RELATIVE CLAUSES

The relative clauses are introduced by relative pronouns:

Pronouns – who (subject) refer only to people

whom (object)

which – refers only to things

Relative
that – refers to both things and people

whose (possession) – refers to both people and things

Adverb (place) – where (= in which)

There are two types of relative clauses: defining relative clauses and non-
defining relative clauses.

DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

- A defining relative clause is necessary in order to complete the meaning of a

sentence. It identifies somebody or something.
Ex. Is that the man who wants to buy your car?
The relative clause “who wants to buy your car” identifies which man is meant;
if somebody asked “Is that the man?” we probably wouldn’t have much idea of what
he/she was talking about.

- In a defining relative clause the relative pronoun may be omitted when it

refers to the object. These are called CONTACT CLAUSES.
Ex. The clothes (that) I bought this morning were not expensive.

- Prepositions always precede the relative (however they can never be placed
before the relative THAT)
Ex. The speaker asked a question to which I didn’t know the answer.
You cannot say – Mary is the girl with that I was dancing.

- The pronoun THAT is only found in defining clauses instead of who, whom
or which.
Ex. A person that (who) teaches is a teacher.

NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

- A non-defining relative clause gives further information, which is not

necessary. The main clause is perfectly clear without it.
- It is written between commas.
Ex. Dorothy, who cuts my hair, has moved to another hairdresser’s.
 We already know who the woman is - Dorothy, we are just giving further
information about her.
- The relative pronoun can’t be omitted.
- Who, whom and which are the relative pronouns normally used. The
pronoun that is never to be found in non-defining relative clauses.

NOTE: When the non-defining relative clause refers to a complete sentence,

you should use which and a comma between the main and the relative clause.
Ex. He has now been swimming for two hours a day, which is very
healthy.

EXERCISES:

Complete the following sentences by adding an appropriate relative pronoun.

Indicate where there is more than one possibility and add commas if necessary.

1. The money .................... he received yesterday has been stolen.

2. Peter doesn’t know the name of the girl .................... got married to his friend
David.
3. James Howard .................... latest fiction book is a bestseller is now signing dozens
of copies of his book.
4. Brian .................... is older than his brother is going to spend a week with us in
Spain.
5. These are the carnations .................... have grown in my garden.
6. Terry’s girlfriend .................... you mentioned this morning is standing beside that
lady in red.
7. Vivien doesn’t like boys .................... are football addicts.
8. The small town in .................... Rose lived for tem years has developed enormously.

Join the following sentences by building DEFINING or NON-DEFINING

relative clauses. Insert the appropriate PUNCTUATION and use CONTACT
CLAUSES whenever possible.

1. Those teenagers are famous pop singers. You are looking at them.
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2. The British people have a very old History. We know their language very well.
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3. The book is the best. I’ve selected it.
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4. The Chinese writing is very difficult to learn. I can’t write its symbols.
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5. He is planning to go to university. This makes his parents very proud of him.
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6. He wants to get a job. This job is rewarding enough.
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7. The manager went to his office. He had refused to speak to the reporters.
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8. His latest book is autobiographical. It was published before he died.
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9. He won’t go to the office today. It is a very wise decision.
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10. The magazine is very expensive. You are reading it.
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11. There is the man. We’ve heard about him on TV.
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12. His first speech was better than his second. The first speech is going to be broadcast.
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13. My grandfather has gone for a long plane trip. His car was stolen last week.
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14. The letter had no stamp on it. We received it today.
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15. Dean Fisher quickly took a plane back to Cairo. He was working in New York City.
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16. He wasn’t allowed to work with computers. It was a great disappointment.
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17. The gentleman is my English teacher. You spoke to him on the street.
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18. Flats are usually advertised in local papers. It can be very helpful.
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19. That big grey building has been recently built. There is a solar panel on its top.
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20. David Jackson flew to Beirut. The international police has been looking for him.
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21. There’s the gentleman. His car has been stolen.
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22. The International Energy Agency in Paris was set up in 1973. It is facing the worst
crisis since the founding.
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23. Most teenagers blame their parents for everything. I think that very unfair.
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24. The industrial designer Raymond Smith created some of the modern best-known
commercials. My brother has been working with him.
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25. The sound was like a shot. It woke me up.
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26. In the pub there were many students. They had just left school.
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27. We had to wear uniforms. The fact annoyed me a lot.
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28. The school was very old. I attended it.
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29. Football is a popular game. It is played in most schools.
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30. Those teenagers are the best students of this school. You are looking at them.
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