Grammar 2 The Second Semester Presented by Dr. Mohamed Sha’at

Relative Clause 1

Relative clauses Relative clauses are short phrases beginning with words like who, that and which (called 'relative pronouns') that define or describe people and things. Relative clauses are short phrases beginning with words like who, that and which (called 'relative pronouns') that define or describe people and things.

Types of Relative Clauses 1- Defining relative clauses Types of Relative Clauses 1- Defining relative clauses Defining relative clauses identify exactly which person or thing we mean. The information is necessary for the sentence to make sense.Defining relative clauses identify exactly which person or thing we mean. The information is necessary for the sentence to make sense. Consider the following example: The doctor who treated me told me not to worry. In this example there is more than one doctor and we only know which one by the relative clause.

2- Non-defining relative clauses Non-defining relative clauses give extra information. The information is not necessary for the sentence to make sense. This type of relative clauses is always separated by two commas or a comma and a period. 1- The travellers who/that know the road arrived early. D 2-The travellers, who know the road, arrived early. N. 3- My brother, who lives in Australia, is a doctor. N. 4- Ali told me about his new job, which he’s enjoying. N.

Relative pronoun who and whom Who and whom refer to people. In formal speech and writing we can use whom instead of who where who is the object of the sentence (see below). We can also use whom after a preposition. However, this is becoming less common in modern English.

The people who/that live next door make a lot of noise. The people who/that live next door make a lot of noise. It was the same boy whom I met yesterday. It was the same boy whom I met yesterday. ('I' is the subject, 'whom' is the object) ('I' is the subject, 'whom' is the object) No one knows by whom the victim was shot. No one knows by whom the victim was shot. (Whom is also used after the preposition 'by', but very rare in modern English.) (Whom is also used after the preposition 'by', but very rare in modern English.)

No one knows (who) the victim was shot by. No one knows (who) the victim was shot by. That’s the hotel (which/that) I stayed at. That’s the hotel (which/that) I stayed at. (normal usage in speech and writing) (normal usage in speech and writing) Whose Whose Whose shows that something belongs to someone. 1- The girl had a case. The girl’s case had been stolen. The girl went to the police station. The girl whose case had been stolen went to the police station. 2- I had borrowed a ruler. The student, the owner of the ruler, want it back. The student whose ruler I had borrowed wanted it back.

Relative Clause The boy is my brother. Which boy are you talking about? He is wearing a cap. Oh I see! The boy who is wearing a cap is your brother.

Relative Clause The boy who is wearing a cap is my brother. The boy who is wearing a cap is my brother. What does it refer to? The relative pronouns (which, who, whom or that) refer to the noun (or noun phrase) before it. Are you talking about me?

Relative Pronouns People  who (subject), whom (object) People  who (subject), whom (object) Things  which Things  which We can use ‘ that ’ instead of ‘ who ’ and ‘ which ’ in a defining relative clause. Note the following examples: We can use ‘ that ’ instead of ‘ who ’ and ‘ which ’ in a defining relative clause. Note the following examples: 1- Do you know anyone who/that speaks Italian? 2- We stayed at a hotel (that/which) you recommended. 3- Soha works for a company which/that makes furniture. furniture.

Relative Clause The lady who/that talked to me last night was Jenny. The lady who/that talked to me last night was Jenny.  Jenny talked to me last night. (Sub.) The lady whom/that I talked to last night was Jenny. The lady whom/that I talked to last night was Jenny.  I talked to Jenny last night. (Obj.) (Obj.)

Relative Clause Which relative pronoun should we use? Which relative pronoun should we use? 1. The girl studies French doesn ’ t speak Arabic. 2. Do you know the man I talked to? 3. It ’ s a book will interest children of all ages.

Relative Clause Connect the sentences by using relative clause. 1- The girls annoyed me. They talked too much. 1- The girls annoyed me. They talked too much. The girls who talked too much annoyed me. The girls who talked too much annoyed me. 2- The students are smart. They are learning relative clause. 2- The students are smart. They are learning relative clause. The students who are learning relative clauses are smart. The students who are learning relative clauses are smart.

Relative Clause 1.The man told me to come back today. He left yesterday. 2.The cute boy is the owner ’ s son. He works in the shop. 3.The ladder began to slip. I was standing on it. The man who left yesterday told me to come back today. The cute boy who works in the shop is the owner ’ s son. The ladder which I was standing on began to slip. / The ladder on which I was standing began to slip. (more formal)

Relative Clause Remember! The pronoun refers to the same thing as the relative pronoun should be omitted. Remember! The pronoun refers to the same thing as the relative pronoun should be omitted. e.g. The girl is my sister. You saw her yesterday. A: The girl whom you saw her yesterday is my sister. B: The girl whom you saw yesterday is my sister.

Exercise The watch is mine. You saw the watch in the drawer. The watch is mine. You saw the watch in the drawer. The girl is my cousin. Ben talked to the girl. The girl is my cousin. Ben talked to the girl. The watch which (that) you saw in the drawer is mine. The girl whom (that) Ben talked to is my cousin.

The park is beautiful. The park is next to our school. The park is beautiful. The park is next to our school. The dictionary is useful. I bought the dictionary yesterday. The dictionary is useful. I bought the dictionary yesterday. The park which (that) is next to our school is beautiful. The dictionary which (that) I bought yesterday is useful. The problem is difficult to solve. We are facing the problem. The problem is difficult to solve. We are facing the problem. The problem which (that) we are facing is difficult to solve.

The doctor who treated me is very helpful. The doctor who treated me is very helpful. The relative pronoun in the above example refers to the subject of the sentence. The doctor (who/whom/that) I spoke to is very kind. The doctor (who/whom/that) I spoke to is very kind. The relative pronoun in the above example refers to the object of the sentence. Note the following: We can leave out the relative pronoun in a defining relative clause that refers to the object. We can leave out the relative pronoun in a defining relative clause that refers to the object. In a non-defining relative clause, the relative pronoun shouldn’t be omitted, e.g.: In a non-defining relative clause, the relative pronoun shouldn’t be omitted, e.g.: Picasso, who died in 1973, was a great painter. Picasso, who died in 1973, was a great painter. After a superlative, a relative pronoun can be left out, e.g.: After a superlative, a relative pronoun can be left out, e.g.: That was the best meal (that) I have ever eaten. That was the best meal (that) I have ever eaten.

Homework Exercises pp More exercises can be found in English Grammar in Use pp