DEFINING AND NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

DEFINING AND NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

ÍNDICE

1. What is a relative clause? 2. Types of relative clauses 3. Types of relative pronouns 4. Similarities and differences between defining and non- defining relative clauses

What is a relative clause?

A relative clause starts with the relative pronouns: who, which, that, whose, where, when, whom and why.

e.g. The man who called you is my dentist. Who is the relative pronoun and who called you is the relative clause.

TYPES OF CLAUSES

DEFINING VS NON-DEFINING

NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

dEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

They provide essential information that we need to understand what or who is being referred to. It comes immediately after the word it describes. e.g. The dentist who treated me is my uncle. (If we remove the relative clause we won't know who are we referring to)

They provide extra information about the person or thing which we are referring to. e.g. Mike, who is a remarkable student, always goes over his notes after an exam. (It does not tell us who Mike is, it just adds extra information about him)

TYPES OF relative pronouns

DEFINING VS NON-DEFINING

NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

dEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

WHO (for people) My brother Tim, who lives in Scotland, is a doctor. WHICH (for things or animals) We want to see th new Tom Carter film, which was relaeased on Friday.. WHOSE (possession of people or animals, susbstitutes the possesive pronouns his, her, their) Sam, whose car had broken down, was in a bad mood.

WHO/ THAT (for people) The woman who/ that lives next door is a doctor. WHICH/ THAT (for things or animals) Brian works for a company which / that makes computers WHOSE (possession of people or animals, susbstitutes the possesive pronouns his, her, their) We met some people whose car has broken down.

DEFINING VS NON-DEFINING

NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

dEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

WHERE (for places) What is the name of the place where you want to go on holiday? WHEN / THAT (for time) I remember the day when/ that I met you WHOM ( for people as the object of a clause) This is John whom you met last year.

WHERE (for places) Jane has just been to Oxford, where her dad lives. WHEN (for times) This picture was taken yesterday, when it was raining. WHOM ( for people as the object of a clause) This morning I met Charles, whom I hadn't seen for years.

RELATIVE PRONOUNS WHICH ARE ONLY USED IN DEFINING CLAUSES WHY (after the word "the reason") The film was the reason why he became famous. THAT ( instead of who, whom or which) The picture which / that hangs on the wall The woman who / that he married This is John whom / that you met last year.

differences and similarities between defining and non-defining relative clauses

DEFINING VS NON-DEFINING

NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

dEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

• No commas
• The relative pronoun can define the subject or the object of the verb.
• Who, which and that can be ommitted when they are the object of a clause.
• We have to ommit the object pronouns ( her, him, it..) in relative clauses.

• Commas
• The relative pronoun can define the subject or the object of the verb
• Relative pronouns cannot be ommitted.
• We have to ommit the object pronouns ( her, him, it..) in relative clauses.

DEFINING VS NON-DEFINING

NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

dEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

• Prepositions go at the end of the clause.
• In formal English prepositions go at the beginning of the clause followed by which ( for things) or whom (for people)
• We cannot use that after a preposition in a relative clause.
• Used in writing and speaking

• Prepositions go at the end of the clause.
• In formal English prepositions go at the beginning of the clause followed by which ( for things) or whom ( for people).
• We cannot use that after a preposition in a relative clause.
• Used in writing

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