Relative Clauses and Pronouns

Relative Clauses

We use relative clauses to add information about people, things or places.

Relative Clauses - Examples

● Volunteers are people who give their time to help others.
● She ran a charity sale, which was a great success.

​Relative Clauses - Examples

● That is the boy whose uncle is in Africa as a volunteer. 
● This is the room where we sort out canned food.

Multiple Choice

We use the relative pronoun whose to refer to...

• ...possession or relationships.

• ...things.

• ...people.

• ...places.

Multiple Choice

We use the relative pronoun which to talk about...

• ...people.

• ...things or animals.

• ...possession.

• ...places.

Multiple Choice

We use the relative pronoun where to talk about...

• ...people.

• ...things or animals.

• ...places.

• ...possession.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct sentence.

• Volunteering is something who everybody can do.

• Volunteering is something which everybody can do.

• Volunteering is something whose everybody can do.

• Volunteering is something where everybody can do.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct relative pronoun to complete the sentence below.

This is the girl ____________ sister is a volunteer for the Red Cross.

• which

• where

• whose

• who

Defining relative clauses

If the information is essential to the meaning of the sentence, it is called a defining relative clause.

Defining relative clauses

The relative pronoun that can only be used in defining relative clauses. It can be used to replace who or which.

Non defining relative clauses

If the information is extra, it is called a non defining relative clause and it is separated by commas.

Multiple Choice

Is it necessary to use commas in the sentence below?

Sophie, who is really helpful, is volunteering in the local library.

• Yes.

• No.

Multiple Choice

Is it correct to use the comma in the following sentence?

These are the books, which Sophie donated to the library.

• Yes.

• No.

Omission of the relative pronoun

In defining relative clauses, when the relative pronouns who or which are followed by a noun or pronoun, they can be omitted:
Sandra is the journalist who John met at the volunteering conference.

Multiple Choice

Can you omit the relative pronoun?

Do you know the girl who is speaking to the Maths teacher?

• Yes.

• No.

Multiple Choice

Can you omit the relative pronoun?

I still have the ring which you gave me.

• Yes.

• No.

Open Ended

Join the sentences by using a relative pronoun. If possible, omit the pronoun and use commas when needed.

This is the car. It is very modern.

Open Ended

Join the sentences by using a relative pronoun. If possible, omit the pronoun and use commas when needed.

Sophie never helps anybody. She is really lazy.

Open Ended

Join the sentences by using a relative pronoun. If possible, omit the pronoun and use commas when needed.

That is the student. Her father works for the United Nations.

Open Ended

Join the sentences by using a relative pronoun. If possible, omit the pronoun and use commas when needed.

I went to the town. I was born there.

Poll

Do you need to practise a bit more?

• Yes, I think so.

• No, I don't. I think I understood it.