COLEGIUL MIHAI VITEAZUL BUMBESTI-JIU

IANOSI GIORGIANA
ENGLISH TEACHER
RELATIVE CLAUSES
A relative clause is a subordinate clause introduced either by a relative proo! or by a
relative a"ver#. It can be used to modify a noun or pronoun (i.e. to identify or give more information
about it):
The book is about a boy who is homeless.
Thats the film which I read last week.
Mrs. Black, whose husband died two years ago, took over the company.
Relative Pronouns
relative proo! !$e e%a&ple
'(o
Is used as subject or object pronoun for
people.
I told you about the woman who lives
next door.
'(i)(
It can be used as subject or object
pronoun for animals and things.
o you see the cat which is lying on the
roof!
'(i)( Is used to refer to a whole sentence "e couldnt read which surprised me.
'(o$e
Is used for things as well as for people to
express possession.
o you know the boy whose mother is a
nurse!
'(o&
Object pronoun for people especially in
non!defining relative clauses is very
formal and is only used in written
"nglish. Instead of it who#that can be
used or it can be completely omitted.
I was invited by the professor whom I
met at the conference.
t(at
#he subject or object pronoun for people
animals and things in defining relative
clauses (who or which are also possible)
it normally follows words li$e something,
anything, everything, nothing, all, and
superlatives.
I dont like the table that stands in the
kitchen.
Subject Pronoun or Object Pronoun?
%ubject and object pronouns cannot be distinguished by their forms ! '(o* '(i)(* t(at are used
for subject and object pronouns. &e can however distinguish them as follows:
If the relative pronoun is followed by a verb the relative pronoun is a subject pronoun. %ubject
pronouns must always be used.
The apple which is lying on the table
If the relative pronoun is not followed by a verb (but by a noun or pronoun) the relative
pronoun is an object pronoun. Object pronouns can be dropped in defining relative clauses which are
then called Contact Clauses.
The apple (which) $eorge laid on the table.
'
The boy (who/whom) we met yesterday is very nice.
Relative Adverbs
A relative adverb can be used instead of a relative pronoun plus preposition. #his often ma$es
the sentence easier to understand.
#his is the shop i '(i)( I bought my bi$e.
( #his is the shop '(ere I bought my bi$e.
relative a"ver# &eai+ !$e e%a&ple
'(e i,o '(i)( refers to a time expression The day when we met him
'(ere i,at '(i)( refers to a place The place where we met him
'(- .or '(i)( refers to a reason The reason why we met him
TYPES OF RELATIVE CLAUSE
#here are two types of relative clause: "e.ii+ a" o-"e.ii+.
/E0INING RELATIVE CLAUSES
#his type of relative clause essential information to define or identify the person or thing we are
tal$ing about. Obviously this is only necessary if there is more than one person or thing involved. It is
not separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma.
The man who told us about the hotel was very helpful.
In this type of clause t(at can be used instead of '(o and '(i)(1
This is the boy who/that I told you about.
%e stayed in a hotel which/that had an indoor swimming pool.
)elative clauses with who* which* that as subject pronoun can be replaced with a parti)iple.
#his ma$es the sentence shorter and easier to understand.
I told you about the woman who lives next door. & I told you about the woman living
next door.
o you see the cat which is lying on the roof! & o you see the cat lying on the roof!
*efining relative clauses are often used in definitions.
Relative proo!$
#he following relative pronouns are used in defining relative clauses:
2er$o T(i+ 2la)e Ti&e Rea$o
S!#3e)t who/that which/that
O#3e)t who/whom/that/

which/that/ where when why
2o$$e$$ive whose whose
45 #he relative proo! stands in place of a noun.
#his noun usually appears earlier in the sentence:
The woman who/that spoke at the meeting was very
knowledgeable.
No!* $!#3e)t o.
&ai )la!$e
relative proo!
re.erri+ to 6t(e
'o&a6* $!#3e)t o.
ver# 7 re$t o. relative
)la!$e
ver# 7 re$t o. &ai
)la!$e
+
6$po8e6
95 Who, whom and which can be replaced by that. #his is very common in spo$en "nglish.
:5 Whose can be used for things and people.
The man whose car was stolen is my neighbour.
' tree whose leaves have fallen seems very sad.
;5 Whom is very formal and is only used in written "nglish. &e can use who/that or omit the pronoun
completely:
The doctor whom/who/that/ I was hoping to see wasn(t on duty.
<5 hat normally follows words li$e something, anything, everything, nothing, all, and superlatives.
There(s something that you should !now.
It was the best film that I"ve ever seen.
NON-/E0INING RELATIVE CLAUSES
#he information in these clauses is not essential. It tells us more about someone or something
but it does not help us to identify them or it.
,ompare:
)lephants that love mice are very unusual. (#his tells us which elephants we are tal$ing
about).
)lephants, which are large and grey, can sometimes be found in *oos. (#his gives us
some extra information about elephants ! we are tal$ing about all elephants not just one type or
group).
+ohn(s mother, who lives in #cotland, has , grandchildren. (&e $now who -ohn.s
mother is and he only has one. #he important information is the number of grandchildren but
the fact that she lives in %cotland might be followed with the words /by the way/ ! it is
additional information).
No-"e.ii+ relative )la!$e$ are always separated from the rest of the sentence by commas.
#he commas have a similar function to brac$ets:
My friend +ohn has -ust written a best.selling novel. /"e went to the same school as me0
. My friend +ohn, who went to the same school as me, has -ust written a best.selling novel.
Relative proo!$ i o-"e.ii+ )la!$e$
2er$o T(i+ 2la)e
S!#3e)t who which
O#3e)t who/whom which where
2o$$e$$ive whose
Note$1
4. In non!defining clauses we cannot use $that% instead of who, whom or which5
95 &e cannot leave out the relative pronoun even when it is the object of the verb in the relative clause:
"e gave me the letter, which was in a blue envelope.
"e gave me the letter, which I read immediately
:. #he preposition in these clauses can go at the end of the clause: This is 1tratford.on.'von, which
you have all heard about.
#his pattern is often used in spo$en "nglish but in written or formal "nglish we can also put the
preposition before the pronoun: e.g. 1tratford.on.'von, about which many people have written, is
1hakespeares birthplace.
0
;. 1on!defining clauses can be introduced by expressions li$e all of, many of 2 relative pronoun:
2er$o T(i+
all of 2 whom 2 which
any of 2 whom 2 which
(a) few of 2 whom 2 which
both of 2 whom 2 which
each of 2 whom 2 which
either of 2 whom 2 which
half of 2 whom 2 which
many of 2 whom 2 which
most of 2 whom 2 which
much of 2 whom 2 which
none of 2 whom 2 which
one of 2 whom 2 which
two of etc& 2 whom 2 which
There were a lot of people at the party, many of whom I had known for years.
"e was carrying his belongings, many of which were broken.
<. #he relative pronoun which at the beginning of a non!defining relative clause can refer to all the
information contained in the previous part of the sentence rather than to just one word.
3hris did really well in his exams, which was a big surprise. (3 the fact that he did well
in his exams was a big surprise).
'n elephant and a mouse fell in love, which is most unusual. (3 the fact that they fell in
love is unusual).
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