Relative pronoun$ are who, wham, which and that, LLsed to join clauses to nouns.

Relative clauses are parts ofsentences that begin with relative pronouns.
relative pronoun relative pronoun
+ +
the man who bought tny car a report that is full of mistakes

relative clause relative clause

Relative clauses are often called adjective clauses, because they add to the meanings ofnouns,
rather like adjectives. Compare:
ripe plums plums fhaf are ready to eat

There are two kinds of relative clause (see page 210): those that say who or what we are talking about
('identifring clauses*') and those that just give extra information ('non-identifying clauses**').
the man who bought ffiy car (identifying: says which man)
Ioe Smith, who bought lny car, (non-identifying: just says more about Joe Smith)
Non-identi$,ing clauses are mostly rather formal, and more common in writing than in speech.

relatives: revise the basics

This unit revises the grammar of identifl,ing' relative clauses (the most common kind).
'i 'rl Six of sentences 1-10 are wrong.
Correct the mistakes or write'Correct'.
* Idontenjoyfilmsthatlcantunderstandrtrem...!h3!.!.?.q.ry'.\.**.4.e.YF.1?*4,..
p What's the name of the man who just came in? ..9?.fY9*....
1 I like people which smile a lot. ..........
2 This is a book will interest children of all ages.
3 Is there an).thing I can do for you?
4 Motor racing is a sport who doesn t excite me at all.
5 We've lost the key that it opens the cellar.
6 I forget everl.thing what I read.
7 They made me an olfer which I couldn't refuse. ........
8 They made me an offer that I couldnt refuse.
9 They made me an offer I couldnt refuse.
10 Theymade me an offer that I couldnt refuse it. .............
jl$ Here are five simple rules about relative structures. Four are correct.
Circle the number of the bad one.
I We use who(m) for people and which for things.
2 We can often use that instead of who(m) or which.
3 We can often drop that.
4 After everything, anything or nothing, we use what, not that.
5 Who and which replace he, she,lf etc: we dont use both kinds of pronoun together,
. also called'defining'or'restrictive' clauses. ** also called'non-ciefining'or'non-restrictit'e' clauses

208 ADJECTTVE (RELATTVE) CLAUSES

 dropping relative pronouns We can drop who, which or thot when it is the object of the
following verb; not when it is the subject.
Ifound the key (that) I had lost. (that = the key = the object of lost)
This is the key that opens the front door. (that = the key = the subject of opens)

-:,.,1,i--; Cross out that if it can be dropped from the descriptions.

> the people that I work with ..........
> the people rhar live at No 6 ..99**qt.9.p.4f9mf..4...
1 a bird that catches fish . . . . . . . . . . . .
2 some girls that I know
3 three films that I like ..........
4 a pill that cures headaches
5 something that made me laugh
6 something that you must remember ..............

4 .. Complete the definitions with the words in the box. Drop that.
Use a dictionary if necessary.

avoid believe / do without forgive read satisfy see coming solve understand

* An incredible story is one ..U.?* .\I*.'y.V9L1?y?,...............

1 An illegible letter is one you
2 An incomprehensible book is
3 An insoluble problem is ..............
4 An insatiable desire is ..............
5 An unpardonable insult is
6 Something inevitable is something you ...........
7 Something unpredictable is something ...............
8 Something indispensable is ...........

which, that and what We dont use what in the same way as which or that. What replaces
noun + which/that: it means something like 'the thing(s) thatl Compare:
I gave them the money that they wanted. I gave them what they wanted.
(xot@...)
\Ve normally prefer that, not which, after all, everything nothing, the only .. . and superlatives.
Whst is not correct in these cases.

I'v e told you everything that matters. (Nor .. . @)

Is this the only song (that) you can sing? (No'r' ... w@)

$ What or that?
I ..................... she did was very upsetting.
2 The things ........ you said made Ellie cry.
3 Whydontyoutellme .... Ineedtoknow?
-1 I've told you .... I remember.
5 The only thing .... I forgot to buy was rice.
6 I understood nothing .... she said.
i rr more about wftom, see page 307.

