Relative clauses

1. RELATIVE
CLAUSES

2. They are subordinate clauses which give
information about a noun (person, thing, place,
idea…) in the sentence.
The noun just before the relative clauses is the
antecedent.
Relative clauses start with a relative pronoun.
The shop which opened last week is around the corner.
Relative clause
Main clause
Antecendent Relative pronoun

3. TYPES OF RELATIVE PRONOUNS
WHICH objects
The phone which is on the shelf is already broken.
The phone which I bought a week ago is already broken.
Please use the kit which you’ve been provided with.
Please use the kit with which you have been provided. (FORMAL)
WHO / WHOM people
My neighbour is the person who won the lottery.
Have you seen those people who we met on holiday?
The person who they were talking about is Paul.
The person about whom they were talking is Paul. (FORMAL)

4. WHEN time
The month when we met wasn’t very rainy.
WHERE place
The café where we met is being torn down.
The house where we lived is being torn down.
WHOSE possession
The man whose wallet was stolen was very angry.
That’s the woman.
The woman’s house was set on fire yesterday.
That’s the woman whose house was set on fire yesterday.

5. WHAT= the thing(s) that.
•It does not refer to a noun that comes before it.
•Clauses beginning with “what” act as subject or objects
and are called NOMINAL RELATIVE CLAUSES
I couldn’t believe what he was saying.
Direct object of verb “believe”
What she said made me cry
Subject of verb “made”

6. TYPES OF RELATIVE CLAUSES
Defining
They give essential information about the
antecedent.
The main clause would be meaningless if there
wasn’t a relative clause.
In these clauses:
•some relatives can be substituted by “that”
•some relatives can be omitted.

7. THAT SUBSTITUTION
WHO:
We didn’t recognize the people who / that had just had an
accident.
WHICH:
This the law which / that is very important for us.
WHEN:
After common nouns referring to time: date, day , year...
I don’t remember the date when / that she was born.
WHERE:
If we use a preposition at the end of the clause.
Russia is the country where / that we lived in.

8. We also use “that” after something, anything,
everything, nothing, etc.., all , superlatives…
Here’s something that you can read in the car.
The Wimbledon men’s final was the best game of tennis that I’ve
ever seen.

9. RELATIVE OMISSION
We can omit relative pronouns who / whom / which / that
when they function as objects in the subordinate clause.
SUBJECT
The newspaper reported that the tiger which killed its keeper
has been put down.
OBJECT
The house (which/that) we rented in London was fully
furnished.

10. We didn’t recognize the people.
•The people had just had an accident.
•We were looking at the people.
We didn’t recognize the people who had just had an accident.
We didn’t recognize the people(who /that) we were looking at.
We didn’t recognize the people at whom we were looking.
=
We didn’t recognize the people (whom) we were looking at.

11. This is the law.
•This law is very important for us.
•The government has just passed this law.
This the law which is very important for us.
This the law (which /that) the government has just passed.

12. I don’t remember the date.
She was born on the date.
I don’t remember the date (when / that) she was born.
Russia is the country.
This story takes place in the country.
Russia is the country (where) this story takes place.
We can also omit relative pronouns when and where.

13. TYPES OF RELATIVE CLAUSES
Non-defining
They add extra information about the
antecedent.
The main clause would be meaningful if there
wasn’t a relative clause.
Shakespeare wrote very famous plays.
•Shakespeare died in 1616.
•I read an essay about Shakespeare.
Shakespeare , who died in 1616, wrote very famous plays.
Shakespeare , who I read an essay about, wrote very
famous plays.

14. Shakespeare , about whom I read an essay, wrote very
famous plays.
Shakespeare , whom I read an essay about, wrote very
famous plays.
My new bike is fantastic.
•My new bike is very expensive.
•I bought my new bike last week.
My new bike, which is very expensive, is fantastic.
My new bike , which I bought last week, is fantastic.

15. In 1999 I found my first job.
•I finished university in 1999.
In 1999, when I finished university, I found my first job.
Seville can be very hot in the summer.
•My friend Anne lives in Seville.
Seville, where my friend lives, can be very hot in the
summer.
Beyonce is a very famous singer.
•Beyonce’s latest album is great.
Beyonce, whose latest album is great, is a very famous
singer.