GV : Nguyễn Văn Phương

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CHUYÊN ĐỀ

Người thực hiện : NGUYỄN VĂN PHƯƠNG

Lĩnh vực nghiên cứu :
Quản lý giáo dục : º
Dạy học bộ môn : Tiếng Anh º
Phương pháp giáo dục : º
Lĩnh vực khác : º

Năm Học : 2005 - 2006

Tên chuyên đề : RELATIVE CLAUSES

I. LÝ DO CHỌN ĐỀ TÀI :
Chúng ta biết rằng , ở bậc Trung học phổ thông , Relative Clauses là một phạm trù tương đối
rộng .
Trong chương trình THPT ( cải cách ) , Relative clauses được phân bổ như sau :
- Restrictive Relative clauses ( khối 10 )
- Non - Restrictive Relative clauses ( khối 11 )
- Relative clauses introduced by when , where , why ( kh ối 12 )

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Qua một thời gian giảng dạy , tôi nhận thấy rằng , đối với học sinh khối 12 , sau khi được học
xong cả ba phần , một số em vẫn không có được một kiến thức vững chắc về vấn đề này . Để nắm
vững nó , vấn đề quả thật không đơn giản .
Vì vậy , theo tôi việc hệ thống lại kiến thức cho học sinh khối 12 về đề tài này là cần thiết . Nó
giúp cho các em học sinh khối 12 ôn tập , cũng cố , mở rộng , nâng cao kiến thức về phạm trù này .
Và từ đây , các em sẽ tự tin bước vào kỳ thi cuối cấp và kỳ thi vào Đại Học .

II. THỰC TRẠNG TRƯỚC KHI THỰC HIỆN CÁC GIẢI PHÁP CỦA ĐỀ TÀI :
1. Thuận lợi :
Việc thực hiện đề tài này có những thuận lợi sau :
- Đội ngũ giáo viên của trường là những người nhiều năm đứng trên bục giảng , kiến thức vững
vàng , đầy nhiệt tình và tâm huyết với nghề .
- Học sinh ham hiểu biết , học hỏi , sẵn sàng tiếp nhận thông tin một cách chủ động .
2. Khó khăn :
Học sinh phải học nhiều môn , và môn nào cũng có nội dung rộng và sâu , vì vậy dễ dẫn đến tình
trạng quá tải .

III. NỘI DUNG ĐỀ TÀI :

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RELATIVE CLAUSES

Adjective clauses (sometimes called “Attributive” clauses or “Relative” clauses ) qualify nouns . The
noun qualified is called the antecedent and the relative clause normally follows the antecedent.
Ex:
That is the house that I would like to buy.
(antecedent)
Sometimes the adjective clause divides the main clause.
Ex:
The house that I would like to buy is not for sale.
An adjective clause is generally introduced by a relative pronoun ( that, which, who, etc. )

Defining and Non-Defining clauses :

I. Defining Clauses :
Adjective clauses are of two types. Consider the following examples:
The student Who answered the question was John.
(antecedent) (defining relative clause)

The book which you lent me was interesting .

He gave the tip to the porter who carried his luggage.

Thank you for the help that you have given me.

This is the house that Jack built.

The Duke of Marlborough was one of the greatest soldiers that England has even had.

In all these sentences the adjective clause is a necessary part of the idea ; If it is left out , the
sentence does not make complete sense. All these sentences define the antecedent and give it its
definite connotation ; They indicate which student out of a number of students, which book out of
thousands of books, which porter out of several porters , etc. So clauses of this type are called
Defining clauses.
II. Non-Defining clauses :
Now consider these sentences:
Bernard Shaw, who wrote St.Joan , died in 1950.

My father, who had been on a visit to America, arrived at Southampton yesterday.

That scientist, whose work is very important, has been made a knight .

Miss Smith, whom you met at our house, is going to marry Mr. Abbot .
The Golden Hind , in which Drake sailed round the world , was only a small ship.

