Grammar: Revision of relative clauses
Relative clauses are divided into:
A. Defining relative clauses.
● Defining relative clauses are used to identify which particular person, place or thing is being talked about.
The defining relative clause is usually connected to the main clause by a relative pronoun such as who, which, that, where or when.
We use:
who (and sometimes that) to refer to people.
which and that to refer to things and animals.
where to refer to places.
when to refer to times.
● In some defining relative clauses, the relative pronoun can be omitted.
The person (who is) known as the founder of chemistry is probably Jabir ibn Hayyan.
●They don't need commas.
● We can use that instead of who, which.
Examples:
1. Are you the one who sent me the email?
2. The phone which has the most features is also the most expensive.
3. This is the video that I wanted to show you.
4. She's the woman who cuts my hair.
5. He's the man that I met at the conference.
6. Summer is the season when I'm happiest.
Test yourself now.
1. I have a friend ........................speaks four languages.
2. The Internet is a place ........................you can get cheap technology products.
3. E-mails ..........................advertise things are called "spam".
4. A "technophobe" is someone ..............................is scared of technology.
5. We should only buy products .................................. can be recycled.
6. That's the shop ............................................ I bought those shoes.
Answers:
1. who 2. where 3. which 4. who 5. which/that 6. where
B. Non-defining relative clauses
● Non-defining relative clauses are used to give more detail about a particular person, place, or thing that is being talked about. The non-defining relative clause (underlined in the examples below) is usually connected to the main clause by a relative pronoun such as who, which, where or when. We can't use 'that' in non-defining relative clauses.
e.g. The Sahara desert, which is in Africa, is very hot.
(Not The Sahara desert, that is in Africa, is very hot.)
● A non-defining relative clause differs from a defining relative clause in that it gives additional, rather than essential, information and, without it, the sentence would still convey meaning.
e.g. The Sahara desert is very hot.
● Non-defining relative clauses follow a noun and are enclosed between two commas (or dashes or brackets), unless completing the sentence.
The Sahara desert, which is in Africa, is very hot.
● In non-defining relative clauses, the relative pronoun is never omitted.
The architect of the tower was Ahmad Ben Baso, who began work in 1184 CE.
(NOT The architect of the tower was Ahmad Ben Baso, began work in 1184 CE.)
Test yourself now.
1. The painting, ................................was finished in 1850, is one of the most representative works of that time.
2. The final decision, ............................not everybody is going to like, will be announced at the next meeting.
3. City Park, ..................................... we used to go to, has been closed down.
4. City Park, .......................................... we used to go, has been closed down.
5. December, .............................Christmas is celebrated in, is a summer month in the Southern Hemisphere.
6. December, .................................Christmas is celebrated, is a summer month in the Southern Hemisphere.
7. The prize ............ Salma won last week was for Sports.
8. The students ............. brought the stories are very generous.
9. The person ............. name is written here is very strange.
10 Plastic is the material ........... causes a lot of pollution.
Answers:
1. which 2. which 3. which 4. where 5. which 6. when 7. which 8. who 9. whose 10. which
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