Relative Clauses

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Definition

A relative clause is a part of a sentence beginning with a

relative pronoun (although this pronoun can be omitted in certain cases).

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There are two types

Can you notice any difference in their meaning?

The boys in my class who wear glasses are attractive

The boys in my class, who wear glasses, are attractive

The boys who wear glasses are attractive

•These relative clauses give you the information you need to understand the sentence.

• There are no commas.

•If you take the relative clause away, the sentence doesn't make sense.

• In these kind of sentences WHO can be replaced by THAT

These are called Defining Relative Clauses

The boys, who wear glasses, are attractive

•These are the ones that give extra information.

•They are always written between commas.

• If you leave out the relative clause between the commas it still makes sense.

•In these kind of sentences WHO cannot be replaced by THAT

These are known as Non-Defining Relative Clauses

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The relative pronoun you use depends on the thing you're talking about. Generally speaking, the most basic ones are these:

Basic relative pronouns

for people who/that

for objects which/that

for places where

for reasons why

for time

for possession

when

whose

-An architect...

-A burglar...

-A vegetarian...

-A customer...

- A shoplifter...

Complete the following sentences using WHO

Trickier relative pronouns

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This can be used to refer to the whole part of the sentence that went before. Usually a pronoun refers to a noun, but this refers to more.

My dad has broken his leg, which worries me

I've still got some money left, which is surprising

WHICH

.

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This is used to show possession. It can always be used for people and animals, but also for things.

My pupils, whose homework is never done, will fail the exam.The homework belongs to the students, it's theirs, so possessive.

The city, whose football team lost the match, never wins anything.The city's made up of people, so it sounds OK.

WHOSE

.

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WHOM

*It sounds very formal to most people. Therefore, it is hardly ever used in spoken English.

*If you're going to use it at all, then only use it after prepositions.

The boy to whom I was talking is my cousin

*However, there's usually another less formal way to say the same thing.

The boy that/who I was talking to is my cousin

.

Use the correct Relative Pronoun

-The hotel _________ we stayed was very good for the price

-The hotel WHERE we stayed was very good for the price

-The books, ___________ I ´d ordered over the internet, tooknearly three weeks to arrive

-The books, WHICH* I ´d ordered over the internet, took

nearly three weeks to arrive

-My parents, __________ were born in north Wales, moved to

London to find work

-My parents, WHO* were born in north Wales, moved to London

to find work

-The employee to __________ you refer is no longer working here

-The employee to WHOM* you refer is no longer working here

-My neighbour, __________ son is studying in Germany, is quite impolite

-My neighbour, WHOSE son is studying in Germany, is quite

impolite

SUBJECT OR OBJECT?

The woman who was talking to David suffered from heart problems

SUBJECT VERB

The woman who I was talking to suffered from heart problems

OBJECT SUBJECT VERB

When the Relative Pronoun is the object it can be left out:

The woman I was talking to suffered from heart problems