Relative Clauses

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Defining Relative Clauses  A Defining Relative Clause gives necessary information and is essential to the meaning of the main sentence. The clause is not put in commas. E.g.: He is the police officer who was killed in a car crash. I read the article last theft in our neighbourhood which was published in the Guardian.  The relative pronoun can be omitted when it is the object of the relative clause. Ex The blonde (whom) you spoke to is my girlfriend. This is the jumper (which) he left at home last week.

Defining relative clauses People Subject

Things

who/that/whom The woman who/that is sitting near your mother is my aunt Sarah.

which/that The building which/that is being demolished is where I lived.

who/that/whom The woman who/that you see near your Object mother is my aunt Sarah. with a preposition: The teenager (who/that) you were talking to is my sister. whose Possessive That's the owner whose house was demolished last week.

which/that The reason which /that you are giving is not correct with a preposition: The bag (which/that) you are keeping your belongings in is very old. whose/of which Many students whose marks are not high enough we’ll not entre the university.

Non- Defining: Relative Clauses  A Non- Defining Relative Clause gives extra information and is not essential to the meaning of the main sentence .It can be removed from the sentence without destroying the central meaning.  The relative cause is put in commas. Ex: John, who was ill last week, couldn’t retake the exam.  In non-defining relative clauses, the relative

pronouns CAN’T be omitted.

Non-defining relative clauses People

Things

who which Subject His sister, who is very pretty, doesn't let The beach, which looked so nice at the photo, him be out with her at night. was too dirty and crowded. Object

who My sister-in-law, who I told you about some time ago, has just married.

whose Possessive Peter, whose sister you like very much, has invited us to her party.

which Your computer, which I think it’s better than mine, cost as much as mine. whose/of which (Whose can be used especially for animals and of which for things) Bon Jovi’s lastest hit, whose title is "I love you" , has sold 1 million copies so far.


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