Grammar Notes: Relative Clauses

Introduction
Here is a brief review of adjective clauses and relative pronouns.

An adjective

clause is used to describe a noun: The car, which was red, belonged to Young-Hee

relative !ronoun is usually used to introduce an adjective clause: Young-Hee, who is a "orean student, lives in #ictoria
A

The main relative !ronouns are: $ho: used for humans: Hans, who is an architect, lives in %erlin

$hich: used for things and animals: &ari'e has a dog which (ollows her ever)where

That: used for humans, animals and things (but see below): &ari'e is decorating a house that Hans designed

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There are two main 'inds o( adjective clause: Non-de(ining clauses: !ive e*tra in(ormation about the noun" but they are not essential: The des' in the corner, which is covered in boo's, is mine
(#e don$t need this infor%ation in order to understand the sentence. &'he des( in the corner is %ine& is a !ood sentence on its own )) we still (now which des( is referred to. *ote that non)definin! clauses are usually separated by co%%as" and that is not usually used in this (ind of conte+t.)

+e(ining clauses: !ive essential in(ormation about the noun: The !ac'age that arrived this morning is on the des'
(#e need this infor%ation in order to understand the sentence. #ithout the relative clause" we don$t (now which pac(a!e is bein! referred to. *ote that that is often used in non) definin! relative clauses" and they are not separated by co%%as.)

,djective Clauses
An adjective clause is a dependent clause which takes the place of an adjective in another clause or phrase. Like an adjective, an adjective clause modifies a noun or pronoun, answering questions like "which?" or "what kind of?" Consider the following examples
,djective the red coat ,djective clause the coat which I bought )esterda)

Like the word "red" in the first example, the dependent clause "which ! "ought #esterda#" in the second example modifies the noun "coat." $ote that an adjective clause usuall# comes after what it modifies, while an adjective usuall# comes before. !n formal writing, an adjective clause "egins with the relative pronouns "who%m&," "that," or "which." !n informal writing or speech, #ou ma# leave out the relative pronoun when it is not the su"ject of the adjective clause, "ut #ou should usuall# include the relative pronoun in formal, academic writing

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In(ormal 'he boo(s people read were %ainly reli!ious. -ormal 'he boo(s that people read were %ainly reli!ious. In(ormal o%e firefi!hters never %eet the people they save. -ormal o%e firefi!hters never %eet the people whom they save.

'ere are some more examples of adjective clauses

the %eat which the) ate was tainted

(his clause modifies the noun "meat" and answers the question "which meat?".
about the %ovie which made him cr)

(his clause modifies the noun "movie" and answers the question "which movie?".
they are searchin! for the one who borrowed the boo'

(he clause modifies the pronoun "one" and answers the question "which one?".
Did , tell you about the author whom I met-

(he clause modifies the noun "author" and answers the question "which author?". You can use a relative pronoun to lin' one !hrase or clause to another !hrase or clause The relative !ronouns are .who,. .whom,. .that,. and .which .

Getting student/s to !ractise Relative Clause

Combine the two sentences to ma'e one, using an adjective clause -or e*am!le, .I met &ar) in the hall 0he is a tour guide . becomes .I met &ar), who is a tour guide, in the hall . .. 'he %an was sic(. He loo(ed very pale. Correct answer1s2: 'he %an" who loo(ed very pale" was sic(. 'he %an" who was sic(" loo(ed very pale. 'he %an who loo(ed very pale was sic(. 'he %an who was sic( loo(ed very pale. /. He was sittin! in the e%er!ency roo%. ,t was very crowded. 0orrect answer(s): He was sittin! in the e%er!ency roo%" which was very crowded.

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1. A nurse was nearby. He called her. Correct answer1s2: He called a nurse" who was nearby. He called a nurse who was nearby. A nurse" who% he called" was nearby. A nurse who% he called was nearby. 2. 'he nurse called a doctor. He ca%e 3uic(ly. Correct answer1s2: 'he nurse called a doctor" who ca%e 3uic(ly. 'he nurse called a doctor who ca%e 3uic(ly. 4. 'he doctor as(ed hi% to lie down. he loo(ed very worried. Correct answer1s2: 'he doctor" who loo(ed very worried" as(ed hi% to lie down.