ADIECTTVE (RELATTVE) CLAUSES 209

identifying and non-identifying relative clauses"
identifying relative clauses say who or what we are talking about.
The US President who followed Abraham Lincoln was Andrew lohnson.
The only person that supported my idea was Hilary Mason.
The book that got the prize for best first noyel was written by my landlady.
The Jlowers Lucy bought yesterday are all dead.

non-identifying relative clauses do not say who or what we are talking about, because this is
already clear. They just give more information.
President Andrew Johnson, who followed Lincoln, was extremely unpopular.
(President Andrew lohnson alone tells us tvho.)
Hilary Mason, who supported my idea, didn't manage to convince the others.
'Wild cherries', which got the prize
for best first novel, was written by my landlady.
The roses in the living room, which Lucy bought only yesterday, are all dead.
....

i it Look at the examples above and think about the questions.

I Without the relative clauses, which make more sense - the first four examples or the others?

2 In which kind of clause can we use that instead of who(m) or which?

3 In which kind of clause can we leave out a relative pronoun when it is the object?
4 Which kind of clause is separated by commas in writing?

r:l'ii Put in one or two commas if necessary.

p The doctor who saw my mother says she is very frt. (wo cowvrr,*as)
ts Dr Harrison, who saw my mother, says she is very fit.
1 The people who borrowed our flat left it in a shocking condition.
2 I am sorry for people who cannot laugh at themselves.
3 She spent her childhood in Warwick which is a long way from the sea.
4 My cousin |ulie who is a fashion designer has gone to work in New York.
5 The address that she had given him did not exist.
6 We went to see a film calied 'Black Island'which was really good.

t.':i Change who/whom/which to that,or leave it out if possible.

p This is Emma, who lives next door. ..N.q.9.\.q.ry.A?,.........
* I don't like people who can t say 'Thank youl . .!hfl!. .
* She didnt reply to any of the letters wh.iek I sent her.
1 This house, which is now a museum, belonged to a famous artist. .........
2 He moved to a town called Northbur,v, which is close to the mountains. ..........
3 I will never forget the things which happened on my l6th birthday.
4 What happened to the papers which Anthony gave you? ..........
5 He wrote a book called'Under the Rainbowl which got terrible reviews.
6 I had good advice from Keith, whom I consulted about the situation.
7 Do you know Philip Sanders, who lives downstairs?
8 The man who Iooks after our garden has had an accident.
9 They wanted €600, which was far too much.
10 Nobody believed the stories which my brother told.

. Also called delining and non,dclining'or'restrictive ancl non-restrictivel

210 ADIECTTVE (RELAT|VE) CLAUSES

reduced relative clauses
We sometimes leave outwho/which/that + is/are/was/werebefore participles (-ingand -ed forms).
Who is that child throwing stones at our house? (= '... who is throwing ...')
Most of the people invited did not even reply. (= '... who were invited ...')
Books printed before 1600 ere rare and valuable. (= '... that were printed ...')

This also happens with prepositional phrases and some adjectives (e.g. possible, available).
Can you pass me the papers on that table? (=' ... that are on that table?')
Tuesday is the only date possible for the meeting. (= '... that is possible.')

Note that who/which/thst + have cannot be left out in the same way.
We need to talk about some problems that have arisen during the operation.
(No'r... iat)

=:.:':
Change the words in italics.
b Ann cant eat dishes that are made with milk. ..4.y:.\.9:.Y.qlp.yy.ttr.yy!.E
I The students who were taught by Oliver all got excellent results.

2 Cars that are parked in this street wrll be towed away.

3 I thought that the girl who was talking to Patrick looked really nice.

4 Whose are those books that are piled up on the stairs?

5 I can t hear myself think because of the birds that are singing outside

6 We need to reduce the amount of plastic that is used for packaging.

7 There is a special price for people who are studying full-time.

8 A letter that was posted in 1986 has just been delivered to my sister.

9 We do not have all the books that were requested; we are sendingthose that are in stock.

l0 Please let me have all the tickets that are available.

{S Put the letters of eight of the participles into the texts.

