, was published
last year.
That Subject or Object Cities that rely on coal energy face higher emissions.
Where Location The city where I grew up now has an excellent metro system.
(= in/ on/ at/ to which)
When Time The year when I graduated was difficult for job seekers.
(in/ on/ at which)
Why (for which) Reason I don’t understand the reason why he refused the scholarship.

Whom, which, whose can be used in expressions of quantity with of (some of, many of, half of etc)
Example: She received a lot of postcards. Most of them were from her friends.
→ She received a lot of postcards, most of which were from her friends.

Non-defining Relative Clauses


• Extra information, not essential to identify the noun.
• Always separated by commas.
• Pronouns: who / whom / whose / which / where / when, not “that”.
Examples:
Singapore, which has one of the best public transport systems in the world, is cited as a model city.
Japan, where the population is ageing rapidly, is facing serious labour shortages.

Defining Relative Clauses


• Essential information → tells us which person / thing we are talking about.
• No commas.
• Pronouns: who / whom / whose / which / that / where / when / why
• “That” is often used here (especially in informal style).
Example: People who live in big cities often face higher living costs.

The use of “that”


• To give essential information about a noun (no commas).
• “That” can replace who (for people) or which (for things).
• Common after words like all, everything, something, anything, the only, the first, or
superlatives.
• When the relative pronoun follows a preposition, we use which / whom, not “that.”
• You cannot use that to replace whose
• When the relative clause functions more like a definition/explanation of the entire noun phrase,
“that” is not used.
Examples:
The policy that to which many citizens object should be reviewed.
Students that whose families support them financially are more likely to succeed.
Online education, that which has expanded rapidly in recent years, provides students with more flexibility.

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