The use of relative clauses is to provide extra information.

This information can either define something (defining clause), or provide unnecessary, but interesting, added information (non-defining clause). Relative clauses can be introduced by: a relative pronoun: who (whom), which, that, whose no relative pronoun, . where, why and when instead of a relative pronoun. You need to consider the following when deciding which relative pronoun to use: Is the subject or object or possessive of a relative clause? Does it refer to a person or an object? Is the relative clause a defining or non-defining relative clause? : Relative clauses are often used in both spoken and written English. There is a tendency to use non-defining relative clauses mostly in written, rather than in spoken, English. Defining and non-defining relative classes are important elements to focus on when trying to help students improve their writing skills. This lesson focuses on reviewing the differences between defining and non-defining clauses, and then goes on to a writing exercise which employs non-defining relative clauses to expand a basic story outline. : Using non-defining clauses to improve writing skills : Two exercises: 1 - adding commas to sentences, 2 - expanding a text with non-defining clauses : Intermediate to upper-intermediate : Review the basic differences between defining and non-defining relative clauses in class. Have students insert commas into the sentences where necessary. Check the exercises, and review differences between defining and non-defining relative clauses as necessary. Ask students to pair up. Students expand the text by inserting as many non-defining clauses into the text as they want. Have students read their new stories aloud. Ask students to repeat the exercise at home by creating a basic story outline, and then expand the text using non-relative clauses.

In defining relative clauses, the information given is essential to the understanding of the sentence. :

They helped a man who was injured. I like houses which were built in the 19th century. In these first example, the defining clause beginning with 'who' tells us which man we are talking about. In the second example, the defining clause beginning with 'which' defines what kind of houses I like. Defining relative clauses make clear which person or thing we are speaking about.

In non-defining relative clauses, the information is not essential to understanding the sentence, but gives additional information. : Mr. Brown, who enjoys going to the theater, has been invited to join our club. Whiting House, which was built in 1856, is an important local monument. In the first example, Mr Brown is defined (the man who has been invited to join our club). The fact that he enjoys going to the theater gives us additional, but not necessary information. In the second example, the particular house is named and therefore defined, the year in which the house was built is additional information. Punctuation is very important in non-defining clauses. A comma is placed before the relative pronoun and at the end of the clause.

Relative Pronouns in Defining Relative Clauses Person Subject who, that Object , that, who, whom Possessive whose, of which

Object which, that , which, that

Children who (that) play with fire are in great danger of harm. The man who bought all the books by Hemingway has died. Generally, who and which are more usual in written English whereas that is more usual in speech when referring to things.

That's the boy (, that, who, whom) I invited to the party. There's the house (, that, which) I'd like to buy.

He's the man whose car was stolen last week. They were sure to visit the town whose location (OR the location of which) was little known.

It is preferable to use that (not which) after the following words: all, any (thing), every (thing), few, little, many, much, no (thing), none, some (thing), and after superlatives. When using the pronoun to refer to the object, that can be omitted. It was everything (that) he had ever wanted. There were only a few (that) really interested him.

Relative Pronouns in Non-Defining Relative Clauses Person Subject who Object who, whom Possessive whose Object which which whose, of which

: Frank Zappa, who was one of the most creative artists in rock 'n roll, came from California. Olympia, whose name is taken from the Greek, is the capital of Washington State.

Frank invited Janet, who (whom) he had met in Japan, to the party. Peter brought his favorite antique book, which he had found at a flee market,to show his friends. 'That' can never be used in non-defining clauses.

The singer, whose most recent recording has had much success, signing autographs. The artist, whose name he could not remember, was one of the best he had ever seen.

In non-defining relative clauses, which can be used to refer to an entire clause. : He came for the weekend wearing only some shorts and a t-shirt, which was a stupid thing to do. After numbers and words like many, most, neither, and some, we use of before whom and which in nondefining relative clauses. : Many of those people, most of whom enjoyed their experience, spent at least a year abroad. Dozens of people had been invited, most of whom I knew.

Decide whether the following clauses are defining or non-defining clauses. Insert commas where necessary. The car which was a rare sports coupe was built in 1966. We invited the boy who Tom had met the week before to the party.

Our friends who we met at university are coming to visit next week. That is the building where they shot the film 'Vanilla Sky'. Mr Jackson whose son also goes to this school will be attending the party next weekend. The author's latest book which has become a bestseller is about two children in Jamaica.

Work together to expand the following story by using as many non-defining relative clauses as you can. Feel free to make a funny story! A man called Peter took an airplane to New York to visit his sister. When he arrived at the airport, a old man asked him a question. Peter gave a short reply and the man invited him for a drink. Peter accepted, and after he had the drink, caught the airplane to New York. When he got to his sister's apartment, his sister invited him into the living room. As he entered the room, he was surprised to see the same man.

Combine the sentences using a relative clause. Use relatvie pronouns only where necessary. Note that you have to use commas in some of the sentences. A holiday in Scotland 1. We spent our holiday in Scotland last year. Scotland is in the north of Great Britain. Last year we 2. People live in Scotland. They are called Scots. The people 3. We first went to Edinburgh. Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland. We first. 4. Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh. He wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories. Arthur Conan Doyle 5. Then we visited a lake. It is in the Highlands. The lake .. 6. Loch Ness is 37 km long. People know it for its friendly monster. Loch Ness 7. There we met an old man. He told us that he had seen Nessie. An old man. 8. We then travelled to a mountain. The mountain is near the town of Fort William. We then . 9. The mountain is the highest mountain in Great Britain. It is called Ben Nevis. The mountain 10. I sent you a postcard. It was written on the summit of Ben Nevis. The postcard.

Write relative clauses without using the relative pronoun. I gave you a book. It had many pictures. The book I gave you had many pictures. 1. I am reading a book at the moment. It is very interesting. The book 2. You live in a town. The town is very old. The town 3. The sweets are delicious. I bought them yesterday. The sweets 4. The football match was very exciting. My friend played in it. The football match 5. The letter hasn't arrived yet. I posted it three days ago.

 The letter 6. He lives in a house. The house is not very big. The house 7. They are playing a song on the radio. Do you like it? Do you like 8. Jane wore a beautiful shirt yesterday. Did you see it? Did you see 9. Sue is going out with a boy. I don't like him. I don't like Combine the sentences using relative clauses. Note that all relative clauses are non-defining. 1-Samuel Johnson was the son of a bookseller. Samuel Johnson was born in 1709. Samuel Johnson 2-In 1728, he went to Oxford. He studied at Pembroke College in Oxford. In 1728, he went 3-Johnson had to leave Oxford without a degree. He was too poor to pay the fees. Johnson 4-In 1737, Johnson moved to London. There he wrote poetry, essays and biographies. In 1737, Johnson 5-In 1746, Johnson started to write his dictionary. It took him nine years to complete. In 1746, Johnson started 6-His home at that time was in 17 Gough Square in London. It is a museum now. 17 Gough Square in London 7-In this house, his wife died in 1752. Her name was Elizabeth Porter. In this house his wife 8-In 1755, the work was published. It was called A Dictionary of the English Language. In 1755, the work 9-Samuel Johnson died in 1784. He is buried in Westminster Abbey. Samuel Johnson