In all these sentences the adjective clause could be omitted and the rest of the sentence would still
make perfect sense. The adjective clauses here are a kind of parenthesis, a casual remark, an aside or
an explanation. They could be written between brackets or dashes .
Ex :
Bernard Shaw ( who wrote st. Joan ) died in 1950 .

My father – who had been on a visit to America – arrived at Southampton yesterday .

They do not definite the antecedent. They do not say which Bernard Shaw among a number of
Bernard Shaws , which father among dozens of fathers. What they do is to give additional information
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about an antecedent which has already been sufficiently defined . They are therefore called Non –
Defining or Amplifying clauses . This parenthetical construction of non - defining clauses is shown
by a comma in writing and by a pause in speaking at the beginning and end of the clause. Commas
must not be put round a defining clause.
Compare the sentences :
1) All the books, which had pictures in them , were sent to the little girl .
Non-defining clause
(she got all the books)
2) All the books which had pictures in them were sent to the little girl .
Defining clause
( she got only those books which had pictures in them )
There is a type of non-defining clause which has for its antecedent a whole sentence . In this case
the introductory relative pronoun is always which .
Ex:
They have invited me to dinner , which is very kind of them .

He missed the train , which annoyed him very much .

Non-defining clauses have also a “continuative” or “connective” use; that is, they are almost
equivalent to a compound sentence.
Ex :
He put his proposal to George, who, after making full enquiries , decided to accept it .

In this example who could be replaced by and he, thus turning the non-defining clause into a
co - ordinate sentence .

Omission of The Relative Pronoun in Defining clauses .

When the relative pronoun in a defining clause is in the objective case , it is often omitted , especially
in spoken English , e.g.
The man (that) you spoke to was my brother.

The book (that) I want is on the table .

He is the kindnest man (that) I know .

There’s something (that) you don’t know.

Clauses like these , in which the relative pronouns are omitted are sometimes called contact clauses.
The relative pronoun can also be omitted in a defining clause introduced by there is (was) .
Ex:
The 9.15 is the fastest train (that) there is to oxford.

I asked for the best book (that ) there was on the subject.
In non-defining clauses, who(m) , which are never omitted.
Ex:
My brother Alfred, who is eighteen years old , has bought a new bicycle.

My uncle, whom you met in Paris ,is now back in London.

This poem, which almost everybody knows , is by Tennyson.

Summary of the Usage of Relative Pronouns in Adjective Clauses :

I. Defining :
For people For things
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Subject who , that which, that
Object whom , (that) which , (that)
+ preposition to whom to which
possessive whose of which , whose

II. Non – Defining :

People Things
Subject who which
Object whom which
+ preposition to whom to which
possessive whose of which , whose

Relative Clauses Introduced by other words :

WHEN ,WHERE, WHY
An adjective clause may be introduced by the words : where , when , why if these words have the
meaning in Which , at Which, for Which, etc. , e.g.
The place where Macbeth met the witches was a desolate heath.

I remember the day when she first wore that pink dress .

I know the reason why he was so angry .

In the above examples the adjective clause is a defining one ; but when and where can also introduce
non-defining clauses , e.g.

We will put off the picnic until week , when the weather may be better .

They went to the Royal Theatre, where they saw Ibsen’s “Peer Gynt”

Notes on relative clauses :

1. When , in relative clauses , is sometimes replaced by THAT, Sometimes no connecting word is
used.
Ex:
I will never forget the day when I met you
the day that I met you
the day I met you

The baby was taken ill day the day (that) we were to have sailed for Newyork .

2. When reason is the object of the verb in the main clause , it is usually omitted. The why- clause then
becomes a dependent question.
Ex:
Tell me the reason why you did it .

Tell me why you did it .

V (pronoun) (conjunctive + clause)

3. Relative clauses with when , where and why are usually defining , but can be non-defining.
Relative clauses starting with where are more often non-defining than relative clauses starting with
when or why .
Ex:
The village of Baydon, where I lived as a child , has now become part of the town.

