RELATIVE CLAUSE (cont)

A. TYPES OF RELATIVE CLAUSES

Defining relative clause Non-defining relative clause

● Gives detailed and necessary information. ● Gives extra information.
● The sentence doesn't usually make complete ● The sentence makes complete sense if we
sense if we remove the relative clause. remove the relative clause.
✔ That's the doctor who did Karen's operation. ✔ Dr. Lake, who has been working here for over
● We don't use a comma or commas. ten years, is a very experienced surgeon.
✔ That’s the doctor who did Karen's operation. ● We must use a comma or commas.
✔ Dr. Lake, who is an experienced surgeon, is my
uncle.
● We cannot put a number or a determiner such ● We can put a number or a determiner such as
as some, none, much and many before of which some, none, much and many before of which or
or of whom. of whom.
✔ I bought some drugs, some of which were
expensive.
NOTE: The pronoun “that” is not used in non-defining clauses.

B. OMITTING THE RELATIVE PRONOUN

● In a defining relative clause, the relative pronoun can be left out if it is followed by a subject.
✔ That’s the car (that) I used to own.
The relative pronoun can’t be left out if it is followed by a verb.
✔ That’s the woman who bought my car.
● In a non-defining relative clause, we cannot leave out the relative pronoun.

C. IN-CLASS PRACTICE

I. Fill in the appropriate relative, say whether the relative clauses are necessary or not to the meaning of the main
sentence, then add commas where necessary.

Write D for defining, ND for non-defining

1. My purse, …which… was in my handbag, has disappeared. Not necessary ND

2. Brian …………………………..is still at school is the captain of our local team. ……………………………………… ……………

3. London …………………………..is the capital of England attracts many foreign ……………………………………… ……………
visitors.

4. This parrot …………………………..comes from Africa is a clever mimic. ……………………………………… ……………

5. The children ………………………….. play with my son are coming round for ……………………………………… ……………
lemonade.

6. Brighton ………………………….. my best friend lives has a famous pier. ……………………………………… ……………

7. The woman …………………………..car was stolen last night has called the police. ……………………………………… ……………

8. The house ………………………….. my grandparents lived is being destroyed. ……………………………………… ……………

9. The Sussex coast ………………………….. is in the south of England is very ……………………………………… ……………
beautiful.

10. California …………………………..is on the west coast of America attracts ……………………………………… ……………
actresses, surfers and musicians.

11. This cake ………………………….. I bought yesterday tastes delicious. ……………………………………… ……………

12. My best friend …………………………..name is Rafael has moved to Rome. ……………………………………… ……………

13. The gym …………………………..Bob goes to is near his house. ……………………………………… ……………

14. She'll never forget the day …………………………..her son got his degree. ……………………………………… ……………

II. Underline any relative pronouns that can be left out in these sentences.

1. I think that my boss is the person who I admire most.

2. Harry, who was tired, went to bed very early.
3. We're taking the train that leaves at 6.00.
4. Have you seen the book that I left here on the desk?
5. The film which we liked most was the French one.
6. My radio, which isn't very old, has suddenly stopped working.
7. The clothes which you left behind are at the reception desk.
8. The couple who met me at the station took me out to dinner.
9. Last week I ran into an old friend who I hadn't seen for ages.
10. Don't cook the meat that I put in the freezer - it's for the dog.

D. HOMEWORK
I. Fill in the correct relative pronouns or adverbs. Put commas where necessary. Write D (for defining), ND (for non-
defining) and say whether the relative pronouns can be omitted or not.
1. The food ... that… I like best is spaghetti. …..(D - omitted)….
2. Fred, …whose... mother lives in Edinburgh, has gone to Scotland . …..(ND - not omitted)….
3. My home town ………………… is near Birmingham is very small. ……………………………………
4. His uncle ………………… is a millionaire owns a house in the Bahamas. ……………………………………
5. The dog ………………… Robert bought has just had six puppies. ……………………………………
6. The actor………………… I admire the most is Robert De Niro. ……………………………………
7. Emma ………………… sister is an actress is going on holiday to Hollywood. ……………………………………
8. The country ………………… my father was born is South America. ……………………………………
9. The book ………………… I'm reading is about China. ……………………………………
10. This jumper………………… I bought in Ireland is pure wool. ……………………………………

II. Choose the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

1. Was Neil Armstrong the first person___________ foot on the moon?

A. set B. setting C. to set D. who was set
2. There were many artists at the meeting, several of ___________ were very young.
A. that B. whom C. who D. which
3. I'm not the woman ___________ you are looking for.
A. which B. x C. whom D. B and C are correct
4. I know the man ___________ Mary is talking to.
A. him B. which C. whose D. x
5. Thousands of people ___________ along the roads watched the bicycle racing.
A. to stand B. that stand C. standing D. stood
6. The nurse ___________ from Korea can speak English very well.
A. which come B. who come C. coming D. to come
7. The man ___________ by the police yesterday lives in this city.
A. arrested B. arresting C. he was arrested D. who arrested
8. The cat___________ is named Tom.
A. under the table B. is under the table
C. who is under the table D. where is under the table.
9. The film___________ in 1997 is about the wild animals.
A. made B. which made C. making D. to make
24. The man sitting next to me kept talking during the film, ___________ really annoyed me.
A. that B. which C. what D. who
10. My mother, ___________ everyone admires, is a famous teacher.
A. where B. whom C. which D. whose
11. We saw many soldiers and tanks ___________ were moving to the front.
A. which B. who C. that D. whom
12. You do develop friendships especially at a time _______ you are working in such close proximity, but there is a huge
amount of competitiveness among other’s mistranslation.
A. that B. to which C. when D. where
13. I was at the concert _______ I met a friend of mine _______ job is to organize shows like
that.
A. when, whose B. which, who C. where, which D. when, that
14. I have three brothers, _______ are businessmen.
A. all of which B. all of whom C. all of those D. all of who
15. For me, sitting in the booth had a ghost-like quality to it – as though I had gone back into a past life _______
belonged to the time before I found my own voice.
A. which B. to which C. in which D. what
16. _______ one stage of child development has been left out, or not sufficiently experienced, the child may have to go
back and capture the experience of it.
A. When B. Where C. Which D. That
17. It is often tempting to hurry the child beyond his natural Seaming rate, _______ can set up dangerous feelings of
failure and states of anxiety in the child.
A. when B. where C. which D. that
18. The roads were crowded with refugees, many of _______ were wound.
A. that B. whom C. when D. who
19. Hot desert conditions are rising in the west, _______ currently lots of crops are being grown.
A. when B. where C. which D. that
20. My older brother living in the only ancient house _______ yesterday is traveling to Japan next month.
A. is painted B. to be painted C. painting D. paints
21. He expected me to pay 80,000VND for 10 eggs, four of _______ were broken.
A. that B. them C. which D. who