1. I.- DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES
SUBJECT
She is the girl. She works in the library
She is the girl that/who works in the library
Corlu is an island. It has many beautiful beaches.
Corlu is an island that/which has many beautiful beaches
Pronouns used:
Who (people)
Which (things)
That (people and things)
2. I.- DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES
OBJECT
They sent a new teacher. I really liked her.
They sent a new teacher that/who/0 I really liked.
The house is blue. I saw it.
The house that/which/0 I saw is blue
Pronouns used:
Who (people)
Which (things)
That (people and things)
3. I.- DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES
PREPOSITIONS
This is the new president. We all voted for him.
This is the new president for whom we all voted
This is the new president we all voted for
Used pronouns with prepositions :
Whom (person)
Which (things)
4. I.- DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES
TIME AND PLACE
August is the month. Most people go on holiday then.
August is the month when most people go on holiday.
Holland is the country. The best cheese is produced there.
Holland is the country where the best cheese is produced
Pronouns used:
When (time)
Where (place)
5. I.- DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES
POSSESSIVE
This is my friend. Her bag was stolen two days ago.
This is my friend whose bag was stolen.
6. II.- NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES
CHARACTERISTICS
The non-defining relative clauses go between commas , ,
They give extra information.
That is never used in the non-defining relative clauses.
EXAMPLES
Mary, who is my best friend, lives in Melbourne.
Kerala, which is an independent state, is well-developed.
7. Add commas where necessary. Change the relative pronoun to
that if possible.
A.- The students who did not come to class A.- The students who/that did not come to class…
yesterday explained their absence to the B.- The geologist who/that lectured at Browning
teacher. Hall…
B.- The geologist who lectured at Browning Hall C.- Dr Fields, who lectured at Browning Hall last
last night predicted another earthquake. night, predicted another earthquake.
C.- Dr Fields who lectured at Browning Hall last D.- Only people who/that speak Russian should
night predicted another earthquake. apply…
D.- Only people who speak Russian should apply E.- Matthew, who speaks Russian, applied for this
for this job. job.
E.- Matthew who speaks Russian applied for this F.- The rice which/that we had for dinner last
job. night…
F.- The rice which we had for dinner last night was G.- Rice, which is grown in many countries, is a
very good. staple food throughout much of the world.
G.- Rice which is grown in many countries is a H.- I have fond memories of my hometown, which
staple food throughout much of the world. is situated in a valley.
H.- I have fond memories of my hometown which is J.- I live in a town which/that is situated in a valley.
situated in a valley.
J.- I live in a town which is situated in a valley.
8. Join the following sentences. Be careful they might be defining or
non-defining.
1.- I spoke to a gentleman. He was very polite.
2.- I’m writing about the film. It was made in 1958.
3.- She’s the girl. They were talking about her.
4.- That’s the restaurant. We go there every Saturday.
5.- This is the island. We spent our holiday on it.
6.- These are the Jones. We went to the theatre with them.
7.- I’m the one. My flat was broken into.
8.- Edurne Pasabán is from Guipúzcoa. She has climbed seven of the
highest peaks in the world.
9.- Beer is 4,000 years old. It is a very popular drink in Spain.
9. ANSWERS
1.- I spoke to a gentleman. He was very polite. I spoke to a gentleman who/that was very
polite.
2.- I’m writing about the film. It was made in 1958. I'm writing about a film which/that was
made in 1958.
3.- She’s the girl. They were talking about her. She’s the girl they were talking about/ She’s
the girl about whom they were talking.
4.- That’s the restaurant. We go there every Saturday. That’s the restaurant where we go
every Saturday/ That’s the restaurant to which we go every Saturday.
5.- This is the island. We spent our holiday on it. This is the island we spent our holiday on/
This is the island on which we spent our holiday.
6.- These are the Jones. We went to the theatre with them. These are the Jones with whom we
went to the theatre./ These are the Jones we went to the theatre with.
7.- I’m the one. My flat was broken into. I’m the one whose flat was broken into.
8.- Edurne Pasabán is from Guipúzcoa. She has climbed seven of the highest peaks in the
world. Edurne Pasabán, who has climbed seven of the highest peaks in the world, is from
Guipúzcoa
9.- Beer is 4,000 years old. It is a very popular drink in Spain. Beer, which is a very popular
drink in Spain, is 4,000 years old.
