Bridges2-Unit05-CW-RelativeClauses-1 0-11

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RELATIVE CLAUSES

Relative PronounsThey do two jobs at once. They are used

as the subjects or objects of verbs, like

other pronouns; at the same time, theyjoin clauses together, like conjunctions.

What

s the name of the blonde girl? She justcame in.

Whats the name of the blonde girl who just

came in?


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RELATIVE CLAUSES

The most common relative pronouns arewho, which, whom and that. Who and

whom are used for people; which is used

for things.Whom, (MUST be used after

prepositions) which refers to the object of

a verb or a preposition, is quite formal,not usually found in defining relative

clauses and much more common in non-

defining relative clauses.


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RELATIVE CLAUSES

That can very often be used instead ofthe other relative pronouns. In fact, it is

often used (preferred) after quantities

like: all, every(thing), some(thing),any(thing), no(thing), none, little, few,

much, and only. Also, used after

superlatives. Theres nothing that can be done.

Is this all thats left? (More natural than Is this

all which is left?)

She

s the kindest woman thatIhave ever met.


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RELATIVE CLAUSES

Defining Relative Clauses: They identify theperson or thing which we are talking about.

The information they provide could not easily

be left out. Is that the woman who wants to buy your car?

Non-defining Relative Clauses: They give

useful additional information, but they do not

identify the noun they qualify. They couldeasily be left out. They are seldom found in

speech. Ive justseen Thomas, who wants to buy your

car.


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RELATIVE CLAUSESCHARACTERISTICS of defining and non-defining relative

clauses

DEFINING NON-DEFINING

No pauses in spoken language and nocommas in written language.

Pauses in spoken language and commasin written language.

Thatis very often used instead ofwho

/which.Could you iron the trousers that are

hanging up behind the door?

Thatcannot be used instead ofwho

/which.Ipassed him a large glass of whisky,

which he drank immediately.

We often leave out the relative pronoun ifit is the object of the verb in the relative

clause (common in spoken English:

contact clause).He is a man people like at first

sight.

Object pronouns cannot be left out.*Ipassed him a large glass of

whisky, he drank immediately.*

Prepositions can come either beforerelative pronouns or at the end of the

clause. Much more common at the end.

This is the room Churchill wasborn in.

Prepositions can come either beforerelative pronouns or at the end of the

relative clause. Usually before.

Repsol, of which the government hadan importantshare, has been sold.


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The man who / that told me thisrefused to give me his name.

The man (who / that) I bought it from

told me to oil it. This is the picture which / that caused

such a sensation.

The car (which / that) I hired brokedown.

My neighbour, who is very pessimistic,

says there will be no apples this year.

RELATIVE CLAUSESEXAMPLES (1/2)


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She wanted Tom, whom / who she

liked as a partner.

That block, which cost five million

pounds to build, has been empty for

years.

These books, which you can get at any

bookshop, will give you all theinformation you need.

Sherwood Forest, through which well

be driving, isnt a forest any longer.

RELATIVE CLAUSESEXAMPLES (2/2)


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WHAT (the thing(s) that)

I gave her the money (which / that) she

needed.

Igave her just whatshe wanted.

WHOSE. This is a possessive relative word. It can

refer to people or things, although of which can be

used, and is sometimes preferred, for things. It is

useful to remember that whose cannot be omitted ina defining relative clause.

This is Henry, whose wife works for my brother-in-

law.

It was a meeting whose importance / the

RELATIVE CLAUSES


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WHEN, WHERE, WHY (relative adverbs) 1/4After nouns referring to times and places,

when and where can be used to mean at

which or in which. After the word reason,whyis used to mean for which.The exam will be on Tuesday, when you said

would be better

This hotel, where I first met her, is my

favourite.

Is there any reason why you should have a

holiday?

RELATIVE CLAUSES


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WHEN, WHERE, WHY (relative adverbs) 2/4

When is often replaced by that or even

dropped after common nouns referring totime (time, day, month, year) in an

informal style.

Can you suggest a time (when / that) it

will be convenient to meet?

Ill never forget the day (when / that) we

met.

RELATIVE CLAUSES


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The same thing happens to where after

somewhere, anywhere, everywhere,nowhere and place, but not after other

words.

Have you gotsomewhere (that) I can

lie down for an hour?

We need a place (that) we can stay for

a few days.

RELATIVE CLAUSES


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The same thing happens with why after

reason.The reason (that) youre so bad

tempered is that youre hungry.

After way, in which can be replaced by

thator dropped in an informal way.

I didnt like the way (that) she spoke to

me.

RELATIVE CLAUSES


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WHICH referring to a whole clause (SentenceRelative)

The relative clause does not make reference to the

noun before it, but to the whole of the previous

clause: He showed me a photo that upset me. (defining

relative clause)

He got married again a year later, which surprised

everybody. He showed me a photo, which upset me. (sentence

relative)

She cycled from London to Glasgow, which is

pretty good for a woman of 75. (sentence relative)

RELATIVE CLAUSES


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Bridges2-Unit05-CW-RelativeClauses-1 0-11

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