A applying B applied C hoping D hoped E interviewing F interviewed G planning

Hplanned lprinting Jprinted Kshowing Lshown MteachingNtaught Ousing Pused
Almost half of the 2 Books ... in the late 3 There is a particular a business adviser,
young people... 1gth cenfury are emphasis.on trainer and mentor
said that they were particularly at risk encouraglng women for people . .. to set up
because ofweaknesses
into the traditionally businesses in creative
or had been gang male-dominated industries, such as
members in the paper subjects... here. film, art and design

When ... pictures of the amount None of the people The place is full of
leaves,94 per cent were of plastic ... in ... for the job had any rich beautiful girls ...
unable to identify the supermarket relevant experience. that they might bump
common native trees packaging into a footballer
from which they fell.

ADJECTTVE (RELATTVE) CLAUSES 211

prepositions in relative clauses
identifying relative clauses In identifying clauses, verb, adjective or noun + preposition
combinations usually stay close together. This means that prepositions can be separated from
their relative pronoun objects.

OBJECT vialN + PREPosrrroN

something (that/,,uhich) we talked about
the sirl (who/rhar) vou were interested in
a change (that/which) there is no good reason for

iiii Correct the confusions and write proper definitions for the different things,
ending in prepositions.
> youcarrywaterinabasket...Ne,.*.93:.9qy.!:.*q*9lYyy.g.Uq*.y?.Yf],:n?Ill|"3.1r.*,.......
I You keep yourself dry with an extinguisher.
No. An extinguisher is something you ...........
2 You play music on an umbrella.

3 You keep things cold in a bucket.

4 You stick things together with an axe.

5 You cut wood with a saucepan.

6 You put out a fire with a piano.

7 You carry shopping in a freezer.

8 You cook soup with glue.

Prepositions can also go before their objects, but this is rather formal.
After prepositions, we normally use whom, not who.

something about which we talked the people to whom I applied

r,+ii Rewrite three of your answers from Ex. 1 in a more formal style.
' 4 .F.q :F q!. .1.:. :.q yp.\\i*. s. yry .v\tp.4. .ae *. sg.rru :I myr. g... ...

ffi Write definitions ending in prepositions for three or more of these words.
> bedroom ..9.Y?.q\.b9*.r.19.q.?*...
1 birthplace
2 home
3 library
4 colleague
5 employer
6 wife or husband

212 ADJECTTVE (RELAT|VE) CLAUSES

 non-identifying clauses In non-identifying clauses prepositions often comebefore which
or whom, especially in a formal style.
There will be a short speech from the President, after which drinks will be served.
In1956 she met Andrew Carstairs, with whom she later made several
flms.
x,
'-:'' .loin the sentences in the places marked to create more formal sentences
using prepositions with whom or which.
> His grandfather gave him a new bicycle-. He was absolutely delishted with it.
..ti.L.:.s.rq.*4fty.4.qr.ssvl.\iv.s.*s.v.\.vguqle,.y1t!y.4y.".\.\c.y#..q.9te!.+.\p!u.4.c1is.4y.e4.,.........
1 foe Peters* has just opened a restaurant. My father plays golf with him.

2 This bracelet* is apparently very valuable. I paid €5 for it.

3 Martin Oliver* is a very successful farmer. I am working for him at the moment.

4 Our little village school* has been turned into a museum. I learnt to read and write in it.

5 The committee have appointed a new treasurer, Peter Barnes*. I have no confidence in him.

6 Hutchins had an operation on his knee*. He was unable to play for three months after that.

at which point etc Which can be used as a determiner in relative clauses, with a noun that
repeats the meaning of what came before. This structure is mainly used after prepositions, and
is rather formal. Note the common fixed phrases at which point and in which case.
She cqlled me aliar, at which point I decided to end the conversation.
They may wish to spend the night, in which case we will have to Jind them a room.

'.t;i' Complete each sentence with a preposition , which and an expression from the box.
Different answers may be possible.
case disturbing experience point pleasant post time unexciting work/
p I washed dishes from morning to night, ..fgf .V.\!.q\.**9f91Iym..ry9.f19............. r was paid
€3 an hour.
1 We arrived at midnight, ... all the restaurants were closed.
2 Theolicemaybeclosed, .... wewillhavetocomeback
tomorrow.
3 Her handbag was stolen on a day-trip to Calais, .................... she
never travelled abroad again.
4 lohnt heart started beating extremely fast, ........... we decided
to call the doctor.
5 In 1956 he was appointed Ambassador to Uruguay, .................... he
spent the next five years.

