RELATIVE CLAUSES.

Actan como adjetivos con respecto a los sustantivos que

las preceden. Pueden ser:
()

Defining: (=ESPECIFICATIVAS)
-Describe the antecedent.
-It's necessary to understand the meaning of the main clause.
-There is no pause or comma before a defining relative clause.
-"That" can always replace the pronouns "who" and "which"
- The object pronouns can be omitted.

()

Non-defining: (=EXPLICATIVAS)
-Give more information about the antecedent.
-They are not necessary to understand the meaning of the main
clause. - We can leave it out and still have a sentence which means
something.
-There is comma before and after a non-defining relative clause.
-We don't use "that" in non-defining relative clauses.

DEFINING
CLAUSES

ANTECEDENT
PERSON

PRONOUN
SUBJECT

Who
That

PRONOUN
OBJECT

Who,Whom
That (3)

ANTECEDENT
ANIMAL/THING

(1)

Which
That

(2)

Which
That (4)

- The relative pronoun can never be omitted.

Ex.

(1)The girl {who/that works at the Grand Cafe} is Martin's sister.

(2) Did you see the motor-bike {which/that was sold for $20?}
(3) Martin is the man { who/whom/that we saw yesterday}.
(4) The sport {that/which I like watching } is tennis.

NON
DEFINING

ANTECEDENT
PERSON

ANTECEDENT
ANIMAL/THING

PRONOUN
SUBJECT

Who

(1)

Which

(2)

PRONOUN
OBJECT

Who (3)
Whom

Which

(4)

Ex.

(1) Peter Oates, {who comes from Bristol} , won the game.
(2) The first game, {which went on for a long time},wasn't very interesting.
(3) Martin, {who/whom you saw with me yesterday},is Jane's sister.
(4) The clock, {which you like so much} , was a present from my father.

WHOSE.
- It is used to talk about possession.
- It can refer to people,things,animals and countries.
Ex.
We are a nation whose wealth comes from industry.
"Lively lady" was the horse whose jockey fell down.

WHICH.
- Can be used referring to a whole clause (in this case it is always non-defining).
Ex. I was late again this morning , / which made my boss angry.
WHERE
- It refers to places
Ex. Thats the flat where I live
WHEN
- It refers to time
Ex. I dont remember a time when I didnt have long hair