Unit 2. Relative Clauses

Unit 2. Relative Clauses

by Lady Pérez

Relative Pronouns

​Relative clauses give information about the noun that precedes it in the sentence. We form relative clauses with the relative pronouns:

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-who (people and sometimes pet animals)

-that (people, animals and things; informal)

-which (animals and things)

-whose (possessive meaning; for people and animals usually; sometimes for things in formal situations)

-where (place)

- when (times)

​- why (reasons)

​Ex. Captain America is a character who inspires many children.

Multiple Choice

Movies __________ are about real people and events affect viewers in different ways.

• that

• who

Multiple Choice

Morgan is the person __________

ate only fast food for a month in the movie.

• which

• who

​The relative pronouns who (for people) and that (for people or things) can be both subjects and objects in sentences.

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​-She’s going out with a man who’s in the army. (who refers to a man and is the subject of the verb is in the relative clause)

​-The woman who I saw yesterday was Sheila. (who refers to the woman and is the object of saw in the relative clause)

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​-Don’t take money that doesn’t belong to you. (that refers to money and is the subject of belong in the relative clause)

​- It’s the same cooker that my mother has. (that refers to the same cooker and is the object of has in the relative clause)

​Defining relative clauses

​A relative clause is defining if it is necessary for the sentence to make sense. It gives essential information about someone or something. It usually comes immediately after the noun it describes.

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Ex. She’s now playing a woman whose son was killed in the First World War.

​They’re the people that want to buy our house.

Multiple Choice

People _________ appear in documentaries often have incredible stories to tell.

• who

• which

Multiple Choice

People _______ saw the movie were shocked by Morgan's decline in health.

• which

• that

​Non- Defining relative clause

​A relative clause is non-defining if it gives information that is not essential for understanding the sentence. We use commas at the beginning and end of non-defining relative clauses. We use which, and not that, in non-defining relative clauses that refer to things.

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​Ex. Sports heroes, who aren’t always examples of good behavior, have a lot of influence over children.

The movie, which is based on the book, was a big success

Multiple Choice

Documentaries, _______ are about real life, are usually more popular with adults than they are with children.

• wh

• which

Multiple Choice

Super Size Me, _______________ starred Morgan Spurlock, was about the fast-food industry.

• which

• where

​No relative pronoun

​• Reduced relative clauses do not include a relative pronoun. We form reduced relative clauses by replacing the relative pronouns with an -ing or past participle form of the verb.

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​Ex. The people watching the movie were moved by its positive message. The hero chosen by most students as their favorite was Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games.

​No relative pronoun

​In informal styles, we often leave out the relative pronoun. We only do this in defining relative clauses, and when the relative pronoun is the object of the verb.

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​Ex. She’s the singer who I heard on the radio.

She's the singer I heard on the radio.

(defining relative clause: who is the object)

We don’t leave out the relative pronoun when it is the subject of the verb nor in non-defining relative clauses.

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