RELATIVE CLAUSES We use a relative clause to give extra information about the nouns in the main clause, without starting another sentence. The relative clause goes immediately after the noun it relates to. The relative pronouns are:

WHO /THAT Subject or object pronoun for PEOPLE

WHICH /THAT Subject or object pronoun for ANIMALS OR THINGS

WHERE Refers to a PLACE

WHEN Refers to a TIME expression

WHOSE POSSESSION for people, animals and things.

There ‘s the doctor. She used to live next door.

main clause relative clause We join these two ideas about the same PERSON by using

WHO instead of the personal SHE in the second clause.

There’s the doctor WHO / THAT used to live next door.

A ferry is a ship. It carries people across the water. main clause relative clause

We join these two ideas referring to the same THING by using WHICH or THAT instead of IT or THEY.

A ferry is a ship WHICH / THAT carries people across the water.

London is the city. John was born there. London is the city WHERE John was born.

Summer is the season. Most people go on holiday then.

Summer is the season WHEN most people go on holiday

I talked to the girl. Her car had broken down in front of the shop.

I talked to the girl WHOSE car had broken down in front of the shop.

We often OMIT the relative pronouns (WHO/THAT/WHICH)

when it is the OBJECT of the relative clause

Examples:

1. The car (THAT/ WHICH) I bought last year has broken down.

The relative pronoun can be omitted

2. The car THAT/ WHICH broke down in the city centre caused a huge traffic jam.

The relative pronoun is obligatory.

EXERCISE 1COMPLETE THE GAPS USING A RELATIVE PRONOUN AND DECIDE WHETHER IT IS NECESSARY OR NOT.

1. A calendar is something ________ tells you the date.

2. Strikers are soccer players _______ try to score goals for their team.

3. Jane is a person _______ everybody likes.

4. A stamp is something _______ you put on a letter if you want to send it.

5. The Thames is a river ________ runs through London.

6. Cheese is food _______ mice like eating.

7. A guide is a person ________ shows tourists around around a place.

8.Socks are things _________ you wear on your feet.

EXERCISE 2JOIN THE SENTENCES BY MAKING THE SECOND SENTENCE A DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSE.

1. That's the girl. Her mother works in the post office.

2. That’s the building. I work there.

3. That’s the girl. She spoke to me yesterday.

4. I rent a house. It is very small.

5. That was the month. I was born then.

6. Mandy is the girl. I met her yesterday.

7. That’s the magazine. I got it for you yesterday.

8. I met somebody. His mother writes detective stories.

EXERCISE 2JOIN THE SENTENCES BY MAKING THE SECOND SENTENCE A DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSE.

1. That's the girl. Her mother works in the post office.

2. That’s the building. I work there.

3. That’s the girl. She spoke to me yesterday.

4. I rent a house. It is very small.

5. That was the month. I was born then.

6. Mandy is the girl. I met her yesterday.

7. That’s the magazine. I got it for you yesterday.

8. I met somebody. His mother writes detective stories.