Relative clauses

They are subordinate clauses that give us information about a preceding noun, called antecedent

There are two types of relative clauses

1.-Defining (especificativas) 2.-Non-defining (explicativas)

1.-Defining Relative Clauses

1-They give us essential information about the antecedent.(They define it)

2-They cant be omitted, as it would cause confusion.

3-We can omit the pronoun Who/Which/that when they are not subjects of the relative clause. 4-They NEVER go between commas. The woman lives next door.She is a doctor The woman who lives next door is a doctor Relative Clause

Pronouns used with Defining RC.

Working as Subject/Object in the clause For People: Who(that) /whom For Things: Which (that) Working as object or adverb For Possession: Whose For Places: Where For Times:When For Reasons: Why

Defining RC:People
*Pronoun as Subject: Who or that The man who(that) directed this film won an Oscar In these cases, we CANNOT omit the pronoun
*Pronoun as Object:Who/that/Whom(formal) The man whom I saw was a famous actor The man who/that I saw was a famous actor The man I saw was a famous actor In these cases, the pronoun CAN BE omitted.

Defining RC:People
*Pronoun with a preposition: Whom/who/that. In these cases, we usually move the preposition to the end of the clause, and then we CAN omit the pronoun. The guy with whom I danced was French. The guy who/that I danced with was French. The guy I danced with was French.

Defining RC:Things
*Pronoun as Subject: Which/that That is the car which/that won the race We CANNOT omit the pronoun *Pronoun as Object: Which/that The car which/that I have bought is red. The car I have bought is red. The pronoun CAN BE omitted.

Defining RC:Things
*Object of a preposition:Which/that. We can omit the pronoun if we move the preposition to the end of the R.C. The bus on which I was travelling stopped. The bus which/that I was travelling on stopped. The bus I was travelling on stopped.

Defining RC:Possession
For Possession:Whose.(people and things) It CAN NEVER be omitted.

The book is about a spy whose wife betrays him. The house whose windows were made of stained glass was absolutely stunning.

Defining RC:places,times,reason
*For places: Where (that) Thats the restaurant where we went to last year for my birthday. *For times:When The summer when I travelled to Thailand was very special for me. *For reasons: Why (after the word reason) The reason why he left her was simply that he met someone else.

2.Non-Defining Relative Clauses

1.They give us extra,additional information about the antecedent. 2.They could be omitted without causing confusion. 3.They ALWAYS go between commas. 4.The Relative pronouns CANT be replaced by that. 5.The Relative pronouns CANT NEVER be omitted. 6.More common in written, formal English.

Pronouns used with Non-Defining

For People: Who/whom For things: Which For Possession:Whose For places:Where For times:When

Non-Defining RC:People
Pronoun as Subject: Who Brad Pitt, who is a successful actor, is married to Angelina Jolie. Pronoun as Object: Whom/who Johny Deep, who/whom I like very much, has appeared in many films. Pronoun as Object of a preposition:Whom/who People usually write the prep. at the end, and use Who. Mr.Rock, for whom I was working, was generous about overtime payments. Mr.Rock, who I was working for, was generous about overtime payments.

Non-Defining RC:People
Possession:Whose Anne, whose son is at school all day, is trying to get a job these days.

Non-Defining RC:Things
Pronoun:Which. Pronoun as Subject. The 8.15 train, which is usually very punctual, was late today. Pronoun as Object. This jumper, which my mum knitted herself, is really warm. Pronoun as Object of a preposition. This painting, for which I paid E30, is now worth E300. This painting, which I paid E30 for, is now worth E300.

THE END
THATS ALL FOLKS!