IELTS GRAMMAR - RELATIVE CLAUSES

IELTS GRAMMAR

RELATIVE CLAUSES

by Minh Tran

​ Defining relative clause (MĐQH xác định)

​- gives essential information about a person or thing

- comes immediately after the noun it describes

- is not separated by a comma

​

​There are several matters which we need to discuss.

​ Non-defining relative clause (MĐQH không xác định)

​- gives extra information which does not identify the person or thing

- is separated from the main clause by commas

​

​Paris, which I’ve visited several times, is my favourite city.

​ People + who / whom

​People + who + V

Do you know the examiner who asks tough questions in the IELTS speaking test?

​

​People + whom + S + V

There were several people whom I did not recognize.

​

​ Things + which

​Things + which + V

This is the equipment which gave us a lot of problems.

​

​Things + which + S + V

It is subject which Professor James knows a great deal about.

​ People + whose + N + V

​ Things

​People + whose + N + V

The police want to interview anyone whose car has been vandalized recently.

​

​Things + whose + N + V

One of the cars, whose wheels had been removed, had to be taken to a garage.

​

​ Prepositions and relative pronouns

​The goods, which we had already paid for, had to be returned to the factory. (less formal)

​= The goods, for which we had already paid, had to be returned to the factory. ​(formal)

​

​The professor whom I attended the conference with offered me a research post. (less formal)

​= The professor with whom I attended the conference offered me a research post. ​(formal)

​

​ When / Where / Why

​Time + when

Monday was the day when the results were expected.

​

​Place + where

I stopped at the top of the stairs, where there was a window.

​

​Reason + why

​This lack of preparation was the main reason why the project was a failure.

​ Reduced relative clauses

Verb in active form

Most of the people who waited for tickets went away disappointed.

​= Most of the people waiting for tickets went away disappointed.

​

​Verb in passive form

This is the only painting which was sold during the exhibition.

​= This is the only painting sold during the exhibition.

​ Quantifier + of which / of whom

All / part / both

​Most / many /some + of which / of whom

​[Number]

​​Neither / none

​

​There are three castles, one of which has Roman origins.

Ten people were rescued from the crash, none of whom was badly injured.

​

​

​

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the Blanks

Multiple Choice

The official --- issued the report later admitted that its conclusions had been wrong.

• whom

• which

• who

• when

Multiple Choice

Did you take the name and address of the person --- car you crashed into?

• whose

• who

• what

• which

Multiple Choice

Professor Smith is an expert --- we all feel the highest regard.

• for which

• for whom

• for what

• for that

Fill in the Blanks

Multiple Choice

I was unsuccessful in obtaining a place at any of the universities --- I applied.

• for which

• to which

• on which

• at which

Fill in the Blanks