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Understanding Relative Clauses Explained

Relative clauses are clauses that begin with relative pronouns or adverbs and provide additional information about nouns or entire sentences. There are two types: defining relative clauses, which specify a noun, and non-defining relative clauses, which add extra information. The document also explains the use of relative pronouns and the option to omit them when they are the object of the clause.

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16 views2 pages

Understanding Relative Clauses Explained

Relative clauses are clauses that begin with relative pronouns or adverbs and provide additional information about nouns or entire sentences. There are two types: defining relative clauses, which specify a noun, and non-defining relative clauses, which add extra information. The document also explains the use of relative pronouns and the option to omit them when they are the object of the clause.

Uploaded by

pthhong1495
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Relative clauses

I. Introduction
A clause beginning with a relative pronoun (who, whom, which, that or whose)
or a relative adverb (when, where or why) is called a relative clause.
1. My sister, who is five years younger than me, is a lawyer.
2. The woman whom / that you have just met is a famous writer.
3. Shirley has a 17-year-old daughter whose ambition is to be a photographer.
4. The computer which I bought last month doesn't work properly.
5. I can remember my nineteenth birthday, when I had long hair.
6. School is a place where thinking should be taught.
7. We do not know the reason why he turned down the job.

II. Types of relative clause


There are two types of relative clause:
+ one type refers to a noun or noun phrase (these are defining and non-defining relative clauses) and
+ the other type refers to a whole sentence or clause.

A. Defining and non-defining relative clauses


1. Defining relative clauses (without commas)
Defining relative clauses make clear which person or thing we are talking about.
We use the relative pronouns who or that for people and which or that for things.
These pronouns can be the subject or object of the clause.
Subject: a. We should only buy products which / that can be recycled.
b. The doctor who examined me last Friday was really kind.
Object: a. According to the hospital, the food which / that the patients eat is completely fresh.
b. The woman whom / that you met at the door left flowers for you.

We can use that instead of who, whom or which in defining relative clauses, but not in non-defining
relative clauses.
2. Non-defining relative clauses (without commas)
Non-defining relative clauses give additional information about a person or thing we are talking about.

a. My father, who is 65 now, still works.


b. We presented the flowers to Mike, who won an award in the photography competition.
c. John’s car, which was very old, broke down after just five miles.
3. Leaving out relative pronouns
We can leave out the pronoun when it is the object of the relative clause.
a. The woman Gary have just met knows you.
b. That boy, Angela sits next to, never says a word.
c. The parcel I posted on Monday hasn’t got there.

B. Relative clauses referring to a whole sentence


This type of relative clause is always introduced with which and a comma before which.

a. Sean was a bit upset about the plans for the new office, which is understandable.
b. Her son can speaks three languages, which surprises us.
………………………………

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