RELATIVES

Contents Relative clause Relative pronouns Relative adverbs Identifying / non-identifying clauses

What is a relative clause? A relative clause tells us which person or thing the speaker means e.g. The man who lives in the flat above is an actor. relative clause (The relative clause identifies which man the speaker is talking about )

Who(m), which, whose, that RELATIVE PRONOUNS Introduce relative clauses Who(m), which, whose, that

Which relative pronoun do we use when we refer to people? A driver is someone who / that drives a racing car. A kangaroo is an animal which / that lives in Australia. A book is something which / that people read. Which relative pronoun do we use when we refer to people? Which relative pronoun do we use when we refer to animals or things?

We use who / that to refer to people We use which / that to refer to objects or animals

Which relative pronoun do we use to show possession? That’s the dog whose leg is hurt. That’s the cup whose handle is broken. A racing driver is someone whose job is very dangerous. Which relative pronoun do we use to show possession? What does the pronoun whose refer to?

We use whose to show possession. We use whose to refer to people, things or animals

We can’t omit the relative pronoun in such sentences. Why? I talked to a woman. She knew my parents. I talked to a woman who / that knew my parents. I bought a carpet. It wasn’t very expensive. I bought a carpet which / that wasn’t very expensive. We can’t omit the relative pronoun in such sentences. Why? Watch its function in the clause!

When the relative pronoun is the subject of the relative clause it is never omitted

We can omit the relative pronoun in such sentences. Why? I invited some people. I had met them before. I invited some people (whom / who / that) I had met before. These are the photographs. I took them on holiday. These are the photographs (which / that ) I took on holiday. We can omit the relative pronoun in such sentences. Why? Watch its function in the clause.

When the relative pronoun is the object of the relative clause it can be omitted Watch out! We can use whom instead of who if it is the object of the relative clause. Whom is not often used in everyday English

Position of the preposition in the relative clause a) The hotel at which the summit meeting is taking place is surrounded by undercover policemen. This structure is formal & unusual. b) The bank which / that I usually go to is round the corner. This structure is quite usual. c) The bank I usually go to is round the corner. This structure is used in everyday English.

Which She invited me to stay with her. This was kind of her. She invited me to stay with her, which was kind of her. Which refers to the fact that she invited the speaker to stay with her. That is, it refers back to the whole clause.

Relative adverbs. Where / when / why The town where he grew up is in Northern France. The town (which / that) he grew up in is in Northern France. I’ll always remember the day when I met my husband. I’ll always remember the day (that) I met my husband. The reason why I dislike her is that she always talks too much. The reason (that) I dislike her is that she always talks too much.

Relative adverbs can’t be omitted Can be replaced by When – (which / that) + preposition When – (that) Why – (that)

Identifying (defining) relative clauses People are put in prison. People who / that commit crimes are put in prison. The dress was expensive. The dress (which / that) Alice was wearing was expensive. give necessary information and are essential for the meaning of the main sentence are not put in commas who / which / that can be omitted when they are the object of the relative clause

Non-identifying (non-defining) relative clauses Elaine Ross lives next door. Elaine Ross, who is sixty-five years old, lives next door. My dog is called Rover. My dog, which is seven months old, is called Rover. give extra information and are not essential to the meaning of the main sentence are put in commas the relative pronouns (who / which) can’t be omitted that cannot replace who or which

Identifying Non-identifying (defining) (non-defining) essential information no commas who / that / which can be omitted if refer to the object extra information commas who / which can’t be omitted

Continue with the test Good luck!