Relative Pronouns as Subjects and Objects;

Defining and Non-defining Relative Clauses.

JOSÉ MIGUEL FLORES BALDERA BY THE END OF THIS

UASD SAN FRANCISCO LESSON SWBAT:
• Discuss ideal friends
and partners using
relative pronouns
who and that.
• Discuss jobs using
defining and
non-defining relative
clauses.
INTRODUCTIVE TASK
1. What do you think women look for most in a
partner?
2. What do men look for most in a partner?
3. What’s more important in a relationship: real
love or money? Why?
4. What are three good things about being
married/single?
5. What is the best age to get married? Why?
6. Which is better: a small wedding with few
people or a big wedding with lots of people?
7. Why are some people very nervous about
getting married?
8. Why do people get married?
9. Why do some people get divorced? Answer these
10. Is it okay if a wife is older than her husband? questions. We’ll go
Why? / Why not? over them in class.
Answer these
questions. We’ll go
over them in class.
Relative
Pronouns
as Subjects
and Objects
 What is a Relative Clause?
A relative clause is a phrase that adds
information to a sentence. All relative
clauses describe a noun, and they begin
with one of these relative pronouns or
relative adverbs.
Relative Pronouns
who (to describe people – subject)
The woman who works in the bank is my neighbor.
whom (to describe people – object)
My cousins, one of whom is a doctor, live in England.
whose (to describe possession)
The man whose car was stolen went to the police station.
that (to describe things – defining relative clauses)
I’m selling the computer that I bought in the U.S.
which (to describe things – non-defining relative clauses)
I’m selling this computer, which has a 250-GB hard drive,
for $500.
Relative Adverbs
when (to describe times)
My favorite season is fall, when all the leaves change
color.
where (to describe places)
I visited the neighborhood where I grew up
why (to give a reason)
Do you know the reason why the stores are closed today?
 Relative pronouns

The relative pronouns (who and that) do two jobs at the

same time. They enable us to:

1. join two ideas (e.g., Roy likes girls, and they aren’t
too serious).

2. add information (e.g., Roy likes girls. What kind of

girls? Girls who aren’t too serious.)

e.g., Roy likes girls who/that aren’t too serious.

 Relative pronouns as subject
1. My friend likes people. They are organized
and intelligent.
2. I’d prefer a boss. He has good leadership
qualities.
3. I’d prefer to have teachers. These people
are sociable, fun, and reliable.
4. I like to go out with people. They are friendly
and generous.
5. I love to work with students. They are
hardworking and respectful.
If the relative pronoun is
followed by a verb, the
relative pronoun is a
subject pronoun. Subject
pronouns must always be
used.
• My friend likes people who/that are
organized and intelligent.
• I’d prefer a boss who/that has good
leadership qualities.
• I’d prefer to have teachers who/that are
sociable, fun, and reliable.
• I like to go out with people who/that are
friendly and generous.
• I love to work with students who/that are
hardworking and respectful.
 Relative pronouns as object

1. I like people. I can rely on them. If the relative pronoun is not

2. I like a partner. I can have fun with her. followed by a verb (but by a
noun or pronoun), the
3. I like people. I have something in common relative pronoun is an object
with them. pronoun. Object pronouns
4. I want to have friends. I can talk to them can be dropped in defining
relative clauses.
easily.
5. I’d rather travel with someone. I can go
shopping with that person.

• I like people (who/that) I can rely on.

• I like a partner (who/that) I can have fun with.
• I like people (who/that) l have something in common with.
• I want to have friends (who/that) I can talk to easily.
• I’d rather travel with someone (who/that) I can go shopping with.
GRAMMAR
 Defining and non-defining relative clauses

1. Defining relative clause: The information in the

clause is necessary. It shows us which person is
being described or talked about.

The actor who starred in that movie is very

talented.

2. Non-defining relative clause: The information

isn’t necessary. It is extra information that is added
to the sentence.

Tom Cruise, who starred in that movie, is very

talented.
 Defining and Non-Defining Relative Clauses
Non-defining relative clauses add EXTRA information to
the sentence.
Defining relative clauses add ESSENTIAL information
to the sentence.
You can see if a relative clause is defining or non-defining
by removing it from the sentence. If you remove a non-
defining relative clause, the sentence still has the same
meaning. If you remove a defining relative clause, the
sentence has a different meaning or is incomplete.
Example of a sentence with a NON-DEFINING relative
clause:
 My brother, who lives in California, is an engineer.
If you remove “who lives in California,” the sentence still
has the same meaning:
 My brother is an engineer.
The relative clause “who lives in California”
is extra information.
Example of a sentence with a DEFINING
relative clause:
 That’s the student who failed English class
three times.
If you remove “who failed English class three
times,” the sentence is incomplete:
 That’s the student.
Therefore, the relative clause “who failed
English class three times”
is essential information, because it defines
which student, specifically, we are talking
about.
In written English, use a comma before and
after non-defining relative clauses.