RELATIVE CLAUSES

RELATIVE CLAUSES

1. DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

   • Defining relative clauses give essential information so that we can identify who or what is being talked about. The relative clause follows immediately after the noun referring to the person or thing we are talking about. We do not put commas at the beginning or end of a defining relative clause. We can sometimes omit the relative pronoun. The relative pronoun must be used when it is the subject of the following verb.
     • She showed me photos of the gorillas (which/that) she had studied.

2. NON-DEFINING CLAUSES

   • Non-defining relative clauses give non-essential, extra information about something of someone. We use a comma before and immediately after the clause. We cannot omit the relative pronoun in non-defining relative clauses.
     • Her CV, which made a big impression on the interviewers, helped her get the job.

3. RELATIVE PRONOUNS

   • Many relative clauses are introduced by a relative pronoun. 1; Which and that refer to things but that is not used in non-defining relative clauses. 2; Who refers to people. 3; Whom refers to people if they are the object of the clause. It is formal and not common in modern English. 4; Whose can be used with things or people and expresses possession or belonging. 5; When refers to time. 6; Where refers to place.
     • 1; The study that she published last month is remarkable. 2; Dian, who has been working in the IT department for two years, has been promoted. 3; Professor West, with whom I worked recently, has won the Nober Prize. 4; She is a scientist whose work is world famous. 5; She described the moment when she first saw har baby daughter. 6; She spent many years in China, where she worked in a bank.

4. PREPOSITIONS IN RELATIVE CLAUSES

   • Prepositions can be placed at the end of the sentence in neutral and informal English.
     • That was the story which the film was based on. That was the story on which one film was based.
       • When the preposition is sentence, that cannot be useplaced earlier in the d.
         • That's the research that/which she received the award for. That is the research for which she received tha award.
           • When the preposition is placed earlier in the sentence, whom must be used as the relative pronoun when the object is a person.
             • She spoke to a professor that/who she is friendly with. She spoke to a professor with whom she is friendly.