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We enjoyed Mexico city, where we spent our vacation .

4. A noun in a negative sentence is sometimes qualified by an adjective clause introduced by but .

Ex:
There’s not a man here but would like to be in your place.
Here, “ but would like ” = “ who would not like ”. The but contradicts the negative. This construction
is not common.

Notes on Relative Clauses (cont)

After same and such an adjective clause is usually introduced by AS.
Ex:
I shall be surprised if he does this the same way as I do .
I have never heard such stories as he tells .

But occasionally, THAT can be used after SAME.

Ex:
She wore the same dress that she wore at Mary’s wedding .

Cleft sentenses : It + be + noun/pronoun + Defining Relative Clause.

It was Tom who helped us. ( not Bill or Jack ).

It was Ann that I saw . ( not Mary ).

When the object is a proper noun, as above, THAT is more usual than WHO, with all other objects,
THAT is the correct form :

It ‘s the manager that we want to see .

It was wine that we ordered . ( not beer )
THAT is usual for non-personal subjects:
It’s speed that causes accidents , not bad roads.

A. Relative Clauses replaced by an infinitive or a participle.

I. Infinitives can be used:
1.After the first, second etc. and after the last / only and sometimes after superlatives:
Ex:
The last man to leave the ship.
= The last man Who left / leaves the ship.

The only to understand

= The only one who understood / understands.
Notice that the Infinitive here replaces a subject pronoun + verb .
It could not be used to replace an object pronoun + verb.
2.When there is an idea of purpose or permission:
Ex:
He has a lot of books to read . (books that he can / must read)

She had something to do. ( something that she could do / had to do)

They need a garden to play in. (a garden they can play in)
Note that here the infinitive replaces a verb + relative pronoun as object.
II . Present participles can be used :
1. When the verb in the clause is in the continuous tense :
People who are / were waiting for the bus often shelter / sheltered in my doorway
= people waiting for the bus often sheltered …

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2 .When the verb in the clause expresses a habitual or continuous action :
Boys who attend / attended this school have / had to wear uniform
= Boys attending …

a law which forbids / forbade the import

= a law forbidding the import

a notice which warns / warned people

= a notice warning people

an advertisement which urges lurged

= an advertisement urging
3. When a verb in the clause expresses a wish, i.e. when the verb in the clause is wish, desire, want,
hope ( but not like )
people who wish/wished to go on the tour
= people wishing to go on the tour.

fans who hope/hoped for a glimpse of the star

= fans hoping for a glimpse of the star

4. A non-defining clause containing one of the above verbs, or any verb of knowing or thinking ,
e.g. know, think, believe, expect , can be similarly replaced by a present participle :
Ex :
Peter , who thought the journey would take two days , said…………….
= Peter, thinking the journey would take two days , said………..

Tom , who expected to be paid the following week , offered……

= Tom , expecting to be paid the following week , offered…….

Bill , who wanted to make an impression on Ann, took her to……..

= Bill, wanting to make an impression on Ann, took her to………
III. What ( relative pronoun ) and Which ( connective pronoun ):
What = the thing that / the things that :
Ex:
What we saw astonished us = The things that we saw astonished us .

When she sees what you have done she will be furious .

When she sees the damage that you have done she will be furious .

Be careful not to confuse the relative what with the connective relative which . Remember that which
must refer to a word or group of words in the preceding sentence, while what does not refer back to
anything. The relative what is also usually the object of a verb, while the connective which is usually
the subject .
Ex:
He said he had no money , which was not true .
Some of the roads were flooded , which made our journey more difficult.
IV. Relative clauses abbreviated by “apposition” :
We can place two noun phrases side by side , separating the phrases by commas, so that the second
adds information to the first. We can then say that the noun phrases are “in apposition”. This is more
common in journalism than in speech . A relative clause can sometimes be replaced by a noun phrase
in this way .
Ex:
Mr. Watkins, a neighbour of mine, never misses the opportunity to tell me the latest news .
( non-defining with commas )
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(= Mr. Watkins , who is a neighbour of mine , … )

My neighbour Mr. Watkins never misses the opportunity to tell me the latest news .
(defining ,without commas ).
V. “ That ” after “ all ” , etc… and superlatives :
That (not “ which ”) is normally used after words like all , any , anything , everything , a few and the
only one when they do not refer to people . Clauses of this kind are always defining :
Ex:
All that remains for me to do is to say goodbye .

