4th eso relative clauses
- 2. They are subordinate clauses which give information about a noun (person, thing, place, idea…) in the sentence. The noun just before the relative clauses is the antecedent. Relative clauses start with a relative pronoun. The shop which opened last week is around the corner. Relative clause Main clause Antecendent Relative pronoun
- 3. TYPES OF RELATIVE PRONOUNS WHICH objects The phone which is on the shelf is already broken. The phone which I bought a week ago is already broken. WHO people My neighbour is the person who won the lottery. Have you seen those people who we met on holiday? WHEN time The month when we met wasn’t very rainy. WHERE place The café where we met is being torn down. WHOSE possession The man whose wallet was stolen was very angry.
- 4. TYPES OF RELATIVE CLAUSES Defining They give essential information about the antecedent. The main clause would be meaningless if there wasn’t a relative clause. In these clauses: •some relatives can be substituted by “that” •some relatives can be omitted.
- 5. THAT SUBSTITUTION WHO: We didn’t recognize the people who / that had just had an accident. WHICH: This the law which / that is very important for us. WHEN: After common nouns referring to time: date, day , year... I don’t remember the date when / that she was born. WHERE: If we use a preposition at the end of the clause. Russia is the country where / that we lived in.
- 6. RELATIVE OMISSION We can omit relative pronouns who / whom / which / that when they function as objects in the subordinate clause. SUBJECT The newspaper reported that the tiger which killed its keeper has been put down. OBJECT The house (which/that) we rented in London was fully furnished.
- 7. We didn’t recognize the people. •The people had just had an accident. •We were looking at the people. We didn’t recognize the people who had just had an accident. We didn’t recognize the people(who /that) we were looking at. We didn’t recognize the people at whom we were looking. = We didn’t recognize the people (whom) we were looking at.
- 8. This is the law. •This law is very important for us. •The government has just passed this law. This the law which is very important for us. This the law (which /that) the government has just passed.
- 9. I don’t remember the date. She was born on the date. I don’t remember the date (when / that) she was born. Russia is the country. This story takes place in the country. Russia is the country (where) this story takes place. We can also omit relative pronouns when and where.
- 10. TYPES OF RELATIVE CLAUSES Non-defining They add extra information about the antecedent. The main clause would be meaningful if there wasn’t a relative clause. Shakespeare wrote very famous plays. •Shakespeare died in 1616. •I read an essay about Shakespeare. Shakespeare , who died in 1616, wrote very famous plays. Shakespeare , who I read an essay about, wrote very famous plays.
- 11. Shakespeare , about whom I read an essay, wrote very famous plays. Shakespeare , whom I read an essay about, wrote very famous plays. My new bike is fantastic. •My new bike is very expensive. •I bought my new bike last week. My new bike, which is very expensive, is fantastic. My new bike , which I bought last week, is fantastic.
- 12. In 1999 I found my first job. •I finished university in 1999. In 1999, when I finished university, I found my first job. Seville can be very hot in the summer. •My friend Anne lives in Seville. Seville, where my friend lives, can be very hot in the summer. Beyonce is a very famous singer. •Beyonce’s latest album is great. Beyonce, whose latest album is great, is a very famous singer.