LESSON 14 - RELATIVE CLAUSES

LESSON 14 - RELATIVE CLAUSES

FUNCTION

​Relative clauses give us information about the person or thing mentioned. 

Defining relative clauses give us essential information – information that tells us who or what we are talking about.

Non-defining relative clauses give us unimportant information – information that gives us extra information about who or what we are talking about.

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DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

​Defining relative clauses give us essential information – information that tells us who or what we are talking about.

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Ex : I like the curry at the restaurant which is located at the corner of the street.​

(I like the curry at the restaurant.

The restaurant is located at the corner of the streets)​

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EXAMPLE

ex : That is the girl.

I met that girl at the party.​

EXAMPLE

ex : That is the girl.

I met that girl at the party.​

EXAMPLE

ex : That is the girl.

I met that girl at the party.​

-> That is the girl who I met at the party.​

EXAMPLE

ex : That is my neighbour.

I had an argument with her two days ago.​

EXAMPLE

ex : That is my neighbour.

I had an argument with her two days ago.​

EXAMPLE

ex : That is my neighbour.

I had an argument with her two days ago.​

-> That is my neighbour who (/whom) I had anargument with two days ago.​

Open Ended

combine two sentences by using defining relative clauses

1. He is the man.

2. I met him at the conference.

EXAMPLE

ex : That is my favourite book.

The book talks about the childhood of a boy and his dog​.

EXAMPLE

ex : That is my favourite book.

The book talks about the childhood of a boy and his dog​.

EXAMPLE

ex : That is a new book.

The book talks about the childhood of a boy and his dog.

​-> That is a new book which talks about the childhood of a boy and his dog.

EXAMPLE

ex : I like the drink.

The drink has lemon in it.

EXAMPLE

ex : I like the drink.

The drink has lemon in.

EXAMPLE

ex : I like the drink.

The drink has lemon in.

-> I like the drink which has lemon in.​

Open Ended

combine two sentences by using defining relative clauses

1. There is an elephant.

2. The elephant has a big scar on his face.

EXAMPLE

ex : That was winter.

I first met him in winter.

EXAMPLE

ex : That was winter.

I first met him in winter.

EXAMPLE

ex : That was winter.

I first met him in winter.

-> That ​was winter when I first met him.

Open Ended

combine two sentences by using defining relative clauses

1. The day is Sunday.

2. The concert will take place on the day.

EXAMPLE

ex : That is the park.

I usually run around that park after work.

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EXAMPLE

ex : That is the park.

I usually run around that park after work.

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EXAMPLE

ex : That is the park.

I usually run around that park after work.

-> That is the park where I usually run around after work.​

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Open Ended

combine two sentences by using defining relative clauses

1. I came to that restaurant.

2. The restaurant has very good chicken curry.

EXAMPLE

ex : That is the girl.

Her brother is my classmate.​

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EXAMPLE

ex : That is the girl.

Her brother is my classmate.​

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EXAMPLE

ex : That is the girl.

Her brother is my classmate.​

-> That is the girl whose brother is my classmate.​

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Open Ended

combine two sentences by using defining relative clauses

1. That is John.

2. His parents are my neighbours.

NOTE

who / which can be replaced by that

ex :

He is the person who I talked about before.

= He is the person that I talked about before.​

NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

Non-defining relative clauses give us unimportant information – information that gives us extra information about who or what we are talking about.

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Ex : Sarah, who won many science prizes, is my classmate.

(Sarah is my classmate.

She won many science prizes.)​

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EXAMPLE

ex : John's mother has 6 grandchildren.

She lives in Scotland.​

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EXAMPLE

ex : John's mother has 6 grandchildren.

She lives in Scotland.​

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EXAMPLE

ex : John's mother has 6 grandchildren.

She lives in Scotland.​

-> John's mother, who lives in Scotland, has 6 grandchildren.

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Open Ended

combine two sentences by using non-defining relative clauses

1. Yesterday, I met my new boss.

2. He is very nice.

EXAMPLE

ex : The house is very big.

It is also very cold!​

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EXAMPLE

ex : The house is very big.

It is also very cold!​

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EXAMPLE

ex : The house is very big.

It is also very cold!​

-> The house, which is very big, is also very cold!​

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Open Ended

combine two sentences by using non-defining relative clauses

1. I like to go to the city museum.

2. It was built in 1930.

EXAMPLE

ex : My next-door neighbour has just bought a new car.

Their children go to school with ours.

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EXAMPLE

ex : My next-door neighbour has just bought a new car.

Their children go to school with ours.

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EXAMPLE

ex : My next-door neighbour has just bought a new car.

Their children go to school with ours.

-> My next-door neighbour, whose children go to school with ours, has just bought a new car.

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Open Ended

combine two sentences by using non-defining relative clauses

1. She is my classmate.

2. Her backpack is very heavy.

EXAMPLE

ex : She has just come back from London.

John lives in London.

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EXAMPLE

ex : She has just come back from London.

John lives in London.

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EXAMPLE

ex : She has just come back from London.

John lives in London.

​-> She has just come back from London, where John lives.

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Open Ended

combine two sentences by using non-defining relative clauses

1. City park has been closed down.

2. We used to go there togother.

NOTE

that is not used in non-defining relative clauses

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