We use

relative clauses
to give identifying information
or additional information
about something
by joining sentences with
relative pronouns.
The relative pronouns are…

who
which
that
th
whose
who
Uses Examples
For people in ‐ That’s the girl who started
defining and volunteering in the hospital.
non-defining
relative clauses. ‐ Her mother, who’s now at home,
was a patient there.
which
Uses Examples
For things and ‐ The hospital which I visited is
animals in enormous!
defining and
non-defining ‐ The cardio-vascular department,
clauses. which is new, specializes in
treating stroke patients.
 that
Uses Examples
For people, things ‐ This is the vet that works in the
and animals but animal shelter.
only in defining
clauses. Object ‐ Look at the photos of the animals
relative pronous (that) he has treated.
can be omitted. ‐ This is the abandoned dog (that)
I adopted.
whose
Uses Examples
For possession by ‐ AMI is a Portuguese humanitarian
people, intelligent organization whose aim is to fight
animals and poverty and suffering anywhere in
organizations (in the world.
place of his, her, It depends on volunteers, whose
their, etc.) in both work is essential.
types of clause.
 There are two types of relative
clauses: defining relative clauses
and
non-defining relative clauses.
defining relative ccllaauses

We use
defining relative clauses
to join sentences
and make it clear exactly
who or what we are talking about.

Examples: That’s the man! That man stole my wallet!

That’s the man who stole my wallet!
defining relative ccllaauses

The volunteers who work in the

hospital are very special people.

Voluntary work is done by people

who give up their free time to help
others in need.
non -d efin ing re lati ve cl
c a
la u se
s e s

We use
non-defining relative clauses
to give extra information
about a person or a thing.

Examples: The thief [the thief gave his name as ‘John Doe’] was arrested.
The thief, who gave his name as ‘John Doe’, was arrested.
non -d efin ing re lati ve cl
c a
la u se
s e s

Kelly, who is my best friend, believes

volunteering builds character.

The hospital she is working at, which is

not far from the school, needs more
volunteers.
PRACTICE
Humanitarian causes are taken up by people _________
have strong beliefs about social issues.
Julia is the girl _________ works at the hospital as a volunteer.
Robert, _____ has already worked as an English teacher at
our school, is leaving for Africa on a humanitarian mission.
Angelina Jolie, like other Hollywood stars, _____ aims at
contributing with her fame to the common good, has
become a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations.
My best friend Peter, _______ father works for AMI all over
the world, is considering a career in social economics.
Would you like to see the pictures _____ I took
while working in Mozambique?
Oxfam International, ______ is a non-governmental
organization, raised funds to help earthquake survivors
in Haiti.
The UNHCR, ______ is the United Nations’ special organization
for helping refugees, provides necessities like food, water and
shelter for people in need.
People _____ are cruel to animals
should be fined or sent to prison.
Voluntary work, ______ can be pretty demanding,
makes a fundamental contribution to social services.