Maria_maria
10/11/08, 10:06 AM
RELATIVE CLAUSES
BASIC INFORMATION
1. relative clauses: the people who live next doorClauses beginning with question word (e.g. who, which ,where) are often used to modify a noun and some pronouns – to identify people and things or to give more information about them. Clauses used like this are called relative clauses.
Examples:
Do you know the people who live next door?
Those who want tickets can get them for the office.
There’s a programme tonight which you might like.
He lives in the village where there are no shops.
2. relative pronouns: who, whom ,whichWhen who, whom and which introduce relative clauses, they are called relative pronouns. Who(m) refers to people and which to things.Example:
What's the name of the tall man who just came in? (not…the tall man which…)
3. subject and objectWho and which can be the subject of verb in the relative clauses;
Example:
I like people who smile a lot.
This is the key which opens the garage.
Who(m) and which can also be the object of the relative clauses. Who is usual in an information style
Example:
Do you remember the people who we met in Italy? (who is object of the met.)
I forget most of the films which I see. (which object of see.)
4. that = who/whichWe often use that instead of who or which, especially in an informal style.
Examples:
I like people that smile a lot.
This the key that opens the garage.
Do you remember the people that we met in Italy.?
I forget most of the films that I see.
5. leaving out object pronoun: the people we metObject pronoun can often be left out.
Examples:
Do you remember the people (who) we met in Italy?
I forget most of the films (which) I see.
Relative Clauses Exercises
A. In which three sentences do you feel the relative pronoun can be left out?
1. The job that he got wasn’t very interesting.
2. A woman who my sister knows has just bought the house next door.
3. The doctor who treated me didn’t know what he was doing.
4. I’m sorry for people who haven’t got a sense of humour.
5. Have you got anything that will clean this carpet?
6. Have you got a typewriter that I can use?
B. Which rule is correct?
We can leave out a relative pronoun:
1. when it refers to a person.
2. when it refers to a thing.
3. when it is the subject in its clause.
4. when it is the object in its clause.
C. Is the relative pronoun the subject of object in these clauses?
1. That’s the woman who lives next door.
2. Our doctor is a person who I really respect.
3. He had a simple idea which changed the world.
4. I’ve lost that nice ring which Bill gave me.
5. It’s a book that everybody talks about and nobody reads.
6. Once there were three rabbits that lived near a river.
7. That’s the man who I wanted to see.
8. An orphan is a child who hasn’t got any parents.
9. He keeps telling you things which you already know.
10. They never thanked me for the money that I sent them.
Sources:
How English Works
Practical English Usage
(I don't have the books with me now, but I'll edit this and replace them with a proper reference later :))
BASIC INFORMATION
1. relative clauses: the people who live next doorClauses beginning with question word (e.g. who, which ,where) are often used to modify a noun and some pronouns – to identify people and things or to give more information about them. Clauses used like this are called relative clauses.
Examples:
Do you know the people who live next door?
Those who want tickets can get them for the office.
There’s a programme tonight which you might like.
He lives in the village where there are no shops.
2. relative pronouns: who, whom ,whichWhen who, whom and which introduce relative clauses, they are called relative pronouns. Who(m) refers to people and which to things.Example:
What's the name of the tall man who just came in? (not…the tall man which…)
3. subject and objectWho and which can be the subject of verb in the relative clauses;
Example:
I like people who smile a lot.
This is the key which opens the garage.
Who(m) and which can also be the object of the relative clauses. Who is usual in an information style
Example:
Do you remember the people who we met in Italy? (who is object of the met.)
I forget most of the films which I see. (which object of see.)
4. that = who/whichWe often use that instead of who or which, especially in an informal style.
Examples:
I like people that smile a lot.
This the key that opens the garage.
Do you remember the people that we met in Italy.?
I forget most of the films that I see.
5. leaving out object pronoun: the people we metObject pronoun can often be left out.
Examples:
Do you remember the people (who) we met in Italy?
I forget most of the films (which) I see.
Relative Clauses Exercises
A. In which three sentences do you feel the relative pronoun can be left out?
1. The job that he got wasn’t very interesting.
2. A woman who my sister knows has just bought the house next door.
3. The doctor who treated me didn’t know what he was doing.
4. I’m sorry for people who haven’t got a sense of humour.
5. Have you got anything that will clean this carpet?
6. Have you got a typewriter that I can use?
B. Which rule is correct?
We can leave out a relative pronoun:
1. when it refers to a person.
2. when it refers to a thing.
3. when it is the subject in its clause.
4. when it is the object in its clause.
C. Is the relative pronoun the subject of object in these clauses?
1. That’s the woman who lives next door.
2. Our doctor is a person who I really respect.
3. He had a simple idea which changed the world.
4. I’ve lost that nice ring which Bill gave me.
5. It’s a book that everybody talks about and nobody reads.
6. Once there were three rabbits that lived near a river.
7. That’s the man who I wanted to see.
8. An orphan is a child who hasn’t got any parents.
9. He keeps telling you things which you already know.
10. They never thanked me for the money that I sent them.
Sources:
How English Works
Practical English Usage
(I don't have the books with me now, but I'll edit this and replace them with a proper reference later :))