2. RELATIVE CLAUSES
Relative clauses gice information about who or what you
aretalking about. The relative pronouns who and that refert to
people and that and whiich to thngs
SUBJECT RELATIVE CLAUSES
Nina is a woman who/ that sits across from me
Nina had a company that / which planned weddings
3. OBJECT RELATIVE CLAUSES
Charlie is someone I can trust
Charlie is someone who / that I can trust
Jen talks abuout the things she´s doing
Jen tlaks about the things that she´s doing
4. IN CONVERSATION
IN SUBJECT RELATIVE CLAUSES
•Who is more common that that for people
•That is more common that which for things
IN OBJECT RELATIVE CLAUSES
•People often leave out who and that, especially before
pronouns
•Which is not frequent
5. How to Form Relative Clauses
Imagine, a girl is talking to Tom. You want to know
who she is and ask a friend whether he knows her.
You could say:
A girl is talking to Tom. Do you know the girl?
Use „the girl“ only in the first part of the
sentence, in the second part replace it with
the relative pronoun (for people, use the
relative pronoun „who“).
Do you know the girl who is talking to Tom?
6. Relative Pronouns
relative pronoun use example
who subject or object pronoun for people I told you about the woman who lives next door.
which subject or object pronoun for animals and things Do you see the cat which is lying on the roof?
which referring to a whole sentence He couldn’t read which surprised me.
whose possession for people animals and things Do you know the boy whose mother is a nurse?
object pronoun for people, especially in non-defining relative I was invited by the professor whom I met at the
whom clauses (in defining relative clauses we colloquially prefer who) conference.
subject or object pronoun for people, animals and things in
that defining relative clauses (who or which are also possible)
I don’t like the table that stands in the kitchen.
7. Relative Adverbs
A relative adverb can be used instead of a relative pronoun
plus preposition. This often makes the sentence easier to
understand.
This is the shop in which I bought my bike.
→ This is the shop where I bought my bike.
8. relative
meaning use example
adverb
in/on the day when we met
when refers to a time expression
which him
in/at the place where we
where refers to a place
which met him
the reason why we
why for which refers to a reason
met him
9. Defining Relative Clauses give detailed information
defining a general term or expression. Defining relative
clauses are not put in commas.
Do you know the girl who is talking to Tom?
Defining relative clauses are often used in definitions.
A seaman is someone who works on a ship.
Object pronouns in defining relative clauses can be dropped.
(Sentences with a relative clause without the relative pronoun
are called Contact Clauses.)
The boy (who/whom) we met yesterday is very nice.
10. Non-Defining Relative Clauses
Non-defining relative clauses (also called non-
identifying relative clauses or non-
restrictive relative clauses) give additional
information on something, but do not define
it. Non-defining relative clauses are put in
commas.
Do you know the girl, who is talking to Tom?
Note: In non-defining relative clauses,
who/which may not be replaced with that.
Object pronouns in non-defining relative
clauses must be used.
Jim, who/whom we met yesterday, is very nice.
11. CHOOSE THE CORRECT RELATIVE PRONOUN (WHO, WHICH, WHOSE).
This is the bank was robbed yesterday.
A boy sister is in my class was in the bank at that time.
The man robbed the bank had two pistols
.
He wore a mask made him look like Mickey Mouse
.
He came with a friend waited outside in the car.
The woman gave him the money was young.
The bag contained the money was yellow.
The people were in the bank were very frightened.
A man mobile was ringing did not know what to do.
12. Relative Clauses - Formation
Complete the sentences using relative clauses. Use who and which.
A Scot is a person (live in Scotland)
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Nesse is a monster (live in Loch Ness)
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A fridge is a thing (keep food cool)
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A DJ is someone (play music in a disco)
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A bee is an insect (make honey)
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A lemon is a fruit (be yellow and sour)
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13. A watch is a thing (tell the time)
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A ferry is a ship (carry people across the water)
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A shop assistant is someone (work in a shop)
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A key is a thing (can open and lock doors)
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14. Make sentences in either the defining or non-defining relative clause using
the words given.
1. Who/my sister (non defining)
2. That/assistant director (defining)
3. Whom/a man (non defining)
4. Where/the park (defining)
5. Why/umbrella (non defining)
6. Which/roof(defining)
7. When/last week (non defining)
15. Pick out whether the sentences contain subject pronouns or object
pronouns.
1. I was talking to the old lady who lives across the street yesterday.
2. I was talking to that old lady living across the street yesterday.
3. I saw Harriet who was a friend from school.
4. I saw Harriet who I knew from school.