Everything that can be done has been done.

I’ll do anything (that) I can.

Who is used after all , any and a few when they refer to people
Ex :
God bless this ship and all who sail in her .
That is also common after superlatives . It is optional when it refers the object :
Ex:
It’s the silliest argument (that) I ‘ve ever heard .

but not optional when it refers to the subject :

Ex:
Bach’s the greatest composer that’s (or who’s) ever lived
VI. “ Of ” + relative referring to number / quantity :
Of can be used before whom and which in non-defining clauses to refer to number or quantity after
numbers and words like the following : a few , several , some, any , many , much
( of which ) , the majority, most, all, none, either , neither , the largest/ the smallest, the oldest / the
youngest , a number , half , a quarter.
Ex:
Both players , neither of whom reached the final , played well.
The treasure , some of which has been recovered , has been sent to the British Museum .

PUNCTUATION OF ADJECTIVE CLAUSES

Sometimes we use commas with adjective clauses , and sometimes we don’t .

I. Necessary clauses : no commas
Don’t use commas around an adjective clause that is necessary to identify its antecedent .
Ex : Young adults who were born after 1981 are called “ Generation Y. “
The clause who were born after 1981 is needed to tell which young adults are called “
Generation Y “ . Without this information , the main clause Young adults are called
“ Generation Y “ is incorrect .

 Yesterday my brother crashed a car that he had just bought .

The clause that he had just bought is needed to tell which car my brother crashed .
 My mother remembers well the day when I was born .
The clause when I was born is necessary to identify which day my mother remembers
Well. The main clause My mother remembers the day doesn’t make sense without the
information in the adjective clause .

II. Unnecessary clause : commas

Use commas around an adjective clause that isn’t necessary to identify its antecedent but merely gives
extra information about it .
Ex : Neil Howe , who wrote a book describing Generation Y , says that this generation is stronger
and more positive than the preceding one .
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The clause who wrote a book describing Generation Y is not needed to identify Neil Howe because his
name identifies him . The fact that he wrote a book is merely extra information . The main clause Neil
Howe says that this generation is stronger and more positive than the preceding one is incorrect
without the extra information .

 Yesterday my brother crashed his new white Porsche 911 Turbo , which he had just
bought

The clause which he had just bought is not needed to identify which car my brother crashed because
the words “ his new white Porsche 911 Turbo “ already tell us which one . The fact that he had just
bought it is merely extra information about it .

 My mother remembers well March 2, 1980 , when I was born .

In this sentence , the clause When I was born is not necessary to identify which day my mother
remembers . The date March 2 , 1980 already identify it .
Never use that in unnecessary clauses ; use only who, whom , which , or whose + noun.

