Syntax of the English Language RELATIVE CLAUSES Syntax of the English Language

RELATIVE CLAUSES Air pollution is a hazard to human, plant, and animal health as well as to physical structures. When hiking, you should carry a map of the area where you plan to be. A proton is one of two kinds of particles making up the nucleus of an atom.

All of the underlined parts work as adjectives. RELATIVE CLAUSE What is similar about the underlined parts of the sentences? All of the underlined parts work as adjectives. The first sentence has several single-word adjectives. The second one contains a relative clause. The third sentence has an adjective phrase, which is a reduced relative clause.

RELATIVE CLAUSE * A Relative Clause is a subordinate clause that functions in the same way that a single- word adjective does. * A Relative Clause describes, defines, modifies, or gives information about a noun.

RELATIVE CLAUSE RELATIVE PRONOUNS People Animals/things Subject who, that which, that Object whom, that which, that Possessive whose whose

RELATIVE CLAUSE Relative Clauses can also begin with these subordinators: when where why

RELATIVE CLAUSE When a Relative Clause is need to recognize a noun, it is called a restrictive relative clause. e.g. The student who sits in the back of the room asks a lot of questions. When a Relative Clause gives extra information and is not necessary to identify the noun, commas are placed around it. Commas are the clue that can help you recognize some relative clauses. e.g. UVA, which is one of the best universities in Rio de Janeiro, has excellent professors.

RELATIVE CLAUSE Notes: When commas are used around a relative clause, that cannot begin the clause. Although both which and that are grammatically correct in restrictive clauses, many grammarians prefer that for restrictive clauses.

RELATIVE CLAUSE In academic writing, relative clauses are often reduced for a more concise style. When reducing a relative clause, it is necessary to delete the relative pronoun and either delete or change the verb. Here are some examples:

a.The technology impacting us most is what we use in our homes. RELATIVE CLAUSE a.The technology impacting us most is what we use in our homes. b. 2016 Olympic Games, located in one of the world’s most beautiful cities, provided the best possible environment for peak performances. 

Reducing a Relative Clause: Omit the subject of the clause (the relative pronoun) Omit the auxiliary verbs, if there are any Change the verb to its –ing/–ed form

RELATIVE CLAUSE Note: Use the –ing form (present participle) when the relative clause is in the active voice. Use –ed form (past participle) when the clause is in the passive voice. These rules apply to verbs in any tense.

RELATIVE CLAUSE Examples: The technology that impacts us most is what we use in our homes. The technology impacting us most is what we use in our homes. 2016 Olympic Games, which were located in one of the world’s most beautiful cities, provided the best possible environment for peak performances.  2016 Olympic Games, located in one of the world’s most beautiful cities, provided the best possible environment for peak performances. 

RELATIVE CLAUSE Some adjective clauses can be reduced to appositive phrases. An appositive is a noun phrase that is placed near another noun to define or explain it. Appositives do not have verbs. e.g. My sister, who is a doctor, lives in São Paulo. My sister, a doctor, lives in São Paulo.