Relative clauses

Relative clauses

Outline

-Defining / non-defining relative clauses

-Reduced relative clauses

-Participle clauses

Defining relative clauses

• which --------> things (The dress which she chose to wear was very expensive.)

• where ---------> places (The place where I went for summer camp was really amazing.)

• why -----------> reasons (The reason why he decided to leave the party was a mystery.)

Defining relative clauses

• when -------> times (That was the time when they sang)

• who --------> people (Lucy's the girl who lives next door.)

• whose ------> possession (That's the man whose dog bit me.)

• whom ------> people but formal (Mr Wright was the teacher to whom Mark was speaking.)

Defining relative clauses

They give us essential information. We don't use commas and we can't remove the relative clause and still understand the sentence.

Exception! When the relative pronoun is the object instead of the subject.

Examples:

• The boy who plays football lives here (=subject).

• The boy (who) I like goes to my school (=object).

Non-defining relative clauses

They give us extra information but a non-essential one. We use commas and we can't leave out the relative pronoun and we can't use that.

-Donna, who you met at the party, has decided to dye her hair red.

-> In non-definig clauses, the pronoun which can refer to the whole of the previous clause. I chose to study German this year, which I'm really enjoying.

Reduced relative clauses

Sometimes instead of using a full relative clause, we can use a present or past participle after a noun.

Present participle = active meaning Past participle = passive meaning

Examples:

-There were lots of people (who were) dancing at the party. = There were lots of people dancing at the party.

-The presents (which are) given to the children are all hand-made. = The presents given to the children are all hand-made.

Participle clauses

These are quite formal and are often used instead of clauses in written language. A participle must have the same subject as the verb in the main clause. We use a participle clause:

• after certain time conjunctions: after, before, when, while, despite, on. -> Before buying the coat, she decided to ask her friend's opinion. / Despite trying very hard, he didn't pass the exam.

• clauses of reasons with as, because and since. -> Feeling very tired, they decided to go straight home. / Being the youngest child in the family, she always had to wear her sister's clothes.

Participle clauses

• clause of reason in the present perfect or past perfect. -> Having spent all her own money, she had to ask her mum to pay for her cinema ticket.

• when one action is the result of another... -> Hugging her mum, Alice thanked her for her birthday present. / Advised to stay out of the sun, Thomas sat under a large tree.

Multiple Choice

We enjoyed our trip to Valencia so much. We’ve decided to go back again this year.

• Having enjoyed our trip to Valencia so much, we've decided to go back again this year

• Being enjoyed our trip to Valencia so much, we've decided to go back again this year

Multiple Choice

Mia was told to make a decision quickly. She chose to go with team A.

• Told to make a decision quickly, Mia chose to go with team A

• Telling to make a decision quickly, Mia chose to go with team A

Multiple Choice

The judges were unable to pick a winner and so gave two artists joint first prize.

• Have been unable to pick a winner, the judges gave two artists joint first prize

• Being unable to pick a winner, the judges gave two artists joint first prize

Multiple Choice

My friends who are studying in Italy will be at the party.

• My studying in Italy friends will be at the party.

• My friends who studying in Italy will be at the party.

• My friends studying in Italy will be at the party.

Multiple Choice

The cake which was selected came from an Italian bakery.

• The that selected cake came from an Italian bakery.

• The cake selected came from an Italian bakery.

• The cake was selected came from an Italian bakery.

Multiple Choice

The students who study at our school come from all over the world.

• The students studying at our school come from all over the world.

• The studying students at our school from all over the world.

• The studying at our school students come from all over the world.

Multiple Choice

The telephone which is on the desk is broken.

• The telephone desk is broken.

• The telephone on the desk is broken.

• The on the desk telephone is broken.