ADIECTIVE (RELATIVE) CLAUSES 213

relatives: other points
more about who, which and that While we often use that instead of who in identifying relative
it is rather informal, especially as a subject in writing. Compare:
clauses,
The people who live next door have got eight cats. (normal)
The people that live next door have got eight cats. (informal)
Remember that we dont normally use that in non-identifying clauses.
Mr and Mrs Harris, who live next door, ... (NotMivt...)
In both formal and informal styles, that is more common than which after indefinite subjects
llke everything something, anything, and nothing.
Everything that he said was crazy. (More normal than Everything which he said .. .)

Whomis quite formal, and is dying out in informal speech. It is still common in non-identifying
clauses, but it is rare in identifying clauses except after prepositions. Compare:
She was surprised to see Laura, whom she had last met at Andrew's wedding.
Look! There's the man (who) we saw climbing on the bridge!
(More natural than There's the man whom we saw ...)

whose Relative whose is used before nouns, and can refer back to both people and things.

He was a man whose face was on posters everywhere.

We bought a TV whose main function was to keep the children quiet.

We can use a structure with of which to express the same kind of meaning.
.. . a TU the main function of which was to keep the children quiet.
These are rather formal structures; in informal speech they are less often used.

I've got some friends with a house that looks over a river. (More natural in conversation than
I've got some friends whose house looks over a river.)

iiiiri Circle the letter of the most informal sentence in each group.
1A The person that told you that was mistaken.
B The person who told you that was mistaken.
2 L I have had from those French people whom we met in Moscow
a card
B I have had from those French people we met in Moscow.
a card
C I have had a card from those French people that we met in Moscow.
3 A He made a speech'*.hose purpose was completely unclear.
B He made a speech the purpose of which was completely unclear.
C He made a speech; its purpose was completely unclear.

't Complete these sentences in any way you like, using whose.
ts An unsuccessful builder is one . Y.[.? :9.\ p.*:.C:. fql!.{py.*'.....
.

I An unsuccessful gardener is one

2 An unsuccessful parent is one .........
3 An unsuccessful doctor is one .........
4 An unsuccessful writer is one ...........
5 An unsuccessful teacher is one .........
6 An unsuccessful tourist guide is one ...........
7 An unsuccessful cook is one ...........
8 An unsuccessful lion tamer is one .........

214 ADJECTTVE (RELAT|VE) CLAUSES

 which = whole clause Which can refer back not just to a noun, but also to a whole clause.
We replaced the pump, which wasn't workingproperly. (uhich = 'the pump)
We replaced the pump, which took two days. (which = 'We replaced the pump)
Note that what cannotbe used in this way.
He got the job, which surprised us all. (r.ror' ... n@L)
l$ Put inwhich or what.
I Helentmehis car, ............ wasverykindof him.
2 I very much liked you wrote about me.
3 The shop was closed, was a nuisance.
4 Nobody had ........... I wanted.
5 He runs three miles a day, ......... .. keeps him fit.
6 This is not ......... .. I asked for.
7 We're going to redecorate the house, will keep us all busy.
8 They made Alex Managing Director, pleased everybody.

when, where etc After words for time and place, we can use when and where as relatives.
I'll never forget the day (when) I arrived in Athens. (= '... the day on which ... ')
Do you know a garage where I can get cheap tyres? (= '... a garage at which ...')

We can drop when after common words for time, and we can drop where after somewhere,
anywhere, everywhere, nowhere and place.
the day I arrived that time we went down to Exeter the year I worked in Egypt
somewhere we can get a drink everywhere she goes a place I can sleep
We use why as a relative after reason.It can be dropped.
I never found out the reason (why) she left. (= '... the reason for which ...')
Note also that in which is often droppe d after way.
I didn't like the way (in which) he spoke to me.

