Relative clauses

Relative clauses

1. Usually begin with a relative pronoun (who, which, that, whose) or a relative adverb (when , where)

   • The relative pronoun "whom" can be use instead of "who" when it is the object of the verb in the relative clause.
     • Also we use "whom" inmediately after a preposition.
       • We can´t use "who" in this context unless we move the preposition to the end of the clause
   • Defining relative clauses can begin with "what"
     • Meaning: "the thing which "

2. Relative Pronouns

3. Defining relative clauses

   • It comes after a noun and gives necessary information about that noun
     • It can be in the middle or end of the sentences and is not separated by commas
   • It is common to use "that" than "which", we can also use "that" instead of "who" or "whom"
   • We can omit the relative pronoun only when it is the object of the verb in the clause
     • We often omit the relative adverb "when"

4. Non-defining relative clauses

   • It comes after a noun and gives extra information about that noun
     • It can be remove from a sentence without making the sentence meaningless
     • It can be in the middle or at the end of a sentence
     • Is separeted by commas
   • It cannot start with "that"
   • The relative pronoun or adverb at the start of a non-defining relative clause cannot be omitted
   • Can begin with expressions like all of whom, many of whom, some of whom, most of which
   • The relative pronoun which can be used at the start of a non-defining relative clause
     • To refer back to all the information in the first part of the sentence

5. Reduced relative clauses

   • It replaces a defining relative clause
     • We use -ing form or past participle to replace the relative pronoun and verb
   • We use an -ing form to replace an active verb of any tense
     • We use a past participle to replace a passive verb of any tense
   • We can´t use a reduced relative clause in place of a defining relative clause if the relative pronoun is the object of the verb in the original clause