5.

he !ave the %an an injection. ,t %ade hi% !o to sleep. Correct answer1s2: he !ave the %an an injection" which %ade hi% !o to sleep. he !ave the %an an injection which %ade hi% !o to sleep. he !ave the %an an injection that %ade hi% !o to sleep.

6. 'he 7ly%pic snowboardin! event was e+citin!. 8any people watched it on '9. Correct answers: 'he 7ly%pic snowboardin! event" which %any people watched on '9" was e+citin!. 'he 7ly%pic snowboardin! event that %any people watched on '9 was e+citin!. :. ,t was the first ti%e snowboardin! had been included in the 7ly%pics. nowboardin! is a new sport. Correct answers: ,t was the first ti%e snowboardin!" which is a new sport" had been included in the 7ly%pics. ;. 'he co%petition was very e+citin!. A 0anadian won it. Correct answers: 'he co%petition" which a 0anadian won" was very e+citin!. .<. 'he winner" =oss =eba!liati" lives in #histler" B0. 8any youn! snowboarders ad%ire hi%. Correct answers: 'he winner" =oss =eba!liati" who% %any youn! snowboarders ad%ire" lives in #histler" B0. 'he winner" =oss =eba!liati" who %any youn! snowboarders ad%ire" lives in #histler" B0

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,djective Clauses: &ulti!le Choice 3*ercises

4sing Relative 5ronouns In each sentence, choose the correct relative pronoun to introduce the clause.

. 'he cou!ar is a %e%ber of the cat fa%ily >>>>>> !rows to around : feet in len!th. A. who B. which 0. who% D. that / 'he cou!ar lives in deserts" forests" plains and %ountains" but accordin! to scientists >>>>>>>> have studied the ani%al" it is beco%in! endan!ered in so%e areas. A. who B. which 0. who% D. whose 1 'he cou!ar has powerful le!s" >>>>>>>> it uses to cli%b and to ju%p into trees. A. who B. which 0. who% D. whose

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2 0ou!ars so%eti%es prey on sheep and !oats" so they %ay be (illed by the far%ers >>>>>>>> ani%als they attac(. A. who B. which 0. who% D. whose 4 However" cou!ars very rarely attac( hu%ans" of >>>>>>>> they are usually afraid. A. who B. who% 0. which D. that

How to -orm Relative Clauses

,%a!ine" a !irl is tal(in! to 'o%. ?ou want to (now who she is and as( a friend whether he (nows her. ?ou could say: A !irl is tal(in! to 'o%. Do you (now the !irl'hat sounds rather co%plicated" doesn$t it- ,t would be easier with a relative clause: you put both pieces of infor%ation into one sentence. who the !irl is. Do you (now the !irl A As your friend cannot (now which !irl you are tal(in! about" you need to put in the additional infor%ation @ the !irl is tal(in! to 'o%. Bse Cthe !irlD only in the first part of the sentence" in the second part replace it with the relative pronoun (for people" use the relative pronoun CwhoD). the final sentence is: Do you (now the !irl who is tal(in! to 'o%o tart with the %ost i%portant thin! @ you want to (now

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Relative 5ronouns
=elative pronoun use E+a%ple

who

subject or object pronoun for people

, told you about the wo%an who lives ne+t door.

which

subject or object pronoun for ani%als and thin!s Do you see the cat which is lyin! on the roof-

which

referrin! to a whole sentence

He couldnFt read which surprised %e.

whose

possession for people ani%als and thin!s

Do you (now the boy whose %other is a nurse-

who%

object pronoun for people" especially in non), was invited by the professor whom , definin! relative clauses (in definin! relative%et at the conference. clauses we collo3uially prefer who)

that

subject or object pronoun for people" ani%als, donFt li(e the table that stands in the and thin!s in definin! relative clauses (who or(itchen. which are also possible)

