ds

2. We can use relative clauses to join two English sentences, orWe can use relative clauses to join two English sentences, or
to give more information about something.to give more information about something.
When the relative pronoun isWhen the relative pronoun is subject or objectsubject or object of a clause andof a clause and
refers to arefers to a human, the relative pronounhuman, the relative pronoun whowho oror whomwhom isis
used. Sometimes,used. Sometimes, whowho oror whomwhom can becan be replaced byreplaced by that.that.
However,However, whomwhom is not used very often in modern English.is not used very often in modern English.
I'm looking for a secretaryI'm looking for a secretary who / thatwho / that can use a computer well.can use a computer well.
She has a sonShe has a son who / thatwho / that is a doctor.is a doctor.

3. If the relative is theIf the relative is the subject or objectsubject or object of a clause and refers toof a clause and refers to
a thing,a thing, whichwhich oror thatthat must be used.must be used.
We bought a houseWe bought a house which / thatwhich / that is 200 years old.is 200 years old.
I sent a letterI sent a letter which / thatwhich / that arrived three weeks later.arrived three weeks later.
WhoseWhose is a possessive pronoun like "his," "her" and "our."is a possessive pronoun like "his," "her" and "our."
We useWe use whosewhose to find out which person something belongs to.to find out which person something belongs to.
The dog is over there. The dog's / its owner lives next door.The dog is over there. The dog's / its owner lives next door.
→→ The dogThe dog whosewhose owner lives next door is over there.owner lives next door is over there.
The little girl is sad. The little girl's / her doll was lost.The little girl is sad. The little girl's / her doll was lost.
→→ The little girlThe little girl whosewhose doll was lost is sad.doll was lost is sad.

5. In formal English when a preposition in theIn formal English when a preposition in the
relative clause is placed in frontrelative clause is placed in front
(fronted), only whom/who or which are used.(fronted), only whom/who or which are used.
The waiter to whom I spokeThe waiter to whom I spoke
With informal style the preposition is notWith informal style the preposition is not
required to be fronted, and who and that mayrequired to be fronted, and who and that may
also be used.also be used.
The mailman who I spoke toThe mailman who I spoke to

6. WhereWhere can be used for referring to a place.can be used for referring to a place.
The restaurantThe restaurant wherewhere I usually have dinner is nice.I usually have dinner is nice.
WhenWhen can be used for referring to a time.can be used for referring to a time.
There are timesThere are times whenwhen I feel so lonely.I feel so lonely.
WhyWhy can be used for referring to a reason.can be used for referring to a reason.
This isThis is whywhy she refused the offer.she refused the offer.

7. My grandfather,My grandfather, who is 87who is 87, goes swimming every day., goes swimming every day.
‘‘who is 87’ is awho is 87’ is a non-non-
defining relative clausedefining relative clause..
It adds extra information toIt adds extra information to
the sentence. If we take thethe sentence. If we take the
clause out of the sentence,clause out of the sentence,
the sentence still has thethe sentence still has the
same meaning.same meaning.
Non-defining relative clausesNon-defining relative clauses add extra information toadd extra information to
sentences.sentences.

8. Remember thatRemember that defining relative clausesdefining relative clauses are used to addare used to add
important information. The sentence would have a differentimportant information. The sentence would have a different
meaning without the defining relative clause.meaning without the defining relative clause.
 I’m going to wear the shirt that I bought in London.I’m going to wear the shirt that I bought in London.
 The defining relative clause tells us which shirt.The defining relative clause tells us which shirt.
 The shirt, which is lovely dark blue, only cost £10.The shirt, which is lovely dark blue, only cost £10.
The non-defining relative clause doesn’t tell us which shirtThe non-defining relative clause doesn’t tell us which shirt
– it gives us more information about the shirt.– it gives us more information about the shirt.

9. Non-defining relative clauses are more often used inNon-defining relative clauses are more often used in
written English than in spoken English. You can tellwritten English than in spoken English. You can tell
that a clause is non-defining because it is separatedthat a clause is non-defining because it is separated
by commas at each end of the clause.by commas at each end of the clause.

10. And thank you for payingAnd thank you for paying
attentionattention