'ffiB f inistr the sentences as you like, using when, where or why.
1 Your birthday is the anniversary of the duy ............
2 A supermarket is a place
3 A church is a place
4 Sunday is a day
5 I'll never forget the duy ............
6 Iknowaplace
7 I'll never know the reason

indefinite expressions After indefinite expressions like a man or some books, there is not always a
clear difference between'identifring' and'non-identifying' clauses. The choice of structure may simply
depend on whether the information in the relative clause is an important part of the meaning or not.
My sister married afamous architect (that) she met in Australia. op.
My sister married afamous architect, whom she met in Australia.
I've got a new car that goes like a bomb. op
I've got A new car, which goes like a bomb.

dropping subject pronouns In informal speech, subject pronouns are sometimes dropped.
Is there anybody here drives a white Ford van? It's blocking the entrance.
There's a guy works in my ffice thinks he can read minds.

ADjECT|VE (RELATTVE) CLAUSES 215

more practice
Which is/are correct? Choose one or more.
1 in? (A that B what C which)
Is that the flat ... you used to live
2 I know a man ... can do the repair for you. (A that B who C which)
3 Here's the bus ... need to catch. (A' that you B which you C you)
4 This is the file ... (A you wanted B that you wanted it C that you wanted)
5 I've spoken to Mr ... says he can help you. (A Hawkins, who B Hawkins who)
6 Did you see the children ... stones? (A, who throwing B who were throwing C throwing)
7 The company made a large profit, ... was a pleasant surprise. (A which B which it C what)
Read the sentences and answer the questions.
She threw a party for all the people in the office who had visited her in hospital.

1 Were all the people in the ofltce invited to the party?

Congratulations to the three Greek students, who passed the exam.

2 Did any Greek students not pass?

My schooll I still have nightmares about the teachers, whom I hated.

3 Did I hate all the teachers?

Rewrite these sentences more formally with urhose.

F He was a man with a name that was on everybodyt lips.
. . l!3 .y
g 9. .q. v r * .v\ ? 9?. r4 y9. .Y ?r. 9.*. ?y 9Y:up $
u' 1 .1 n . .
1 They showed me some shoes with a price tag that made me go pale.
2 I once had a friend from Norway. His grandfather had been a famous explorer

3 We had a dog. Its main interests were sleeping and eating

4 We stayed in a lovely hotel. Its dining room had a view of the Grand Canyon.

5 I once lived next door to a woman with a son who is now a famous rock star.

Make the sentences more formal or more informal, and put in the
names of the tools from the box. Use a dictionary if necessary.
bottle-opener drill file pair of pliers saw spanner /
A tool that you tighten nuts with is called a ............... .

..*.!.qp.l.vi!.4.w.4.:qh.ap*.lvs.\!q*.**ls..L.*.s.q.llq{.t.r?.?.**er:.
A tool that you make holes with is called a ............... .

j::*"-dfid:WW

3
4
A tool that you take the tops offbottles with is called

A tool with which you grip things is called a

a
€Mt
I L:.
\L-,
-
216 ADIECTTVE (RELATTVE) CLAUSES
*.il Take expressions from the box and put them together in the right order,
adding who,whoseor wherewhere necessary, to complete one or more of the newspaper reports.
.... accompanied him on his travels left Venice in 1269,
.... army defeated the English forces at the Battle of Hastings on October 14th,
had become dissatisfied with Caesar's assumption of absolute power. Marco Polo,
together with his father Niccolo and his uncle Maffeo Polo,
has returned
...., Iike many of the Roman population, .... was killed in the battle.
has been killed in a battle on the Little Bighorn Rivel The Emperor Julius Caesar,
.... his troops were outnumbered and wiped out. led by Marcus Junius Brutus,
.... Marco served as adviser to Kublai Khan,
News has just reached us that General George Armstrong Custer,
The Polos claim to have spent over 20 years in China,
travelling extensively through his empire as an ambassador.
was assassinated earlier today by a group of conspirators
.... was attempting to put down a revolt by a coalition of lndian tribes,
was crowned King of England today in Westminster Abbey,
.... was on his way to the Senate for an important meeting, William of Normandy,

AUC 7oe TJeiletisn Daifi @ourier

m-,i',{c,/ IDIBUS MARTIIS '@l,r'e*' Mayryrzgs

CAESARASSASSINATED THtr PoLoS ARE BACK!

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ADIECTTVE {RELATTVE) CLAUSES 217