0ubject 5ronoun or 6bject 5ronoun7

ubject and object pronouns cannot be distin!uished by their for%s ) who" which" that are used for subject and object pronouns. ?ou can" however" distin!uish the% as follows: ,f the relative pronoun is followed by a verb" the relative pronoun is a subject pronoun. pronouns %ust always be used. the apple which is lyin! on the table ubject

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,f the relative pronoun is not followed by a verb (but by a noun or pronoun)" the relative pronoun is an object pronoun. 7bject pronouns can be dropped in definin! relative clauses" which are then called Contact Clauses. the apple 1which2 George lay on the table

Relative ,dverbs
A relative adverb can be used instead of a relative pronoun plus preposition. 'his often %a(es the sentence easier to understand. 'his is the shop in which , bou!ht %y bi(e. G 'his is the shop where , bou!ht %y bi(e.

relative adverb

%eanin!

use

E+a%ple

when

inHon which

refers to a ti%e e+pression

the day when we %et hi%

where

inHat which

refers to a place

the place where we %et hi%

why

for which

refers to a reason

the reason why we %et hi%

+e(ining Relative Clauses

Definin! relative clauses (also called identifying relative clauses or restrictive relative clauses) !ive detailed infor%ation definin! a !eneral ter% or e+pression. Definin! relative clauses are not put in co%%as. ,%a!ine" 'o% is in a roo% with five !irls. 7ne !irl is tal(in! to 'o% and you as( so%ebody whether he (nows this !irl. Here the relative clause defines which of the five !irls you %ean. Do you (now the !irl who is tal(in! to 'o%-

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+e(ining relative clauses are o(ten used in de(initions A sea%an is so%eone who wor(s on a ship. 7bject pronouns in definin! relative clauses can be dropped. ( entences with a relative clause without the relative pronoun are called Contact Clauses.) 'he boy 1who8whom2 we %et yesterday is very nice.

Non-+e(ining Relative Clauses

*on)definin! relative clauses (also called non-identifying relative clauses or non-restrictive relative clauses) !ive additional infor%ation on so%ethin!" but do not define it. *on)definin! relative clauses are put in co%%as. ,%a!ine" 'o% is in a roo% with only one !irl. 'he two are tal(in! to each other and you as( so%ebody whether he (nows this !irl. Here the relative clause is non)definin! because in this situation it is obvious which !irl you %ean. Do you (now the !irl" who is tal(in! to 'o%*ote: ,n non)definin! relative clauses" who/which %ay not be replaced with that. 7bject pronouns in non)definin! relative clauses %ust be used. Ii%" whoHwho% we %et yesterday" is very nice.

How to 0horten Relative Clauses7

=elative clauses with who" which" that as subject pronoun can be replaced with a participle. 'his %a(es the sentence shorter and easier to understand. , told you about the wo%an who lives ne+t door. @ , told you about the wo%an living ne+t door. Do you see the cat which is lying on the roof- @ Do you see the cat lying on the roof-

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Relative Clauses 1Contact clauses2

Relative 5ronouns 1who 8 which 8 whose2
0hoose the correct relative pronoun (who" which" whose).

.. /. 1. 2. 4. 5. 6. :. ;. .<.

'his is the ban(>>>>>>>>>>>was robbed yesterday. A boy>>>>>>>>>sister is in %y class was in the ban( at that ti%e. 'he %an>>>>>>>>>>>robbed the ban( had two pistols. He wore a %as(>>>>>>>>>>%ade hi% loo( li(e 8ic(ey 8ouse. He ca%e with a friend>>>>>>>>>>>>>waited outside in the car. 'he wo%an>>>>>>>>>>>>!ave hi% the %oney was youn!. 'he ba!>>>>>>>>>>>>contained the %oney was yellow. 'he people>>>>>>>>>>>were in the ban( were very fri!htened. A %an>>>>>>>>>>>>>%obile was rin!in! did not (now what to do. A wo%an>>>>>>>>>>>>>dau!hter was cryin! tried to cal% her.

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