RELATIVE CLAUSES 1st batxiller / Col.legi Sant Pere

What is a relative clause? A subordinate clause that allows us to add A subordinate clause that allows us to add information about what we are talking to, without the need to repeat the noun or noun phrase. information about what we are talking to, without the need to repeat the noun or noun phrase. Eg. ‘Paul hit the ball. The ball went over the fence’ ‘Paul hit the ball which went over the fence’ They are introduced just after the antecedent and by one of the relative pronouns or adverbs; who, whom, which, when, where, whose, that. They are introduced just after the antecedent and by one of the relative pronouns or adverbs; who, whom, which, when, where, whose, that.

USES - WHO - THAT: referers to people. Eg. ‘A doctor is a person who helps people’ - WHICH - THAT: refers to objects, animals or abstract things. Eg. ‘A pencil is a thing which we use to write’. - WHERE: Refers to places. Eg. ‘A stadium is a place where football is played’. - WHEN - THAT: Refers to days, months, years… Eg. ‘I’ll never forget the day when we met’ - WHOSE: Refers to Possession. Eg. ‘This is the girl whose parents are from Ireland’ - WHOM: refers to people and goes after prepositions Eg. ‘The owner is the person to whom you have to talk’

Two different types of Relative Clauses: Defining Relative Clauses Defining Relative Clauses Non-defining Relative Clauses Non-defining Relative Clauses

Defining Relative Clauses Give essential information about the noun it modifies, without which the sentence wouldn’t make sense. Give essential information about the noun it modifies, without which the sentence wouldn’t make sense. Eg. ‘The hotel that we stayed in wasn’t bad’ (‘that we stayed in’ tells the listener which hotel we are talking about; it defines the hotel) Who, Which, When can be substituted by That and can be omitted when they do not act as the subject of the sentence. Who, Which, When can be substituted by That and can be omitted when they do not act as the subject of the sentence. Eg. ‘I saw the woman who visited you. → Who is the subject of the relative clause, so it can’t be omitted Who is the subject of the relative clause, so it can’t be omitted ‘He bought the bike which he liked’ → Which is an object, so it can be omitted. The subject of the relative clause is ‘he’

Defining Relative Clauses Whose and Where can never be omitted Whose and Where can never be omitted Whom is only used in formal contexts and in defining clauses but it is usually omitted and the preposition goes at the end of the relative clause. Whom is only used in formal contexts and in defining clauses but it is usually omitted and the preposition goes at the end of the relative clause. Eg. ‘He is the person to whom you have to talk’(formal) ‘He is the person (who) you have to talk to’ (informal)

Non-defining Relative Clauses They give additional information. They give additional information. The clause goes between comas (,) The clause goes between comas (,) More common in written language. More common in written language. We can’t use That instead of Which, Who or When. We can’t use That instead of Which, Who or When. And we can’t omit them. And we can’t omit them. Eg. ‘My friend Andrew, who is Scottish, plays rugby’

EXERCISES: 1. Here is the computer program that/ whom/ whose I told you about 2. My friend Jack, that/ who/ whose parents live in Glasgow, invited me to spend Christmas in Scotland. 3. I don’t believe the story that/ who/ whom she told us. 4. This is the room when/ where/ which I found 25 € 5. Peter comes from Witney, that/ who/ which is near Oxford. 6. This is the gun with where/ whom/ which the murder was comitted. 7. That was the day which/ when/ where we first saw each other. 8. The meal, that/ which/ whose wasn’t very tasty, was really expensive. 9. Venice, which/ when/ where we spent our last holiday, is a very beautiful place 10. We didn’t enjoy the play that/ who/ whose we went to see.

Complete the blanks with information that is true for you: ___ is the day in my country when ____. ___ is the day in my country when ____. ___ is a person I know who ___. ___ is a person I know who ___. ___ is the room in my house where ___. ___ is the room in my house where ___. ___ is a time of year when ___. ___ is a time of year when ___. ___ is the part of my town where ___. ___ is the part of my town where ___. ___ is the reason why ___. ___ is the reason why ___.

Read the sentences. Then decide which option, a or b, is correct. My sister, who lives in Los Angeles, is a designer. a) I have one sister. b) I have more than one sister. My sister, who lives in Los Angeles, is a designer. a) I have one sister. b) I have more than one sister. The athletes who tested positive for doping were suspended. a) All the athletes tested positive for doping. b) Some athletes didn’t test positive for doping. The athletes who tested positive for doping were suspended. a) All the athletes tested positive for doping. b) Some athletes didn’t test positive for doping.

Flat screen televisions, which are very expensive, have a better image quality. a) All flat screen televisions are very expensive. b) Some flat screen televisions are cheap. Flat screen televisions, which are very expensive, have a better image quality. a) All flat screen televisions are very expensive. b) Some flat screen televisions are cheap. The teachers at this school who arrive late for class will be suspended. a) Only some teachers arrive late for class. b) All the teachers in the school arrive late for class. The teachers at this school who arrive late for class will be suspended. a) Only some teachers arrive late for class. b) All the teachers in the school arrive late for class. The company president who works in Berlin is moving to London. a) There is only one company president. b) There is more than one company president. The company president who works in Berlin is moving to London. a) There is only one company president. b) There is more than one company president.

Add one or more non-defining relative clauses to the sentence 1. The princess kissed the prince. 2. The doctor had a glass of whisky. 3. The mayor drove a very expensive Jaguar to his house. 1. The princess kissed the prince. 2. The doctor had a glass of whisky. 3. The mayor drove a very expensive Jaguar to his house. 4. The football team’s captain cried after the match. 4. The football team’s captain cried after the match.

END!!! … DOUBTS???