Relative Clauses Types differences examples Defining Relative Clauses

Relative Clauses Types, differences, examples

Defining Relative Clauses • specify a noun or pronoun in the main clause; • necessary if we want to understand the meaning of a sentence; • follow after the relative pronouns who, which, that, whose, whom; • no commas e. g. I saw the man who was outside our office building. They wanted the shares that cost two pounds.

If we omit these relative clauses, it is not clear what girl or picture we are talking about. • I saw the man who was outside our office building. • They wanted the shares that cost two pounds.

Use of the relative pronouns • Who for persons The man who called you has just arrived. • Which for things This is the model which I wanted. • That for persons and things (less formal than who or which) Are you the family that live next door? Can you see the tree that has no leaves?

Use of the relative pronouns • Whose for persons and things It is a story about a boy whose parents got divorced. The river whose bridge is in front of us is called the Cam. • Whom is the object of a verb The man whom I met yesterday is our new manager. (very formal) The man who I met. . . (spoken English) The man that I met. . . (spoken English) The man I met. . . (the most usual form)

Relative pronouns We normally leave out the relative pronoun if the subject in the main clause is different from the subject in the defining relative clause: The girl you saw in the cafe is my neighbour. (subjects: the girl; you) The bike she borrowed belongs to me. (subjects: the bike; she)

Relative pronouns We cannot omit the pronoun if the subject in the main clause and the relative clause is the same: The driver who took you to university is from Turkey. The information that is posted on the site is new.

Relative pronouns with prepositions We use the relative pronouns with prepositions as follows. • The man I got it from. . . • The man who/that I got it from. . . • The man from whom I got it. . . (quite formal and less common)

Non-defining relative clauses • • • describe a preceding noun or pronoun add some information about them do not specify them must be written with commas. are quite formal and are typical of written English

Non-defining relative clauses Steve, whom I admire, is not right in this case. His sports car, which costs nearly $500, 000, has been broken. I gave the car to Peter, who is my close friend. • Without these relative clauses, the sentences remain grammatically correct. • The only effect is that there is less information in the sentences.

Compare: Written English: My dad, who is 65 now, still works. Spoken English: My dad is 65 now and still works. Their garden, which is near here, looks beautiful. Their garden is near here. It looks beautiful. Formal: Daniel, whom I know quite well, would be a good choice. Informal: Daniel, who I know quite well, would be a good choice.

Commas Do not write the defining relative clauses with commas: commas change the meaning of a sentence. Compare: • The passengers who fastened their seatbelts survived. (Which passengers survived? Only the passengers wearing the seatbelts. ) • The passengers, who fastened their seatbelts, survived. (Because all the passengers were wearing their seatbelts, they survived. ) Spoken English: pauses instead of commas.

Connective relative clauses • do not define or describe the preceding nouns or pronouns; • only develop the story; • We make them with the pronouns who, whom, whose, which. • We write them with commas. I gave the application letter to the team leader, who sent it to the Head office. She passed me the papers, which fell on the floor.