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Understanding Relative Clauses in English

This document provides information on defining and non-defining relative clauses. It explains that non-defining relative clauses provide extra information about a person or thing, while defining relative clauses identify which person or thing is being referred to. The document outlines the use, form, and examples of each type of relative clause. It also includes exercises for the reader to practice combining sentences using relative pronouns.

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49 views1 page

Understanding Relative Clauses in English

This document provides information on defining and non-defining relative clauses. It explains that non-defining relative clauses provide extra information about a person or thing, while defining relative clauses identify which person or thing is being referred to. The document outlines the use, form, and examples of each type of relative clause. It also includes exercises for the reader to practice combining sentences using relative pronouns.

Uploaded by

María
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Teacher's Resource Book

Defining and non-defining relative clauses


Non-defining relative clauses Defining relative clauses
Use Use
We use non-defining relative clauses to give extra We use defining relative clauses to give essential
information about the person or thing in the main information about the person or thing in the main
clause. The extra information is not essential. clause. It tells us which person or thing we are
Robbie Williams’ Millennium, which is one of his talking about.
most successful singles, was released in 1999. This is the CD which everyone is talking about.
Form Form
In non-defining relative clauses we put a comma There are no commas in defining relative clauses.
before and after the main clause. We can replace who or which with that in defining
We use the relative pronouns who, which, whose, relative clauses.
where and when in non-defining relative clauses. She’s the woman that works with my mother.
The relative pronoun cannot be omitted. This is the book that I told you about.
Mark Smith, who lives next door to us, plays in a Who, which, that and when can be omitted when
rock band. they are the object of the verb in the second
clause, e.g. There’s the man that the police have
1 Combine the sentences. Use who, which, been looking for. Whose and where can’t be
whose, where or when. omitted.
Ivan is very good-looking. (He’s Helen’s
brother.)
2 Combine the sentences. Use who, which, that,
Ivan, who is Helen’s brother, is very good- where or when.
looking.
That’s the school. I used to go to it.
1 The book is about a murder on the Nile. That’s the school that I used to go to.
(It was written by Agatha Christie.)
………………………………………………… 1 There’s the girl. I was telling you
about her.
2 The diamond necklace has been found by the …………………………………………………
police. (It was stolen last week.)
………………………………………………… 2 That was the day. They got married then.
3 Steven Spielberg lives in Hollywood. (He is a …………………………………………………
famous film director.) 3 She’s the girl. Her brother plays in the football
………………………………………………… team.
4 My friend Isabel wants to do media studies. …………………………………………………
(Her father is a TV presenter.) 4 That’s the café. I meet my friends there.
………………………………………………… …………………………………………………
5 The new club plays great music. (Jamie works 5 This is the film. I’ve been waiting to see it
there.) for ages.
………………………………………………… …………………………………………………
6 My holiday in Ibiza was wonderful. (I first met 6 Have you met the girl? She’s going out
Jenny then.) with Ted.
………………………………………………… …………………………………………………
7 The new band is very good. (It was formed last 7 These are the trainers. I bought them yesterday.
year.) …………………………………………………
…………………………………………………

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