1. RELATIVE CLAUSES
We use a relative clause to give extra information about the
nouns in the main clause, without starting another sentence.
The relative clause goes immediately after the noun it relates
to.
The relative pronouns are:
WHO /THAT Subject or object pronoun for PEOPLE
WHICH /THAT Subject or object pronoun for ANIMALS
OR THINGS
WHERE Refers to a PLACE
WHEN Refers to a TIME expression
WHOSE POSSESSION for people, animals and
things.
2. There ‘s the doctor. She used to live next door.
main clause relative clause
We join these two ideas about the same PERSON by using
WHO instead of the personal SHE in the second clause.
There’s the doctor WHO / THAT used to live next door.
A ferry is a ship. It carries people across the water.
main clause relative clause
We join these two ideas referring to the same THING by using
WHICH or THAT instead of IT or THEY.
A ferry is a ship WHICH / THAT carries people across the
water.
3. London is the city. John was born there.
London is the city WHERE John was born.
Summer is the season. Most people go on holiday then.
Summer is the season WHEN most people go on holiday
I talked to the girl. Her car had broken down in front of the
shop.
I talked to the girl WHOSE car had broken down in front of
the shop.
4. We often OMIT the relative pronouns (WHO/THAT/WHICH)
when it is the OBJECT of the relative clause
Examples:
1. The car (THAT/ WHICH) I bought last year has broken
down.
The relative pronoun can be omitted
2. The car THAT/ WHICH broke down in the city centre
caused a huge traffic jam.
The relative pronoun is obligatory.
5. EXERCISE 1
COMPLETE THE GAPS USING A RELATIVE PRONOUN AND
DECIDE WHETHER IT IS NECESSARY OR NOT.
1. A calendar is something ________ tells you the date.
2. Strikers are soccer players _______ try to score goals for
their team.
3. Jane is a person _______ everybody likes.
4. A stamp is something _______ you put on a letter if you
want to send it.
5. The Thames is a river ________ runs through London.
6. Cheese is food _______ mice like eating.
7. A guide is a person ________ shows tourists around around
a place.
8.Socks are things _________ you wear on your feet.
6. EXERCISE 2
JOIN THE SENTENCES BY MAKING THE SECOND
SENTENCE A DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSE.
1. That's the girl. Her mother works in the post office.
2. That’s the building. I work there.
3. That’s the girl. She spoke to me yesterday.
4. I rent a house. It is very small.
5. That was the month. I was born then.
6. Mandy is the girl. I met her yesterday.
7. That’s the magazine. I got it for you yesterday.
8. I met somebody. His mother writes detective stories.
7. EXERCISE 2
JOIN THE SENTENCES BY MAKING THE SECOND
SENTENCE A DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSE.
1. That's the girl. Her mother works in the post office.
2. That’s the building. I work there.
3. That’s the girl. She spoke to me yesterday.
4. I rent a house. It is very small.
5. That was the month. I was born then.
6. Mandy is the girl. I met her yesterday.
7. That’s the magazine. I got it for you yesterday.
8. I met somebody. His mother writes detective stories.