This document provides an overview of subject relative clauses. It defines key terms like relative pronouns, relative clauses, and identifying vs. non-identifying relative clauses. It discusses the different types of relative pronouns used to introduce subject and object relative clauses, including who, that, which, and whose. Examples are provided to illustrate the different types of relative clauses. Exercises are included for the learner to practice identifying and constructing various relative clauses.

1. Week 4
Subject Relative Clauses
DR. RUSSELL RODRIGO

2. 1. The person who took this
picture is my friend.
2. Dominico went to
Boracay, which is a
beautiful island to visit.
3. Those photos that he
posted on the internet
tells a story.
4. We visited one of the
islands where he took
plenty of beautiful
photos.
1. The person that took this
picture is my friend.
2. The photo that he posted
on the internet tells a
story.
3. Dominico went to
Boracay, which is a
beautiful island to visit.
4. We visited one of the
islands where he took
plenty of beautiful
photos.
Subject
Relative
Clause
Object
Relative
Clause

3. Relative Pronoun
u Relative Pronoun
u A pronoun that begins a relative clause. Who, that, which, whom, when,
and where can all be relative pronouns.
u The town where I grew up has a population of 45,000.
u Relative Clause
u A clause that follows a noun and gives extra information about the noun.
(Also called an adjective clause).
u The thief who stole the woman’s purse was caught.

4. Identifying & Non-identifying Relative
Clauses
1. A relative clause gives information about the noun it is describing. The
information is necessary to understand who or what the noun refers to. (Also
called a restrictive relative clause.
Ø Minnesota is a state that is known for its cold winters.
2. A relative clause gives extra information about the noun it is describing. The
information is not necessary to understand who or what the noun refers to. (Also
called a non-restrictive relative clause).
Ø Nelson Mandela, who was a great leader, died in 2013.

6. Exercises 2 & 3(page 297)
1. The photo was taken in the
Sundarbans of West
Bengal, India.
2. The area is known for its
mangrove forest and royal
Bengal tigers.
3. The region experienced a
devastating storm.
4. The storm flooded the
fields and destroyed
crops.
1. In this photo, the farmers who live in the
area had recently experienced a
devastating storm that flooded the fields
and destroyed the crops.
2. Maybe that’s because the boy, whose feet
dangle over the water, seems untouched by
the flood.
3. I like the way it captures the child, who
seems to be living in the moment.
4. This photo, which shows the highs and
lows of life in the Sundarbans, sends a
powerful message.
1. Describe people:
Who, that
2. Describe things:
That, which
3. Describe
possession: whose

7. Relative Clause
After the Main Clause
u This is the website. The website sells photos by Russian photographers.
u This is the website that sells photos by Russian photographers.
Inside the Main Clause
u The tourists were from Hawaii. The tourists took photos of the ski slopes
u The tourists who took photos of the ski slopes were from Hawaii.

8. 1. A relative clause describes a noun or
indefinite pronoun (someone, anyone,
something) in a sentence. The relative clause
comes after the noun or pronoun it describes.
u The people that took the photos are my
friends.
u Someone who was at the party took
this photo.
2. A subject relative clause starts with a
relative pronoun (that, which, or who). The
relative pronoun is the subject of the relative
clause.
u The people left. The people were here
an hour ago.
u The people that were here an hour ago
left.
3. In a subject relative clause, use:
a. That or who as a subject for people
b. That or which as a subject for places, things,
animals, or ideas.
i. That’s the student who got the scholarship.
ii. Phones that have computing ability are called
smartphones.
4. The verb in a subject relative clause agrees with
the noun it describes.
u There is an app that shows the weather forecast.
u There are apps that show the weather forecast.
5. Remember: The subject and verb in the main clause
must agree.
u The photographer who photographs animals is
going to the Serengeti.