PRACTICE
I. Punctuate the following complex sentences, according to whether the clauses are defining or
non-defining :
1. Many people were injured in the capital of Ruritania where 1,000 students took part in a
demonstration.
2. I went to see their new house which I like much .
3. The rubbish which John has collected must be burnt .
4. The river that flows through London is the Thames .
5. The Thames which flows through London is a beautiful river .
6. I do not know the town where he is going .
7. He is going to the golf course where he intends to put in some practice .
8. That man whose wife and family are away seems very lonely .
II. Combine each of the following pairs of sentences into one sentence by means of a relative
clause , using contact clauses where possible :
1. He will have to get up early . He won’t like it .
2. I’ve got to entertain my mother-in-law . I can’t stand her.
3. He went to Oxford . He read classics there.
4. The driver has driven a car for twenty years. His license has just been endorsed.
5. The firm has dispensed with his services . He has been employed there for thirty years.
6. The house has two spare bedrooms . We’ve bought it.
7. The rat is in the trap. It ate the cheese. Mary bought the cheese .
8. those dead flowers smell awful. You put them in the vase ten days ago .
9. The great fire of London destroyed a large part of the city . It broke out in 1666.
10. What was the name of the girl ? She came here last night.
11. This large map belonged to my uncle. In the middle of it you can see part of the Arctic Circle.
12. Last week I went to see the country town. He used to live in that town.
13. Bring me the cigarettes. I left them on the table. The table stands by the window.
14. The matter has been settled. You were arguing about it last night.
15. I saw several houses. Most of them were quiet unsuitable.
16. He wanted to come at 2am. This didn’t suit me at all.
17. A man answered the phone. He said Tom was out.
18. This is a story of a group of boys. Their plane crashed on an uninhabited island.
19. They rowed across the Alantic. This has never been done before.
20. I went to Munich. I had always wanted to visit Munich.
III.Express differently by means of relative clauses :
1. This is a book on zoology , there is none better .
2. The reason for his silence is not known .
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3. I ended up by making a speech , and I hadn’t wanted to .
4. My sister is quite mad to want to be an actress , for she has not the least talent .
5. Here is a girl with real talent and she really ought to have gone in for the theatre .
6. We are living in profoundly disturbing times .
IV. Rewrite the following sentences so that each contains a non-defining relative clause :
1. Shakespeare was born at Stratford and wrote many plays .
2. Liverpool is a busy port containing miles of docks .
3. The Portuguese sailor , Magellan , gave his name to the famous straits .
4. The paintings by Vermeer in the Art Gallery are insured for a large amount .
5. This newly-published book was recently summarized in a Sunday paper .
V. Complete the following sentences by adding the appropriate relative pronoun and , where
necessary , commas . If the relative pronoun can be omitted from any of the sentences , put it in the
sentences but enclose it in brackets ( ) . Say if any of the relative clauses are non-defining .
1. The house ________ you’re looking for is at the other end of the street .
2. The bridge _________ this photo was taken has been rebuilt .
3. The child ___________ parents died in the air crash is living with his aunt .
4. The yacht _________ you see moored in the harbour belongs to an American .
5. The place ________ you are standing was the site of the old market cross .
6. You can telephone to the people ________ you told me about yesterday .
7. What’s the address of the firm ______ advertisement we noticed the other day ?
8. There’s the bus I generally take to go to the office .
9. The family ________ I stayed with in Rome are coming to England this year .
10. The umbrella ________ you borrowed last night belongs to my brother .
VI. Replace relative clauses by an infinitive or infinitive phrase:
1. We had a river in which we could swim .
2. The child is lonely ; he would be happier if he had someone that he could play with .
3. Here are some accounts that you must check .
4. I’ve got a bottle of wine but I haven’t got any thing that I could open with it
5. I have some letters that I must write .
6. He was the first man who left the burning building .
7. You are the last person who saw her alive .
8. My brother was the only one who realized the danger .
9. The pilot was the only man who survived the crash .
10. The fifth man who was interviewed was entirely unsuitable .
VII. Repalce each pair of sentences as one sentence using a relative clause with when, where, or
why :
1. The early morning is the time . I work best then.
2. Tell me the reason. For that reason you often write to her .
3. The house is near the supermarket . My uncles live in that house.
4. This is a picture of the place. We are going there for our holidays .
5. I suggest you the time. You can meet your director at that time .
6. His refusal to tell her the truth is the reason . That’s why he is so angry with him .
7. Edinburgh is the city . I’d most like to live there .
8. I recently went back to the village school . I studied there in my childhood .

……….. THE END ………….

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