9. Exercise 4: Underline five or more relative
clauses in the paragraph

10. Exercises 5 & 6 (page 299)
A
1. Which costs
2. Who keep
3. Which don’t seem
4. Which can offer
5. Which demonstrates
6. Who does
7. Who takes
8. Which might be
B
1. Was playing; was
2. Shows; is
3. Is sitting; has been taking
4. Appear; are fro
5. Are facing; live
6. Is drifting; has never injured
7. Have bloomed; come out

11. Non-identifying Subject Relative
Clauses
1. A non-identifying relative clause gives extra
information about a noun in the sentence. You
don’t need this information to understand who or
what the noun refers to.
2. The relative pronoun that cannot be used in a
non-identifying relative clause that is within a
main clause.
3. Use a comma before and after a non-
identifying relative clause that is within a main
clause.
4. Identifying and non-identifying clauses can
change the meaning of a sentence.
u Cy went to Peru, which is a beautiful place to visit.
u Dave’s father, who lived in Peru, always like meeting
people.
u Dave’s father, that lived in Peru, always likes meeting
people.
u Facebook, which started in 2004, has over a billion users.
u Faceboook which started in 2004 has over a billion users.
u My uncle, who lives in New York, owns a restaurant. (I have
only one uncle).

12. Exercises 7 and 8
1. Which
2. Which
3. Which
4. Who
5. Which
6. Who
7. Which
8. Who
9. Which
10. who
1. See given answer
2. My friend, who has just started his own business, is a great photographer.
3. Online photography classes, which are often free, can be a great way to learn the basics
4. Disposable cameras, which are usually good for one use only, are popular with tourists.
5. Digital story telling is popular with Professor Wong, who has experiences telling stories with
photos.
6. Displays on cameras, which can be difficult to use, give you valuable information.
7. Camera reviews, which are easy to find online, can help you choose a good camera.
8. Digital photographs, which are inexpensive, are extremely popular.

13. Relative Clauses with Whose
1. Use whose + a noun in a relative clause to show
possession. Whose replaces a possessive adjective
or noun (his, her, its, their, Jim’s..).
2. Whose is used for people. It is also used for
places, things, animals, and ideas.
3. Relative clauses with whose can be identifying or
non-identifying. Non-identifying clauses must have
a comma before and after them.
4. Be careful! Do not repeat the possessive pronoun
in a relative clause with whose.
u I know the woman. Her son has won the award.
u I know the woman whose son has won the award.
u New Zealand is a country whose official languages
include English and Maori.
u People whose seats are up front can go in first.
u Mr. and Mrs. An, whose seats are up front, can go in first.
u Will the person whose cell phone is ringing please turn it
off?
u Will the person whose his cellphone is ringing please turn
it off?

14. Exercises 9 & 10
1. ,Whose faces are difficult to see,
2. ,Whose face peeks out from the mushroom,
3. Whose goat Gary has become famous.
4. Whose wings display beautiful colors
5. ,whose eyes are closed,
6. ,whose sky shows a meteor.
7. ,whose image captures star trails,
1. The woman in the photo, whose name is unknown, is form the Maori tribe.
2. The Maori woman in the photo, whose eyes are deep brown, has a
mysterious expression
3. New Zealand, whose population is mostly European is 14.6 percent Maori.
4. The Maori, whose ancestors came to New Zealand around 1250-1300 CE,
still live there today.
5. The Maori, whose native language is close to Polynesian, manly speak
English
6. New Zealand, whose terrain is mountainous, is a beautiful country.
7. The Maori, whose culture has changed, have lost some of their traditions.
8. We should try to respect people whose cultures are different from ours.

15. Practices 11 & 12
1. Viewpoint that comes
2. The people who/tat appear
3. Whose expressions show
4. People who/that influence
5. People who/that are powerful
6. Groups of people who/that stand together
7. Individuals who/that are
8. Whose eyes meet
9. Red and orange, which are
10. Green and blue, which are
1. That/which
2. That/which
3. That/which
4. Who/that
5. Whose language
6. Who/that
7. Whose
8. Which